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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A five-week study on the church’s role in pursuing racial justice will be offered by BeADisciple.com beginning Sept. 7. Facilitated by popular instructor Shirley Connally, the course’s main resource will be Jemar Tisby’s “How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice." This study will offer the opportunity to come away with a clear model for how to think about race in productive ways and a compelling call to dismantle the social system based on skin color. Tisby’s book has been described as a handbook for pursuing racial justice with hands-on suggestions supported…
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