Sponsorship is an act of love ...

for God,

for the Pilgrims,

for the church, and

for the Emmaus Community.

It is a demonstration of agape love.

It is making oneself an instrument of prevenient Grace.

"...SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE."  Galatians 5:13

When you agree to sponsor a Pilgrim for the weekend, you accept certain responsibilities for that person.

How To Sponsor Others

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.   Extend an invitation. Invite them to attend for the sake of a more vital relationship with Jesus Christ, not jus 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.

4.   Ask them to make a commitment by filling out the registration form. If the person is married, speak with both partners and encourage an equal commitment by both spouses.

5.   Continue to pray, prepare agape letters, enlist the support of their pastor. Collect eight to twelve personal agape letters. Do not ask the team to deliver personal gifts during the weekend.

6.   Support the Walk through your prayers during the 72 hour prayer vigil and your presence at the send off, sponsors hour, Candlelight, and Closing. Support the Pilgrim’s family by house sitting, baby sitting, and watering plants, picking up the mail, feeding pets or just checking in with the spouse to see if any help is needed.

7.   Encourage the Pilgrim in his or her Fourth day involvement. Give you friend an opportunity to talk through and appropriate the experience. Help them find a group. Or, be prepared to start a group with him or her for a period of time until they find others to be in the group. Take them to Gatherings as your guest for a couple of months.

8.   Help the pilgrim reenter their Church and consider ways to act out new commitment and enthusiasm.

9.   Inform the Pilgrim of how he or she can serve the Emmaus community and future walks.

10.  Help the Pilgrim sponsor others.

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Please note:

·  It is recommend by the Upper Room and the SWTC Emmaus Registrar that recent Walk to Emmaus attendees wait 6 months before sponsoring their first Pilgrim.

·  It is also recommended by the SWTC Emmaus Registrar that a Sponsor should sponsor no more than one to two pilgrims on a single Walk.

Source/s: DAY FOUR: The Pilgrim’s Continued Journey;

also found in Steve Bryant’s Handbook, pages 23-24.

On-Line: swtxumc.org/emmaus

Scholarships

My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19

It is the desire of the Coastal Bend Emmaus Community that no one should be turned away from the Walk to Emmaus because of financial needs. Therefore, as a sponsor if you find there is a potential pilgrim in need for support here are some suggestions.

First of all, it is sometimes a misconception that the sponsor should always pay for the pilgrim. If the pilgrim has means to do so themselves it is a good thing for the pilgrim to be invested in the weekend. If the full fee is a problem, is it possible the pilgrim can pay for half the fee? When you find there is a shortfall there are several scenarios that can relieve the situation. Go first to their church. A lot of churches have funds for sponsoring their congregations on Walks. Talk to your reunion group and tell them about your desire to sponsor this person and your need to attain sufficient funds to do so. Co-sponsor a pilgrim with other friends that have been on the Walk to Emmaus and share the cost.

If after all avenues have been pursued and there is still a deficit you should contact the Treasurer of the Coastal Bend Emmaus Community (email). The CBEC has a dedicated scholarship fund for pilgrims that can not find other means of support. The CBEC will award a scholarship of one-half the fee.

Remember when we give to those in need, there is not only benefit to the receiver, but we are benefited as well. Your pilgrim will appreciate and be touched by your spirit and devotion and if you listen closely you will hear God’s words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.

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The Emmaus movement does not exist primarily for the weekend Walks.

Its purposes are to deepen the faith of individuals, to increase the faith of congregations, and to bring Christianity to the world.