Nov. 28, 2021 – A pair of upcoming online courses from BeADisciple.com will focus on Bible education, with enrollment open now. “Teaching Adults” and “Biblical Interpretation” are two-week classes that will begin in January. The courses’ instructor, Rev. Beth Perry, has more than 30 years of experience in the pastorate and has taught these classes multiple times each year for the past six years. “One of the things that has happened during the past couple of years is that the number of Bible users actually has gone up,” Perry says. “Research by the Barna Group shows that as COVID-19 took over, there was a drop in the proportion…
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Wendy Mohler-Seib, director of faith formation for the Institute for Discipleship, is author of an article published in the Nov. 16, 2021, issue of Firebrand magazine. In it she outlines why shielding youth from struggle may be counter to developing faith. "Grit, practicing joy in the face of hardship, matures us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This is the grit Paul exercises and urges the church to develop in Philippians. The encouragement does not necessitate a search for suffering, for suffering is inherent in the human story. However, rejoicing in the face…
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Oct. 19, 2021 — A new cycle of online ministry certification courses is set to begin Jan. 17, 2022, at BeADisciple.com. BeADisciple.com is part of the Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College, and has offered quality online educational experiences with roots in Wesleyan theology since 2006. Church leaders and interested persons can begin progress toward certification in 10 different disciplines— Christian education, children's ministry, youth ministry, women’s ministries, spiritual formation, evangelism, rural ministry, missions, ministry with people with disabilities, and music. Requirements typically include successful completion of four online courses, and each course is six weeks long.…
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Sept. 4, 2021 — Most talented high school students know how to make the most of their abilities. Athletes work with top coaches; musicians, actors, or artists find outstanding teachers; all practice countless hours. Many spend part of their summer vacations polishing skills at camps or conferences recommended by adult mentors. At one Kansas college, though, a unique camp is teaching juniors and seniors an even more crucial skill. “We look for youth who want to hear God’s calling,” says Wendy Mohler-Seib, “because we believe when people hear God’s call we come alive.” Mohler-Seib, who is…
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