The mission of Disciple Agency (DA) is to build the Body of Christ through the promotion and development of the DISCIPLE Bible Study materials and other related programmes. The Agency has included resources like “Companions in Christ”, which complements DISCIPLE, with a focus on spiritual formation based on Scripture and Christian history. We believe that true renewal of the Church has to be grounded on the life-giving Word of God.
BRIEF HISTORY – U.S.A
March 1986
A group of eighteen gathered in Flower Mound, TX, committed to a dream of developing a Bible study for training Christian Disciples. Together they shaped the dream into a vision of what became DISCIPLE: BECOMING DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY.
March 1986
July of 1989
Three years after the Flower Mound gathering that gave birth to DISCIPLE, word had come across the church that lives were being changed and churches renewed. A group gathered once again and took on the challenge of providing another life-changing study. The result was DISCIPLE: INTO THE WORD INTO THE WORLD with the challenge of going deeper into the Word and out into the world.
December of 1992
A third gathering took place and the third study took shape. Experience confirmed direction and congregations were ready to confront and be confronted by the hard words of the prophets. The message was simple: Recall your past and your roots - DISCIPLE: REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE was published.
December of 1992
2001
The fourth and final study of the four-phase DISCIPLE program was published. From Creation to the New Jerusalem – that was the promise and the vision. DISCIPLE: UNDER THE TREE OF LIFE was published. The journey was long and in-depth and would take congregations through the Bible twice.
BRIEF HISTORY – SINGAPORE
1991-1992
Bishop Richard B. Wilke & his team (which included Mrs Wini Grizzle) introduced DISCIPLE to Singapore - upon the recommendation of Rev Lee Lee Castor. TRAC Bo Evangelism (English) and CAC Bo Christian Education (Mandarin) were responsible for program. Arrangements were made to send persons to USA to be certified as Trainers by participating in the Trainers' Event.
1991-1992
1992
First Leaders' Training Seminar (Mandarin) was conducted.
1993
Lay Training Centre (LTC) CAC-BDN set up to promote DISCIPLE. In April, the Chinese version of DISCIPLE 1 (Red) is completed and published.
1993
1997
DISCIPLE TASK FORCE (DTF) was set up on 1st August.
1998
DTF became DISCIPLE AGENCY (DA) on 1st August. DA secured contractual agreement with Cokesbury in the development of DISCIPLE in East Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.
1998
1999
The completion of Chinese translation for DISCIPLE 2 (Green).
2001
10th Anniversary Celebration held on 21st October in PLMC.
2001
2005
1st Trainers' Event (outside of USA) held in Singapore attended by 60 trainers both veterans and news trainers from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and UK was conducted by Mrs Wini Grizzle (assisted by Mr George Grizzle).
2007
A new programme 'Companions in Christ' is launched. One of the authors, Rev Marjorie Thompson as invited to Singapore to conduct the very first training in this region. A spiritual retreat was also conducted by her for a group of clergy. In the same year transaction of DISCIPLE 3 (Purple) into Chinese is completed.
2007
2008
1st Chinese Trainers' Event conducted in Sofitel Palm Resort, JB by a team of veterans (Rev Goh Nai Lat from Singapore, Rev Lau Hui Ming from Sarawak, Mrs Helly Hong from W. Malaysia, Rev Wilson Chan; Rev Paul Kan and Rev May Poon from Hong Kong).
2011
20th Anniversary Celebrations held on 14th July in Toa Payoh Methodist Church. Prior to the Celebrations, the 2nd Trainers’ Event was held at Methodist Centre for both local and overseas trainers. Representatives from Australia and East Asia were included into the existing pool of trainers. Meanwhile, translation of DISCIPLE 4 (Gold) into Chinese is completed.
2011
2016
Disciple Agency celebrates the 25th Anniversary of DISCIPLE in Singapore and The 3rd Trainers’ Event in Chinese is held in Kuching, Sarawak.
2021
Disciple Agency celebrate the 30th Anniversary of DISCIPLE in Singapore and Published 30th Anniversary commemorative issue OUR SACRED GARDEN.
2021
2022
The 4th Trainers’ Event in Chinese & English for DISCIPLE 1 (Red) & DISCIPLE 2 (Green) was held in Singapore.
2023
The 5th Trainers’ Event in Chinese for DISCIPLE 3 (Purple) & DISCIPLE 4 (Gold) was held in Wisma Methodist, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2023