Emmaus Newsletter - Winter 2009-2010


NEWS AND EVENTS

Leadership Development Program

I'm happy to announce a new area of emphasis -- Leadership Development. The purpose for this new emphasis is to help us listen to the local community Boards of Directors and to nurture the partnership we have together in this global ministry. Our goal is to develop and empower local leaders -- members of the Board of Directors -- to develop relationships among leaders and among communities.

The Leadership Development program will draw the International Office, the Regional Leaders and Assistant Regional Leaders into a relationship with each of the Boards of Directors for Emmaus and Chrysalis. We want to help to equip, empower and educate you to lead their communities. We are partners, not police. Each of the Regional Leaders is enthusiastically embracing this new method. We want to know: How we can help you? What tools do you need to serve your Emmaus or Chrysalis community? We will be praying for you and hope you will pray for us.

Beginning in 2010, we will be conducting Leadership Development events in each of the five regions. We will be asking that all new Board of Director members attend one meeting. We invite other Board members interested community members to also attend. Each region will hold several (4-7) of these one-day trainings, located strategically around each region. You are asked to attend the meeting that is most convenient for you to attend. (Each year after, we’ll continue to offer 4-7 meetings in each region, inviting newly elected members of the Boards.) As a local Board member, you are only expected to attend one meeting during your three years of service on the Board of Directors. Usually, that will be your first year of service on your local board.

These Leadership Development meetings will usually be held on a Saturday and will contain six hours of content. You will be able to meet and ask questions of your Regional Leaders, meet board members from other Emmaus and Chrysalis communities, and pray together with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Emmaus and Chrysalis board members will meet together.

In order to find the location of the Leadership Development Meetings in your region, simply click on the Leadership Development link from the Emmaus or Chrysalis home pages. Or click here.

We are really looking forward to learning, growing, and praying together -- to further this global movement.

Blessings to you in this holy season,
Greg Engroff and the staff of the International Emmaus and Chryslis offices

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Our journey continues…(international updates)

During our last few months both the International Lay and Spiritual directors have been engaged in strengthening relationships with the leadership of some of our already established international Emmaus and Chrysalis communities as well as with the leaders of some emerging communities. It's been a wonderful journey that seems to get better every day…

Mexico:
On September 25-26, 2009, the Mexico Emmaus communities celebrated their 20th anniversary in Metepec, Puebla, Mexico. Around 200 pilgrims from both the Puebla and the Mexico communities gathered to celebrate this milestone. Alma Vázquez and Alejandro Monroy, the two current Lay Directors and their Boards coordinated this national gathering. Bishops Moisés Valderrama and Manuel Hernández, who have been very active in Emmaus lead morning devotions. Most of the original six members who came to the US to do their walks and who later served in the original Steering Committee where present and shared words of encouragement. Representatives from the Puerto Rico and Guatemala communities, which were formed with the support of the Puebla community brought greetings from their respective boards. Our International Spiritual Director had the closing remarks and challenged the current two Emmaus communities to expand their ministry into the northern part of Mexico.

Ukraine:
On Oct. 19, 2009, our International Lay Director met in Jackson Mississippi with three men from Ukraine who came to the US invited by their friends in the Central Mississippi Emmaus community in Jackson, MS. They came to participate in the Central Mississippi Emmaus Men's Walk #235. After having participated in a wonderful weekend they met with our International Lay Director, to discuss the upcoming steps regarding the formation of an Emmaus community in Ukraine. Rev. John Garrott and Br. Bo Bowens, hosted the meeting between Greg Engroff and pastors Sergey Pinchuk, Koistia Kosobokov, Jacob Melonkanian. They met with them on behalf of the CMEC board. Both Brother Bo Bowen, and Rev. John Garrott will continue to work with our international office as plans to launch Emmaus in Ukraine continue to develop.

