Abingdon Press has published a new and revised edition of Making Disciples: Mentor Guide written by Bishop William H. Willimon, professor of the practice of Christian ministry at Duke Divinity School. The book has set the standard for mentoring novice Christians into the faith since its publication two decades ago.

The revision of Making Disciples strengthens and updates the 13-session, mentor-based confirmation program, which was innovative in its inception and has been used in thousands of churches of dozens of different denominations during the last 20 years.  

The program pairs confirmands with adult mentors and guides them through a variety of learning experiences that strengthen the student's understanding of the faith, while connecting him or her with the community of believers in a personal way. It can be used as a stand-alone program or in conjunction with a current curriculum as a special experiential unit. 

Using an “apprenticeship” approach to confirmation, Willimon produced the series of learning experiences where adult mentors and confirmands are both teachers and learners simultaneously. Topics explore the basics of Christian faith: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, worship, the Bible, gifts, ministry, baptism, spiritual life, death and resurrection, and the church.

Abingdon has published three books—Coordinator’s Guide, Mentor Guide, and Confirmand’s Journal—by Willimon under the “Making Disciples” title. They are all in workbook formats and are coordinated with one another.  They are each to be used by coordinators, mentors, and confirmands.

Willimon is a retired bishop of the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church, after serving for 20 years as faculty member and dean of Duke University Chapel.