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Popularity of 'Disciple' Bible study grows

9/3/2002 News media contact: Kathy Gilbert · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn.

NOTE: This is a sidebar to UMNS story #385. A head-and-shoulders photograph of Bishop Richard B. Wilke is available at http://umns.umc.org/photos/headshots.html online.

By United Methodist News Service

In March 1986, a group of 18 people gathered in Flower Mound, Texas, at the urging of Bishop Richard B. Wilke.

Wilke had a vision for a Bible study to train Christian disciples. The group of pastors, theologians, laypeople, Christian educators, Bible scholars, publishers, editors and marketers developed that idea into Disciple Bible study.

The first training event for leaders for the Bible study was held in 1987, and since then more than 40,000 people have been trained to lead Disciple. There are 12,490 churches enrolled in the Bible study and it is being used by 34 denominations.

As of June, 1.2 million people in the United States have participated in Disciple. The study has been translated into French, Chinese, German, Korean, Spanish, and Russian. There are now four different Disciple studies: Disciple I: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study; Disciple II: Into the Word, Into the World; Disciple III: Remember Who You Are; and Disciple IV: Under the Tree of Life.

"Disciple is not about the church; it is not even about the individuals who participate. It is about the activity of God in creation," says Neil Alexander, president of the United Methodist Publishing House, producer of the Disciple series.

"Disciple presents the Word of God without a lot of interpretation or entanglements. It allows God to speak and the people to hear," says Alexander, explaining why the series has been so popular.

Being involved in a Disciple Bible study is "intense," Alexander says. Disciple is designed as a 34-session study for groups of 12. Group members must commit to daily Bible readings and three to four hours each week in preparation for the two-hour weekly sessions. Teachers must complete a three-day training session.

The growth of Disciple Bible studies means "there has been a hunger and seeking that is already present in the lives of these congregations," Alexander says. "Disciple is an answer to those prayers."

For more information about Disciple Bible study, call (800) 251-8591 or (800) 672-1789, or go to www.umph.org/disciple online.
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