BeADisciple Study App ‘Best in Class’ of United Methodist Association of Communicators Awards

  November 6, 2023 — The BeADisciple Study App has been named best in class for internet communications in the 2023 United Methodist Association of Communicators Awards competition.   The app, which began public beta testing in August 2023, is a ministry of the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship and is designed to be the next generation of small-group Christian study. It combines quality content with the dynamism of digital technology and the power of small-group study. All study materials are on the app, including lessons, videos, readings, and the complete Common…continue reading →

Southwestern College’s Institute for Discipleship Launches Global Christian Small Group Study App

August 24, 2023 — After more than two years of development and testing, a state-of-the-art app created by the Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College is now available for widespread use around the world. The BeADisciple Study App has been created by a team that has included SC alumni in the United States and Indonesia.  The app was developed to make small group Bible studies available to groups that may not be in the same location or time zone. All materials for each of the studies are included on the app, so internet…continue reading →

Institute for Discipleship Concludes Successful Fundraising Campaign

August 24, 2023 -- The Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College has announced the successful completion of a fundraising campaign that will support the development of its new BeADisciple Study App. Donors contributed more than half a million dollars, surpassing the campaign’s goal.   In April of this year the Institute board had approved a $500,000 fund raising goal to be met by June 30, 2023. The campaign was launched by a matching gift of $250,000 from Bishop Richard B. Wilke. On June 30, the final tally for the campaign was $547,162.78.  “These gifts…continue reading →

Lori Richey Named Director of Online Learning at Institute for Discipleship

June 6, 2023 (Winfield, Kansas) -- Lori Richey has been named director of online education for the Institute for Discipleship, and will oversee all offerings at BeADisciple.com beginning July 1. 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.  Lisa Buffum, who had been director of BeADisciple.com for 17 years, has taken a position as pastor of a local church.   Richey has been on staff at the Institute for Discipleship since 2018, most recently as program director…continue reading →