SUGGESTIONS FOR SPONSORS
Here are a few suggestions for recruitment that should increase you effectiveness, help you properly interpret Emmaus, and effectualize your responsibility in sharing God’s grace as a sponsor.
1. When you are talking to a married person, we suggest you talk with both husband and wife. We want both husband and wife to make the decision together. Their applications should be turned in together.
2. Remember that the Walk to Emmaus is not for everyone. These three days cannot rectify every problem marriage, enthuse every disenchanted church member, cure disturbed persons, or make saints of sinners. The Walk to Emmaus is designed to change environments through Christian leaders. Pilgrims should at least know where the path is, if they are not already walking it. We don’t need just any candidates, we need the best.
3. Feel free to share with a potential applicant what Emmaus meant for you, as fully as will help, realizing that all explanations will fall short. It’s not that we are not allowed to tell what went on, but that it is difficult to explain. We want their experience to be fresh, especially for Candlelight and agape letters, which will hopefully be surprises.
4. Don’t assume the person 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 strengthening for the journey they are already on. We must not pre-judge our candidates or set them up with unhelpful expectations.
5. To assure the applicant you are personally interested in their attending, make plans to bring them to the Emmaus site for Send-Off. Your bringing them, helping them with suitcases and registration, and sharing in the Send-Off and Sponsor’s Hour is a form of prayer and sacrifice.
6. During the weekend, you and your family become a substitute for the pilgrim. Leave your phone number with their spouse. Do something special for them during the weekend like giving them a few hours during the day for personal time. Share a meal with them. Let the pilgrim’s spouse know that you love and care for them.
7. You have responsibilities to the pilgrim. Pray for him/her during the weekend. Write him/her letters of prayers and sacrifice and make sure others do likewise, especially those closest to them. Support your pilgrim with your presence at Candlelight and Closing.
8. After the Walk, stay in contact and support the pilgrim you sponsor during their Fourth Day. Be responsible for getting them to the Fourth Day meeting following their Walk. Take them to at least their first gathering. Help them become involved in a Reunion Group as soon as possible.
Here are a few suggestions for recruitment that should increase you effectiveness, help you properly interpret Emmaus, and effectualize your responsibility in sharing God’s grace as a sponsor.
1. When you are talking to a married person, we suggest you talk with both husband and wife. We want both husband and wife to make the decision together. Their applications should be turned in together.
2. Remember that the Walk to Emmaus is not for everyone. These three days cannot rectify every problem marriage, enthuse every disenchanted church member, cure disturbed persons, or make saints of sinners. The Walk to Emmaus is designed to change environments through Christian leaders. Pilgrims should at least know where the path is, if they are not already walking it. We don’t need just any candidates, we need the best.
3. Feel free to share with a potential applicant what Emmaus meant for you, as fully as will help, realizing that all explanations will fall short. It’s not that we are not allowed to tell what went on, but that it is difficult to explain. We want their experience to be fresh, especially for Candlelight and agape letters, which will hopefully be surprises.
4. Don’t assume the person 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 strengthening for the journey they are already on. We must not pre-judge our candidates or set them up with unhelpful expectations.
5. To assure the applicant you are personally interested in their attending, make plans to bring them to the Emmaus site for Send-Off. Your bringing them, helping them with suitcases and registration, and sharing in the Send-Off and Sponsor’s Hour is a form of prayer and sacrifice.
6. During the weekend, you and your family become a substitute for the pilgrim. Leave your phone number with their spouse. Do something special for them during the weekend like giving them a few hours during the day for personal time. Share a meal with them. Let the pilgrim’s spouse know that you love and care for them.
7. You have responsibilities to the pilgrim. Pray for him/her during the weekend. Write him/her letters of prayers and sacrifice and make sure others do likewise, especially those closest to them. Support your pilgrim with your presence at Candlelight and Closing.
8. After the Walk, stay in contact and support the pilgrim you sponsor during their Fourth Day. Be responsible for getting them to the Fourth Day meeting following their Walk. Take them to at least their first gathering. Help them become involved in a Reunion Group as soon as possible.