Article from Great Plains Conference: Amp It Up! camp experience transforms young musicians

Kaitlin Kendel from Abilene Emanuel UMC leads a group practicing to lead worship at the Great Plains Annual Conference session June 15 during the recent Amp It Up! music camp at Southwestern College. Photo by David Burke by David Burke, communications coordinator for the Great Plains Conference of the UMC  Kaitlin Kendel remembers a past participant at the Amp It Up! worship band camp. “She didn’t even want to play guitar. She came here because her friends were coming,” recalled Kendel, now worship director at Abilene Emanuel United Methodist Church, where that same girl…continue reading →

Holy Land trip being organized for May, 2018

Those who have always wanted to take a trip to the Holy Land have the chance of a lifetime this spring. The Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College is hosting a 10-day trip to the Holy Lands May 14-23, 2018. Anyone is invited to join the tour, even those not residing in Winfield, Kansas, where the Institute is headquartered. The trip is being coordinated by Rev. Kent Melcher through Educational Opportunities (EO), a recognized leader in international group travel. Registration for the trip will close on March 1st, 2018. Any journey to the Holy…continue reading →

Culture of Call Event & Timothy Circle Connections

Guest post by Jen Burch of United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries Promising young athletes are connected with key coaches, sought out and recruited to excellent teams and sports programs. Promising young scholars’ test scores are shared with top universities, building a pipeline toward future academic success. Who’s responsible for recognizing, “coaching,” and developing promising young disciples of Jesus Christ? What are the key opportunities that will nurture their gifts and build their skills and networks? Could we more intentionally build faithful young Christian leaders through whom God will transform the world? Could…continue reading →

New Board Members for the Institute for Discipleship

Four new members have been added to the Institute board. Susan Fuquay and JoAnn and Stephen Hoskins now fill the spaces vacated by Alan Ebright and Greg Thompson, who have each completed their ten-year terms on the IFD board and now relate to the board as Emeritus Members. Kim Moore replaces Cynthia Rios as the representative on the board from the Southwestern College board of trustees. Susan Fuquay Susan Fuquay is the director of program ministries at St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis, IN. Prior to this, she has been on staff of United Methodist churches…continue reading →