TITLE: Celebrates 10 Years of Bible Study
Release # 008 {2972}
General Conference '96
DENVER (UMNS) -- Launching a year-long celebration to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Disciple Bible Study, officials of the United Methodist Publishing House, held a birthday party here, April 17 during the church's General Conference.
Disciple, a 34-week program of disciplined small-group Bible Study was celebrated under the theme,"We've a Story to Tell." The evening anniversary celebration offered delegates and visitors to the quadrennial assembly an opportunity to see the role the program has played in inspiring people, congregations and communities. Program founders, teachers and users gave testimonials to the effect the study has had on them personally, other individuals and the denomination.
The study originated as a dream in Flower Mound, Texas, in March 1986. A group of 18 pastors, theologians, lay people, Christian educators, biblical scholars, editors, marketers and a bishop, met to develop a pastor-directed Bible study for training Christian disciples. Together these individuals turned the dream into a resource and produced "Disciple: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study."
Aimed at developing strong Christian leaders, the study carries participants through the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation. Other studies take graduates deeper into selected portions of Scripture.
According to Neil Alexander, president and publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House, more than 400,000 people have participated in the study. He said that from its inception in Texas, the program has grown throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia and other places around the globe. More than 20,000 people have trained to lead the studies and more than 14,000 young people have participated in the study.
The impact of Disciple on the United Methodist Church has been "phenomenal" said the Rev. Mike Watson, pastor of Dauphin Way United Methodist Church, Mobile, Ala. "So many lives have been transformed."
Flo Sapp Martin, a leading Christian educator and interpreter of curriculum for the Publishing House, said Disciple has carried people into the Bible where they have not been before.
"It has revolutionized my life, my ministry, my own personal life," said the Rev. Zan Holmes, pastor of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church, Dallas. He said the program has made a difference in how he approaches and delivers sermons. " People have struggled with the Bible ... are much more informed ... I am challenged in a new way by my congregation."
Dal Joon Won attended the celebration representing the Korean perspective on the study. As editor and translator for the Korean language, he said he discovered that God can speak a common language and there is no need for technical and scholarly language to communicate.
According to Tony Nancarrow, president of Media Communications in Australia, Disciple is an "excellent means of addressing biblical illiteracy."
"I have a new appreciation for the impact of scripture's power in my life," Nancarrow said. "It has re-ignited the importance of the Word in my own devotional life."
Because of the success of two Disciple Bible Study programs, Publishing House officials said people are eagerly awaiting "Disciple: Remember Who You Are," the third study now underway.
Alexander said people are ready to "confront and be confronted by the hard words of the prophets" and "hungry for the meat" of Paul's Gospel. "Its message is simple," he said. "Call home!"
-- Linda Green
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