wfn.org | Celebrates 10 Years of Bible Study

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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 (2875 notes).

Note 2872 by SUSAN PEEK on April 18, 1996 at 20:44 Eastern (3807 characters).

SEARCH: Disciple, Bible study, celebration, training, leadership

008 {2972}

General Conference '96

Disciple Bible Study
celebrates 10 years

     DENVER (UMNS) -- Launching a year-long celebration to
commemorate the 10th anniversary of Disciple Bible Study,
officials of the United Methodist Publishing House, held a
birthday party here, April 17 during the church's General
Conference.    
     Disciple, a 34-week program of disciplined small-group Bible
Study was celebrated under the theme,"We've a Story to Tell." The
evening anniversary celebration offered delegates and visitors to
the quadrennial assembly an opportunity to see the role the
program has played in inspiring people, congregations and
communities.  Program founders, teachers and users gave
testimonials to the effect the study has had on them personally,
other individuals and the denomination. 

       The study originated as a dream in Flower Mound, Texas, in
March 1986. A group of 18 pastors, theologians, lay people,
Christian educators, biblical scholars, editors, marketers and a
bishop, met to develop a pastor-directed Bible study for training
Christian disciples. Together these individuals turned the dream
into a resource and produced "Disciple: Becoming Disciples
Through Bible Study." 

     Aimed at developing strong Christian leaders, the study
carries participants through the biblical story from Genesis to
Revelation.  Other studies take graduates deeper into selected
portions of Scripture.

     According to Neil Alexander, president and publisher of the
United Methodist Publishing House, more than 400,000 people have
participated in the study. He said that from its inception in
Texas, the program has grown throughout North America, South
America, Europe, Asia and other places around the globe. More
than 20,000 people have trained to lead the studies and more than
14,000 young people have participated in the study.    
     The impact of Disciple on the United Methodist Church has
been "phenomenal" said the Rev. Mike Watson, pastor of Dauphin
Way United Methodist Church, Mobile, Ala. "So many lives have
been transformed."

     Flo Sapp Martin, a leading Christian educator and
interpreter of curriculum for the Publishing House, said Disciple
has carried people into the Bible where they have not been
before. 

     "It has revolutionized my life, my ministry, my own personal
life," said the Rev. Zan Holmes, pastor of St. Luke Community
United Methodist Church, Dallas. He said the program has made a
difference in how he approaches and delivers sermons. " People
have struggled with the Bible ... are much more informed ... I am
challenged in a new way by my congregation."

     Dal Joon Won attended the celebration representing the
Korean perspective on the study. As editor and translator for the
Korean language, he said he discovered that God can speak a
common language and there is no need for technical and scholarly
language to communicate. 

     According to Tony Nancarrow, president of Media
Communications in Australia, Disciple is an "excellent means of
addressing biblical illiteracy."  

     "I have a new appreciation for the impact of scripture's
power in my life," Nancarrow said. "It has re-ignited the
importance of the Word in my own devotional life."

     Because of the success of two Disciple Bible Study programs,
Publishing House officials said people are eagerly awaiting
"Disciple: Remember Who You Are," the third study now underway.

      Alexander said people are ready to "confront and be
confronted by the hard words of the prophets" and "hungry for the
meat" of Paul's Gospel. "Its message is simple," he said. "Call
home!"    #  #  #

                                                  -- Linda Green
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