South Korea:
Also, on Oct. 19, 2009, our International Spiritual Director met in Dallas, TX with a group of Korean leaders who came to observe and gain additional knowledge by serving on a women's and on a men's walk in the Dallas area. Several of the leaders who came where part of the original group who came in 2005 to do their walks in Dallas and who are now leaders of the Walk to Emmaus community in Seoul, Korea. The intent of this trip was to provide first hand conference room and background service exposure to a group of Korean leaders who will start two new communities in Korea. The little seed that was planted by our Denton Emmaus and Dallas Emmaus communities back in 2005 has sprouted and grown quickly. We praise God for this miracle and for the commitment of our brothers and sisters in South Korea and their partners in Dallas, TX.

Bahamas:
During the weekends of October 15-18, and Oct. 22-25, 2009 we had the Men's and Women's walk # 1 in Bahamas. The Bahamas Sonshine Emmaus community is our youngest community in the international field. Joy Sargent, Community Lay Director and Rev. Charles Sweeting, Community Spiritual Director are grateful to God for allowing them to have Emmaus in their country. They are also grateful for all the volunteers who came to help during these first set of walks. Friends from the US, especially Florida provided leadership for both teams and for background. Our office supported these first walks by having three of our certified leaders Rev. Faith Weedling, Ideal Curtis and Mike Sullivan serving in different roles. We praise God for our new community and for the local Emmaus leadership. The second set of walks will be offered in the Spring of 2010.

Romania:
On Nov. 12, 2009 we have the visit of Rev. Eugene Groza, President of MLI in Timisoara, Romania and five members of the North Georgia Emmaus community who are committed to support the launching of an Emmaus community in Romania. So far, the North Georgia Emmaus community has sponsored 10 leaders from Romania to attend the walks here in the US. Rev. Groza, is very excited with the possibilities of how Emmaus can help in the development of both lay and clergy leaders from churches in Romania. He and the delegation from the NGE community met with our International Spiritual Director to discuss future plans and potential dates for the first set of walks in Romania. Mrs. Lorna Martin chairs the Board committee that will work with our office and the Emmaus leaders in Romania.

Zimbabwe:
The Walk to Emmaus National Board in Zimbabwe received the visit of one of the International Directors. Greg Engroff came to Zimbabwe on Nov. 5-9, 2010, after being invited by Mazvita Machinga, former Zimbabwe Lay Director who attended our International Advisory Committee in April of 2009. Greg provided leadership development for both clergy and lay leaders of the three Emmaus and Chrysalis communities in the country. He was also the main speaker for their annual general meeting (AGM) in Harare. During his visit Greg was able to meet and strengthen relationships not only with the leaders of the Zimbabwe Emmaus communities but also with leaders of the United Methodist Church in Harare.

South Africa:
While in Africa, our International Lay Director was also invited to come to South Africa and attend their annual general meeting (AGM) in Port Elizabeth, SA from Nov. 11-14, 2010. Greg led workshops and addressed the membership of the Africa South Emmaus/Chrysalis National Board. This National Board is comprised of representatives from the 24 Emmaus and Chrysalis communities in the country. Greg also brought greetings to the Board and members of Port Elizabeth Emmaus community as they gathered to celebrate their 10th anniversary.

De Colores & Fly with Christ!

Rev. Victor Perez
International Spiritual Director
The Walk to Emmaus

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LETTERS FROM LEADERS

Keeping the Journey

The "Walk to Emmaus" is not just another Christian event.

What is the walk to Emmaus? Its the beginning of a life long journey! We all share that the "Walk to Emmaus" is an unparalleled mountain top experience! To be experienced only once!

The challenge following this mountain top experience, is that no matter how exhilarating the climb, how matchless the view, one cannot remain there. The valley awaits!

When God touched your sponsor's heart, God knew that you would meet for three days with an apparent group of stangers and yet by the end of the seventy-two hours these "strangers" would end up being your closest friends for life, as you experienced Gods love like never before!

Now the test of our mountain top experience and commitment, is not the climb up, so much as the climb down. As Christ met you on the mountain top, he always meets us in the valleys!

That's why the 4th day grouping is so important. That's where we grow. The 4th day sustains Christ's spirit and moves "Walk" from a wonderful Christian event to a life long shared journey with your new found companions in Christ.

