“Would you like to join ‘Disciple Online’ this year?” questioned an email sent to me in Nigeria by my

minister.

I know it is David Flavell’s hope that the majority of the congregation a Trinity will undertake this 34

week Bible Study programme. I thought “he has even found a way that I cannot make an excuse of

not doing ‘Disciple’, just because I am not in the country for most of the year!” I still tried to think of

excuses. I had already done two ‘Bible through the year’ programmes – and had committed to daily

scripture reading since I became a Christian over 35 years ago. I thought I was already a Disciple.

Hey, I had led different Bible Study groups over the years. Besides, internet connectivity was

unreliable in Nigeria and there was an hour’s time difference, especially as it was timed to be in the

late evenings and anyway I have a pretty busy life etc. etc.

Although David was coordinating this, others not in Trinity were to be included. Sandra, my wife, –

who had undertaken Local Preacher training had done ‘Disciple’ the previous year, my first set of

excuses seemed pretty lame! .....and then to find that an ex student minister at Trinity who was now

in the heart of the Methodist connexial in London was joining the online programme, how could I

not say yes... and then to put me to shame, six young people joined ‘Youth Disciple’ who were going

to commit to this, even during their exam years.

I’m glad I did sign up. Although there were other members of Trinity who decided to do the

programme online because they were unable to join a ‘day group’ or, like me, were not always in

Hexham, the ‘online group’ was open to anybody who was interested in joining. We even had

someone in the States start with us.

The technology was quite easy. As long as you have a computer and internet connectivity. I found it

easier than teleconferencing and webinars that was part of my working life.

I can only describe it as a journey. It was the first time I had undertaken reading with a Study Bible.

Apart from the commitment to read approx 2/3rds. of the Bible from Genesis through to Revelation,

the weekly ‘meetings’ was the most helpful as we has discussion questions and exercises to

complete together. We may not have had physical or even visual contact, but the group soon

became a unit that understood each other, and having people with different levels of Bible exposure

proved a good experience too . I found that the weeks we did not ‘meet’, I wanted to find out

more and probably read and researched more than was really necessary.

What I do know is that the more we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the more we get to understand

the nature of God. There are many things we do not understand, but a good grounding in His Word

really strengthens our faith. At least, it does for me! I would highly recommend David’s offer in the

last edition of Living Waters of joining a Disciple group, if you are able. If you can’t make it into

Hexham, try it ‘online’.