wfn.org | Disciple institute established

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3297 notes).

Note 3296 by UMNS on Nov. 19, 1996 at 15:43 Eastern (4043 characters).

SEARCH: Disciple Bible Study, Bishop Richard Wilke, Southwestern
College
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                       582(10-30-63-71B){3296}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             Nov. 19, 1996

Disciple Bible Study founder forms Discipleship 
Institute at United Methodist college in Kansas

                 by United Methodist News Service

     The success of the United Methodist Disciple Bible Study
Program with adults has led its designer and writer to establish a
four-year study institute for college students.
     Retired Bishop Richard Wilke, in cooperation with United
Methodist-related Southwestern College, Winfield, Kans., launched
the Institute for Discipleship at the school this fall. 
     Its purpose is to recruit students from around the world to
come to Southwestern College and become engaged in the Disciple
Bible Study for four years under the leadership of the campus
minister.  Wilke became bishop-in-residence at Southwestern after
his retirement from the active episcopacy Sept. 1. 
     The Disciple Bible program is a 34-week program of
disciplined small-group Bible Study that is aimed at developing
strong Christian leaders. The study carries participants through
the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation. Other studies takes
students deeper into selected portions of Scripture.
     Students enrolled in institute will examine Disciple I, II
and III. A fourth study, to be written by Wilke and his wife Julia
next year, will be based on the writings and wisdom literature in
the Old Testament, the Gospel of John and the Revelation of John
in the New Testament.
      Wilke said that throughout his travels promoting and
teaching the Disciple Bible Study, he has found college students
"who want to probe the scriptures" and grow in the faith
regardless of their professional goals. These students, he said,
want to be "grounded" for a life of witness and service and be
able to examine the scriptures as adults.  Thus, the institute is
open to any student who wants to become a strong disciple of Jesus
Christ, he said.
     Presently, eight students, along with the campus minister,
are engrossed in the Disciple I study. Wilke anticipates that next
year each class will have 12 participants.
     In order to make the college's Bible study program
interracial and international, the institute and the college will
be awarding four-year Disciple scholarships to students who are
serious about their faith. It is anticipated that each student,
while participating in the institute, will assist in Volunteer-in-
Mission projects locally, nationally and abroad. 
     "The students enrolled in the institute have found it
exciting to be involved in a cross-cultural and international
study of prayer and fellowship," Wilke said. Among these is a pre-
med student from Mozambique.
     Periodically, the institute will conduct workshops and
seminars to provide advanced training, encouragement, motivation
and growth to teachers of the Disciple Bible Study. 
     The institute will hold occasional rallies at Southwestern
and at other locations for Disciple students. 
     One purpose of the Discipleship program at the college is to
encourage use of the Disciple Bible Study in other countries and
in other languages.
     The expressed mission and purpose of the institute compelled
the Methodist Church of Singapore to invite Wilke to preach for
its Dec. 4-7 General Conference and to provide Disciple workshops.
     The Wilkes will accompany Singapore Disciple Bible Study
trainers to Indonesia to conduct training for English-speaking
Indonesian Methodists.
     Students interested in obtaining scholarships to Southwestern
College through the Discipleship Institute may write Wilke at
Southwestern College, 100 College St., Winfield, Kan. 67156.
                               # # #

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