The Institute as a continuation of Disciple Bible Study

With the 30th anniversary of DISCIPLE Bible Study and the 15th year of the Institute in 2016, we wanted to take time to explore how DISCIPLE helped shape the foundation of the Institute. ------------------------------------------------ by Steve Wilke, executive director of the Institute for Discipleship DISCIPLE's influence DISCIPLE Bible Study began in 1986 and was like a 5th child in the Wilke family – labor-intensive and sometimes quite demanding! But over time, it became clear that DISCIPLE was making a positive contribution to many around the world. DISCIPLE's essential elements of Bible study and small group discussion drew upon…continue reading →

Amp It Up camp develops worship leadership skills in youth

It’s not every day that summer campers get a chance to both gain experience leading worship and professionally record music, but that’s precisely what high school campers did at Southwestern College’s annual Amp It Up worship band camp. Amp It Up is for students who want to use their musical talents to lead worship. This year, 29 students attended the 5-day camp May 26-30, 2016. In partnership with adult mentors and college-age camp counselors – all worship leaders themselves – students formed bands and experienced practicing and performing together as a group. Some…continue reading →

Director of Faith Formation for Youth and Young Adults Announced

Director of Faith Formation for Youth and Young Adults Announced Rev. Wendy Mohler-Seib has been selected to be the first director of faith formation for youth and young adults for the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College.  She will begin her new position July 1.  Mohler-Seib's primary responsibility will be to work within a 350-mile radius of the college to identify students for a selective one-week summer summit at Southwestern. The Summit will help participants explore the spiritual call in each of their lives and will be administered by the…continue reading →

Obituary for Julia K. Wilke, Institute Founder and Namesake

JULIA KITCHENS WILKE, 1932-2016 Julia Kitchens Wilke was born on July 28, 1932, in Texarkana, Texas, the daughter of Chester Kitchens, a pediatrician, and his wife Edith. She was raised to love the Methodist church, and she relished memorizing Bible verses and grew in her faith in the youth group. She met her future husband, Richard (Dick) B. Wilke, while attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas. After she graduated with a degree in elementary education, they were married on June 20, 1953, in Julia’s family church in Texarkana, Ark. The couple moved to…continue reading →