GENERAL

Sponsorship is the most important job in Emmaus. The quality of sponsorship influences the Pilgrim, the health of the Emmaus movement, and the churches being affected by the movement. Good sponsorship is the first act of agape before a walk ever begins; the experience of the Walk for a Pilgrim really begins with how you handle sponsorship. Good sponsorship undergirds the whole weekend with sacrificial love on behalf of each Pilgrim. Sponsors use discernment in recruiting Pilgrims, embody the personal commitment of the community to each Pilgrim, and provide personal acts of agape on the weekend for the Pilgrims.

The aim of a sponsor should not be "to get all my friends to go," to fill up the weekend, to fix people's problems, or to reproduce one's own religious experience in others. Rather, the aim of the sponsor is to bring spiritual revitalization to Christians who will, in turn, bring new life to the work of the church in the congregation, home, workplace and community. The aim of sponsorship is to build up the body of Christ.

SELECTING PILGRIMS

Emmaus is for active Christian church members whose own renewal will mean new energy, commitment, and vision in the church and everyday environments, for Christ's sake. That would include:

  • church leaders (pastors and laypersons) who will bring new vision, commitment and understanding back to their congregations;
  • dependable church members who are the quiet backbone of the church;
  • less active members who need their awareness of grace rekindled and their commitment renewed;
  • Christians who want to grow spiritually.
Emmaus is right for many people, but not for everyone. Some examples for whom Emmaus may not be appropriate are:
  • non-Christians and persons with no relationship to the church of Jesus Christ
  • persons undergoing an emotional crisis (such as family breakup or severe grief) or who are psychologically unstable;
  • Christians whose theology and/or practice is notably different or incompatible with the traditional theology and practice represented by the Walk to Emmaus;
  • church hoppers;
  • persons who are always looking for a new spiritual high or another experience to help them "arrive."
Please note that if your Pilgrim meets any of the conditions above, you will be asked to explain why an exception should be made for them.

STEPS OF SPONSORSHIP

1 - Pray for the person's openness to God's call to discipleship, not for how to get him or her to go on a Walk.

2 - Make an appointment with the person or couple for the purpose of discussing their participation in Emmaus.

3 - Invite them to attend for the sake of a more vital relationship with Jesus Christ, not just a weekend to go on. Share your faith; explain the basic elements of the Walk, its purpose, and follow-up dimensions which help us live in grace for the rest of our lives. Have the attitude that you are giving them a wonderful gift rather than that they need to go. Don't assume the person(s) you are sponsoring will experience the same things you did. Each of us is at a different place on our spiritual journey. For some, the Emmaus experience will be a mountaintop, a new beginning. For others, it will be a strengthening for the journey they are already on. We must not pre-judge our pilgrims or set them up with unhelpful expectations. There are NO expected results other than the person experiencing God's love.

4 - You will want to tell them the following:

  • everyone will be sleeping on a mattress on the floor or on a cot; showers are public.
  • a Pilgrim is expected to participate in all activities from 7:30PM Thursday until Closing at 5PM Sunday.
  • everyone should bring his or her own bedding, pillows, towels, and comfortable clothing.
  • no contact with family or business is expected, except for emergencies. It is not appropriate to bring pagers or cellular phones on the weekend.
  • what the three days meant to you and what it did for your personal relationship with Christ.
  • what effect the Walk had on your family, church, and job.
  • how it helped change your priorities.
  • how you have kept involved through Group Reunions, Gatherings and serving as a team member during Walks.
  • that each weekend is unique, but that each person seems to find exactly what God wants him or her to experience, if they remain open.
  • that there are 10 talks by laity and 5 by clergy; and that time is spent discussing them.
  • that there is chapel time for meditation and prayer, and communion is served every day.
  • that there is good food, fellowship, singing and fun. Special dietary needs will be accommodated with advance notice.
Since we would like the experience to be fresh and new for each Pilgrim, you may choose not to tell them about the personal agape, Footwashing, Dying Moments, Candlelight and Mañanitas. However, you may share these if it would be helpful to the Pilgrim. Above all, do not make anything in Emmaus a secret.

5 - Ask them to make a commitment by filling out the Request for Reservation.

If the person is married, speak with both partners and encourage an equal commitment by both spouses. If one is willing to attend and the other is not, contact the Community Director before proceeding.

6 - When you receive the completed Request for Reservation, fill out the Sponsor's form and return both to the Registrar with a $10.00 application fee ($20.00 per couple).

7 - When you receive notification of the Pilgrim's acceptance, begin to collect agape letters.

8 - Support the Walk through your prayers during the 72-hour Prayer Vigil, and your presence at Sponsor's Hour, Candlelight, Mañanitas and Closing. Support the Pilgrim's family by house-sitting, baby sitting, watering plants, picking up mail, feeding pets, or just checking in with a spouse to see if any help is needed.

9 - Encourage the Pilgrim in his or her Fourth Day involvement. Help them find a grouping or be prepared to start a group with him or her until they find others to be in a group.

10 - Help the Pilgrim re-enter their church and consider ways to act out their new commitment and enthusiasm.

11 - Inform the Pilgrim of how he or she can serve the Emmaus Community and future Walks.

12 - Help the Pilgrim sponsor others.

SPONSOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES

As a sponsor, you are expected to participate by:

  • Praying for the Pilgrim before, during and after the Walk
  • Obtaining agape for the Pilgrim
  • Bringing the Pilgrim to the weekend between 7:30 and 8 PM on Thursday
  • Attending Sponsor's Hour at 8:15 PM on Thursday
  • Attending Candlelight at 8:30 PM on Saturday
  • Attending Mañanitas at 5:30 AM on Sunday
  • Attending Closing at 2:30 PM on Sunday
  • Taking the Pilgrim home Sunday evening
  • Supporting the Pilgrim's family during the weekend
  • Bringing the Pilgrim to the Reunion after the Walk
  • Bringing the Pilgrim to at least their first Gathering
  • Introducing the Pilgrim to Grouping
If you are ready to sponsor a pilgrim, please print these forms, ask your potential pilgrim to complete his/her form, and send both the pilgrim and completed sponsor application to our Registrar with the $10.00 application fee.

SPONSOR'S APPLICATION
PILGRIM'S APPLICATION