Forty Pilgrims in Forty Days
Good things are happening in our Community. One of those good things is a growing understanding and appreciation of the significance of Fourth Day. The fullness of our Fourth Day determines the effectiveness of our Community in fulfilling its mission to strengthen the Church. In addition to serving our home churches, faithfully participating in Reunion Groups, Gatherings, anonymous service, preparation for and serving a Walk (in any capacity), providing financial support and sponsoring new Pilgrims are all critical to the health of our Community.
It is fair to say that of all the elements of Fourth Day, the one that has the most immediate, measurable impact on our Community is sponsorship. And yet, we have come to leave concern for sponsorship until the end. What would happen if we put sponsorship first? Rather than scheduling a Walk hoping and praying that Pilgrims will come, what if we were to seek a constant stream of Pilgrims who were hoping and praying that we would schedule a Walk for them?
We can make this happen by encouraging our Christian friends to apply for a Walk with the understanding that the timing of the next Walk depends first on the interest of applicants. That is, when a sufficient number of applications have been received, the Community will schedule the next Walks. At that point, applicants would be contacted (in the order their applications were received) to determine their availability for the dates selected. No one would lose a place in line just because a date doesn't work. When we have commitments for the proposed dates from at least the minimum number of Pilgrims needed for a Walk (20), Team Selection would go forward.
There are two keys to this. One is the faithful, continuous commitment of the Community to sponsorship. The other is agreeing on the number of applications needed to start the process. Our Community Board has settled on the very Biblical number of forty applicants to start the process. (This is not the end in itself, it’s the beginning.) What remains is for each of us to talk to all those Christian friends and get their names on applications. To do this without a date in mind, we'll have to share what we know about Emmaus. We’ll have to share how Walking to Emmaus has blessed our own lives. Freed from the calendar, we can concentrate on the purpose of Emmaus. We’re not just trying to fill a Walk. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we’re trying to light fires in the hearts of God’s people.
To jump start this process the Board is challenging us to find Forty Pilgrims in Forty Days. The goal is forty men and forty women. Our forty days will begin with the June 10th Gathering and run through July 20th. Start now and bring as many completed applications as possible to the June Gathering. We'll build from there. No cash deposits are required at this stage, only completed applications. Applications can also be mailed to Jewel Keen, our Registrar, at 123 Patriot Circle, Scottsville KY 42164. If you don't have an application form, click on the "EMMAUS" tab to the left of this page and print one off from there.
This is an exciting time in our Community, a time of renewal, maybe even a time of revival. We can help ignite that revival with Forty Pilgrims in Forty Days. Change a life. Sponsor a Pilgrim.