Click for a printable copy of these Responsibilities/Hints

RESPONSIBILITIES OF/HINTS TO PILGRIM SPONSORS FOR THE WALK TO EMMAUS

for members of the Greater Waco Emmaus community.

Good sponsorship is vital to the continuation of the Emmaus Movement. We are faced with the challenge of educating pilgrims on the role and importance of good sponsorship. It is the most important part of Emmaus. It is the first act of agape before the "Walk" even begins.

The reason for sponsoring 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 someone else. Our purpose should be to bring spiritual renewal to those who will, In turn, bring a new life and vision back to their church, home, workplace, and community. The ultimate purpose is to build up the Body of Christ.

I . The backbone of the church, the quiet "behind the scenes" folks.

2. Less active members who need their awareness of grace rekindled and their commitment renewed.

3. Christians who are hungry for "something more" and to grow spiritually.

4. Church leaders (clergy and lay) who will bring new vision and vitality back to the church and who need the renewal and to experience the grace unique in Emmaus.

1 . Non-Christians and persons without connections to the church.

2. Persons undergoing emotional crisis (recent divorce or severe grief) or who are psychological unstable.

3. A person who decides not to attend a walk after being presented the opportunity.

Wise sponsorship is purposeful and prayerful. After you have prayerfully selected your pilgrim.. here are some hints on preparing for the Walk.

1. Take the application to your pilgrim and have him/her fill it out in your presence answering any question he/she may want to ask. Obtain the registration fee. Take the application to the pilgrim's pastor for his/her signature and then mail it to the Emmaus Registrar (address on the application).

2. After you have received conformation of the pilgrim's "Walk date," begin working on letters. Letters are an extremely important part of the weekend, so spend some time and investigative measures to insure your pilgrim has at least ten letters in your possession when you take them for their weekend. Some areas to search for letters besides the spouse are Sunday School classes. work, family, or other organizations they may be involved in and your own church Emmaus Community.

3. Be sure your pilgrim knows that you will be delivering and picking them up and remind them to bring the balance of the money owed for their weekend.

4. Take your pilgrim to send-off Make sure there will be a pastor present to send them prayerfully on their weekend. Remind community members of send-off time, so they can attend.

5. Secure agape from reunion groups, individuals and local community. Agape can range from physical gifts, to food and drink, to participating in the 72-hour prayer vigil. Mark the agape, i.e. how much there is, who it is from, and if you have a preference when you want it delivered. Perhaps you would like it delivered after a certain talk, in the dining room or agape to be put on their pillow before bed, etc. This will help greatly with the agape distribution during the weekend. Either give the agape to someone on the team prior to the Walk or discreetly bring it with the pilgrim to the Walk Seek advice from a team member as to where the agape needs to be left.

6. Be sure to ask the pilgrim's pastor to write a letter and notify the pilgrim's local church the week before the Walk so a notice can be put in the newsletter and the pastor - lift them up during the Sunday pastoral prayers.

7. Ask your pilgrim to read Luke 24 several times before the walk.

8. Find out if your pilgrim needs a special diet or medication regimen and pass this information onto the Lay Director.

9. Explain sleeping arrangements. Sleeping and showers are very personal activities and pilgrims need to know how to prepare for them.

10. Let the pilgrim know personal participation is expected from 7 pm Thursday until approximately 6 pm on Sunday.

11. Explain to the pilgrim there will be no contact with their family or business except, of course, in an emergency.

12. Remind the pilgrim to leave at home the following: cell phones, pagers, radios, lap tops and cameras. You can ask them to leave their watch at home or leave it to the Lay Director who asks that their watches be taken off and put away on Thursday evening.

13. Tell the pilgrim how each weekend is unique and that each person seems to find exactly what God wants that person to experience. The pilgrim can look forward to gaining a new enthusiasm for serving God.

14. Plan on three trips during the weekend your pilgrim is on the Walk: (1) Take the pilgrim on Thursday evening and attend Sponsors' Hour after leaving the pilgrim; (2) Candlelight on Saturday evening; and (3) Closing on Sunday afternoon. Specific times will be sent to you by the Lay Director.

15. Add your pilgrim's name to the Waco Emmaus Community listing by contacting Rob & Janette Scott  405 Ranchcrest Road, Lorena, TX  76655 or on the Internet: scottsinlorena@hot.rr.com Notify Janice by the I 5th of the month prior to your pilgrim's Walk so his/her name can be included in the monthly newsletter.

16. Check on Spouse left at home for the weekend, perhaps inviting them for dinner on Friday evening. Let them know your pilgrim arrived at the Walk and all was well.

17. Pray for your pilgrim, the Lay and Spiritual Directors, the team members, fellow pilgrims and all who will share in your pilgrim's weekend.

18. After closing on Sunday, offer to take your pilgrim to eat on the way home. This gives them an opportunity to share the events of the weekend.

19. Encourage your pilgrim to become active in a reunion group immediately after their return, if none are convenient for their schedule, encourage and help form a new group.

20. Take or meet your pilgrim at the first Waco Community Gathering and Potluck Dinner after their Walk.

21. After glows - Be sure to bring and attend your pilgrim's Afterglow following their Walk and encourage them to be a pail of future After glows for others.

The ultimate reason for sponsoring a pilgrim for the "Walk To Emmaus" is to strengthen and deepen that person's relationship with Jesus and to create an enthusiastic disciple to do God's work in his/her home, church and community.

The ultimate reason for YOUR wanting to sponsor someone is Christ's love and your wanting that same love for the prospective pilgrim. Christ's love fills us up and we want to PASS IT ON!