Whether you "Group" in a church program or at an Emmaus 4th day group, we can still find victory in the valley and sustain the "spirit" as he still walks with us on the Emmaus road!

Stay the Journey!

You can always count on Christ and Christ is still counting on you!

De Colores,
Rev. John P. Whittemore

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LETTERS FROM PARTICIPANTS

To all our Brothers and Sisters of the 4th Day Community,

Last fall, a group of friends had an exciting and powerful experience that we would like to share with you. Our small group came together with a specific intention in mind, to sponsor our daughters on a Chrysalis weekend. Little did we know all the plans God had in store for us and the affect it would have on not only the girls, but all of us.

We wanted, as sponsors of our six daughters, to prepare ourselves spiritually as well as prepare for the responsibilities as sponsors. Our group was quite diverse, we are from various different churches, religions, and attended different weekends, including Emmaus, Trais Dias and Cursillo. This complemented our experience together, it was totally awesome and it re-light that fire in our hearts which we felt on our weekend walk. During our small group meetings, we prayed for the Girls, for the other Caterpillars, and for the Team. We had a devotion time and planned for the "big weekend". We prepared Agape for our daughters, planed to serve a meal during the weekend and planed to attend all of the 4th day events including: clap-out, sponsors hour, candle-light and closing. Best of all, we bonded together as followers of Christ to form a support group for our daughters and for each other.

One unique aspect of our group was that one of our couples was hosting a foreign exchange student from Germany. She decided that she would like to attend Chrysalis with her new American friends. Since we wanted to ask her parents for Agape, we decided to find out if Germany had anything equivalent to Chrysalis. We checked it out on the Emmaus national web site and within a day was able to have an Email dialog with them. The answer was, "Yes. Chrysalis does exist in Germany. Why do you ask"? We told them our story and immediately they responded how excited they were. They told us they would be praying for these girls. As you can imagine, this got us pretty fired up as well. Just knowing that she will be taking the fire and passion of Christ back home with her is so powerful for us.

How terrific this whole experience was for us. We were able to share together and with our daughters in a very powerful way. This experience will bond them as classmates and could potentially have a significant impact on the entire high school student body. This dynamic weekend likely will spread seeds of Christ's love throughout our communities, the US and in Europe. It rekindled the fire for 10 adult sponsors once again and created a special bond between parents and daughter and also between friends.

We highly encourage anyone reading this article to consider sponsoring a teenager on a Chrysalis or Journey Weekend. You will be Blessed, as were we. If you have ever attended an adult closing and were touched by the responses of those two questions, "What has this weekend meant to you?" and "What do you intend to do with it?" hearing the teenagers give their witness will absolutely touch your heart.

God Bless you, your 4th day brothers and sisters in Christ.

Shannon Gehlhausen
(Evansville District Walk to Emmaus, Evansville Area Cursillo, Southwest Indiana Walk to Emmaus)

I'm Here Lord
My Emmaus Journey

I'm here Lord.
Is this where you want me to be? You have cleared the way
And led me to the beginning of my journey that starts today.

I'm here Lord. Can you hear me in the silence? Are you aware of my longing for you?
In the quiet darkness around me, Is it truly me you pursue?

I'm here Lord. Are you speaking to my heart? I'm listening for your whisper to me.
Are you wooing me Lord? Is it your face I am beginning to see?

I'm here Lord.
With all my fear and pain in hand; All my doubt that separated us.
This wall I have built around myself beginning to crumble to dust.

I'm here Lord.
Oh, the grace raining down; Circling me, healing my soul.
Take this burden from me Lord. Take me over; take control

I'm here Lord.
My hands raised to you; in praise of you; Peace and Joy flowing like a river.
I feel your hand touching mine. Sweet release; full surrender.

I'm here Lord.
Overflowing with this gift of salvation, here is where my fourth day begins
Taking You with me in my journey; Divine Grace; Holy Spirit;
Love that never ends!

Poem by Gail Harris

More Information about Emmaus including Regional Representatives, Emmaus staff members and more is available at http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus (http://www.upperroom.org/chrysalis)

The Upper Room
1908 Grand Ave
Nashville, TN 37203