Thanks to the generous and ongoing support of Maralene and Miles Wesner of Idabel, Oklahoma, this new, growing online library provides a wide array of resources to advance the following of Jesus as the defining Christian priority.
Longtime educators, writers and ministers, the Wesners have been advocating for the Way of Jesus for many decades. Their extensive writings often focus on Jesus’ life and teachings, and the call for all would-be disciples to reflect his courage, consistency and compassion.
Whether for individual or group study, teaching or worship, the offerings found in the Maralene and Miles Wesner Jesus Worldview Library are scholarly yet applicable to the daily living out of the Christian faith through the lens of Jesus’ words and deeds.
Among the resources are the Wesners’ books Do You Really Know Jesus? (2021), If Jesus Were Here Today (2022) and Sensible Sermons: Timeless Teachings of Jesus (2023).
Other titles of theirs may be found at the Nurturing Faith Bookstore. https://goodfaithmedia.org/?s=Wesner&post_type=product&type_aws=true
The Wesners have committed to making ongoing annual gifts to Belmont University designated for the Jesus Worldview Initiative, a part of the Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership.
Their support enables the creation and continuation of this valued resource library along with other programs and projects of the Jesus Worldview Initiative.
The web-based Maralene and Miles Wesner Resource Library is being continually populated with varied resources for preaching, teaching and learning about the defining Christian priority of following Jesus.
“This passion isn’t new to us,” said Maralene Wesner of the couple’s decades of writing and speaking against cultural efforts to define Christianity in ways that downplay or dismiss how Jesus taught his followers to live.
Prolific writers, the Wesners have published 14 books in recent years and three earlier. Each volume ties into the larger theme of focusing the Christian faith on Jesus’ life and teachings.
Marlene has taught university classes in psychology and sociology. As a kindergarten teacher, she was named Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year in 1975.
One of the Wesners’ creative, educational developments led to the popular “Hooked on Phonics” methodology.
Miles has taught college classes as well, in psychology and philosophy. For more than 50 years he served a small-church pastorate where he and Maralene co-wrote sermons and led evening discussions on the topics.
“The church is not charged with making clones, but disciples,” said Miles. “That means students,” Maralene added.
They see supporting Belmont’s Jesus Worldview Initiative as the ideal way to keep their message and ministry extending into the future.
“It is simply amazing to look at the impressive body of work this one collaborative couple has produced over the past half century,” said John Pierce, director of Belmont’s Jesus Worldview Initiative.
“Their contributions are varied, but consistent,” he added. “They call all of us to take Jesus’ life and teachings more seriously.”