September Chairman's Message

A Word from Our Board Chairman

Bill Grace

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7

Dear Emmaus Community,

What an exciting season we are entering as a community! Fall Walks are underway, and once again we have the privilege of watching God work through ordinary people who simply say “yes” to serving Him.

We began our fall season earlier this month with a wonderful Women’s Walk led by Jennifer Shephard. We are thankful for Jennifer, her team, and every person who prayed, served, sponsored a pilgrim, prepared agape, or helped in ways that may never be seen. Every act of service matters.

Now we turn our attention toward our upcoming October Walks:

Men’s Walk #393

October 1–4

Lay Director: John Sumrall

Women’s Walk #394

October 8–11

Lay Director: Carrie Chaney

We cannot wait to see how God moves in the lives of these pilgrims. Please begin praying now, not only for John and Carrie and their teams, but specifically for the men and women God is preparing to attend.

One of the beautiful things about Emmaus is that a Walk may last only a few days, but its impact can reach far beyond that weekend. Someone comes expecting one thing and God meets them with exactly what they need. A relationship with Christ is strengthened. A calling is renewed. A burden is surrendered. A person returns home ready to serve Christ more faithfully in their church, family, workplace, and community.

That is why what we do matters.

Thank You for Serving

This season also brings a time of transition for our Board of Directors. We want to recognize and sincerely thank four board members who are completing their three-year terms:

Rosemary Knox • Amanda Clark • Les Myles • Michael Lindsay

Thank you for giving your time, wisdom, prayers, and leadership to this community. Serving on the board is often work that happens quietly behind the scenes, but it is essential to keeping our Emmaus Community strong and focused on its mission. We are grateful for each of you and your willingness to serve.

Our community also recently elected five new members to the Board of Directors:

Tammy Sutton • Linda Lehman • Bill West • Jimmy Gant • Chris Brunetti

We welcome each of you and thank you for answering the call to serve. Please keep these new board members in your prayers as they begin their three-year terms.

Keep Walking

As we prepare for the October Walks, I want to challenge each of us to remember that Emmaus was never intended to end on the fourth day.

Luke 24 tells us that the two disciples on the road to Emmaus encountered the risen Christ, and afterward they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?”

But they did not stay in Emmaus.

They got up and went back.

That is still our calling. We encounter Christ, and then we go back—to our churches, our homes, our jobs, and our communities—and live differently because we have been with Him.

As these new pilgrims prepare to make their Walks, may those of us who have already experienced Emmaus ask ourselves a simple question: Is my heart still burning for Christ?

If it is, keep walking. Keep serving. Keep praying. Keep encouraging.

And if the fire has grown a little dim, perhaps this fall is the perfect time to reconnect with this community, attend a send off, bless the pilgrims at candlelight, send Agape, sponsor a pilgrim, or simply spend some intentional time with the One who met us on the road in the first place.

Thank you for being part of this community and for all you do to make these Walks possible. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store this fall.

De Colores!

Bill Grace

Board Chairman