News

Certification Cohorts Forming at BeADisciple.com

Nov. 15, 2023 — New certification cohorts are forming at the Institute for Discipleship, as 10 programs prepare to begin on Jan. 15, 2024. Offered completely online through BeADisciple.com, areas of specialization include Christian education, church administration, evangelism, grief care, ministry with people with disabilities, rural ministry, spiritual formation, women’s ministries, youth ministry, and young adult ministry.   Designed for clergy and laity alike, these programs provide a Biblical, theological, and practical foundation for ministry in key areas for today’s churches and communities.   BeADisciple.com is part of the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for…continue reading →

BeADisciple Study App ‘Best in Class’ of United Methodist Association of Communicators Awards

  November 6, 2023 — The BeADisciple Study App has been named best in class for internet communications in the 2023 United Methodist Association of Communicators Awards competition.   The app, which began public beta testing in August 2023, is a ministry of the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship and is designed to be the next generation of small-group Christian study. It combines quality content with the dynamism of digital technology and the power of small-group study. All study materials are on the app, including lessons, videos, readings, and the complete Common…continue reading →

Southwestern College’s Institute for Discipleship Launches Global Christian Small Group Study App

August 24, 2023 — After more than two years of development and testing, a state-of-the-art app created by the Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College is now available for widespread use around the world. The BeADisciple Study App has been created by a team that has included SC alumni in the United States and Indonesia.  The app was developed to make small group Bible studies available to groups that may not be in the same location or time zone. All materials for each of the studies are included on the app, so internet…continue reading →

Institute for Discipleship Concludes Successful Fundraising Campaign

August 24, 2023 -- The Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College has announced the successful completion of a fundraising campaign that will support the development of its new BeADisciple Study App. Donors contributed more than half a million dollars, surpassing the campaign’s goal.   In April of this year the Institute board had approved a $500,000 fund raising goal to be met by June 30, 2023. The campaign was launched by a matching gift of $250,000 from Bishop Richard B. Wilke. On June 30, the final tally for the campaign was $547,162.78.  “These gifts…continue reading →