SPONSORING

What it is--- What it is not,,,

and

What it should be.

  1. According to the International Emmaus Handbook,,,,
  2. “…SPONSORSHIP IS THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN EMMAUS!”
  3. The aim is to bring Spiritual Revitalization to Christians who will, in turn bring new life and vision to the work of the church in the congregation, home, work place and community.
  4. Therefore the main aim of sponsorship is to BUILD UP THE BODY OF CHRIST.
  1. Here are some of the things that sponsoring is not:
  2. Getting all of my friends to go on the Walk.
  3. Just filling up the Weekend with candidates.
  4. Getting someone to go on the Walk to “Fix their problems”.
  5. To reproduce your own “Religious Experience” in someone else.
  6. i.e. “I just discovered the greatest thing and you need to go too!”
  1. What is the profile of ideal sponsorship?
  2. It is the first act of agape before a walk ever begins.
  3. The experience of the Walk for a pilgrim really begins with how we handle their sponsorship.
  4. Good sponsorship undergirds the whole weekend with sacrificial love on behalf of the pilgrim.
  5. Sponsors who use wise discernment in recruiting pilgrims, embody the personal commitment of the whole Emmaus community to each pilgrim.
  6. Sponsors provide sacrificial, personal acts of agape such as:
  7. Prayer
  8. Family care,
  9. Transportation,
  10. Agape letters,
  11. Personal presence at
  12. Sponsors Hour
  13. Candlelight
  14. Closing
  15. Fourth Day follow-up

  1. Good sponsorship is the foundation for a healthy and effective Emmaus Movement that is fulfilling its true purpose:
  2. The development of Christian Leaders and the renewal of the Church in ministry.
  1. Who should we sponsor?
  2. Our awareness of and commitment to the purposes just outlined will influence who we sponsor and how they are sponsored.
  3. Emmaus is for active Christians and church members whose own renewal will mean new energy, commitment and vision in the church and community. That should include the following:
  4. Church Leaders (Pastors and Laity) who will bring new fire to the life of the church, community and their home.
  5. Dependable Church Members who are the “quiet backbone” of the church.
  6. Less Active Members who need their awareness of grace rekindled and renewed.
  7. Growing Christians who are hungry for “something more” and who want to grow spiritually.
  8. Church Members and Leaders who are “Cross-sectional representatives” of the church
  9. Those who will help the Emmaus movement to remain sound while opening it to different perspectives.
  10. Respected Laypersons and Clergy whose participation will serve to recommend the Walk and encourage others to attend.

While Emmaus is right for many people, IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! Remember to TALK TO GOD ABOUT YOUR CANDIDATE BEFORE YOU TALK TO YOUR CANDIDATE ABOUT THE WALK!

  1. Who should we NOT sponsor?
  2. Emmaus can be wrong for some people because of their religious background (or lack thereof) or their current emotional or physical condition.
  3. The person can be wrong for Emmaus because of the negative effect they may have on the Weekend or the divisive influence they will bring to the church.
  4. This is one reason every candidate must be recommended by their pastor.
  5. Sponsors should be prayerfully attentive to all factors in the life of their candidates. Here are some examples of “Questionable Sponsorship”:
  6. Non-Christians and persons having no relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ.
  7. Although some have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, the Weekend is NOT meant to be an “Evangelistic Outreach”.
  8. Persons in an Emotional or Health Crisis which makes them psychologically or physically unstable. i.e.
  9. Family
  10. loss, breakup (recent divorce or separation)or serious illness
  11. Extreme grief (death of a loved one)
  12. Severe Depression (not predictably controllable)
  13. Recovering from recent surgery or trauma.
  1. Potentially “Good Candidates” who say NO.
  2. Well qualified persons still have the right to refuse your offer to go an the Walk. DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY AND DO NOT TRY TO BADGER THEM INTO GOING. Just graciously thank them and move on.
  3. God selects the candidates, we are just the ones who sponsor the ones He selects.
  4. Remember that EMMAUS IS NOT THE ONLY ROAD TO RENEWAL FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN. Emmaus is not for everyone!
  5. Christians with “incompatible theology” or a theology that is “notably different” from that of the Walk to Emmaus. Some examples are:
  6. Adventists who take a hard line on a Sabbath other then Sunday.
  7. Those who practice rituals or diets incompatible with Emmaus.
  8. Members of “Independent Groups” who feel the need to “extend and defend” the uniqueness of their beliefs throughout the Weekend.
  9. Persons who do not accept “Other Kinds” of Christians than “Their Kind”.
  10. Persons who hold beliefs in “Non-Trinitarian” doctrines or other doctrines that are incompatible with mainstream Christianity.
  11. Emmaus is not the place to convert someone to “our beliefs”.
  12. Church Hoppers or those who continually have “an axe to grind” with whatever church they happen to be a part of at the moment.. These may be:
  13. Those who will use Emmaus to divide the church body.
  14. … further their own “Theological Agenda”, or
  15. Try to create their own “EmmausChurch” or clique.
  16. Those who are always looking for a new “Spiritual High” or another Spiritual experience to help them “Arrive”.

There are only two kinds of sponsorship, WISE and UNWISE.

  • Wise sponsorship is purposeful and prayerful.
  • Unwise sponsorship is haphazard and undiscerning.
  1. How do we Sponsor?

Here are ten steps from the “Day Four” book for sponsoring the prospective pilgrim.

  1. Pray before you approach the person. Pray for their openness to God’s call to discipleship, NOT for how do I get them to go on the Walk.
  2. Make an appointment with the Single Person or Married Couplefor the sole purpose of discussing Emmaus and their possible participation in it.
  3. Invite them to attend the Walk for the sake of a “More vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and not “just a weekend event to attend”. Share your experience and DO NOT tell them that some things are “a mystery” or “cannot be revealed”!
  4. Be honest and forthright with them. You can tell them everything about the walk without affecting the impact of any of the “surprises” of the Weekend.
  5. Leave them with the idea that you are offering a valuable gift and not the idea that “they need to go on the weekend” for whatever reasons.
  6. Ask for a commitmentby filling out the registration form. If the person is married, speak with BOTH partners and STRONGLY encourage equal commitment by both spouses. Do NOT indicate that it is OK for only one partner to participate ,,, however
  7. This Rule is Wisdom and Not Law
  8. Exception can be made by Board of Directors when there is no possibility of participation by both spouses. This usually must be accompanied by a letter from their pastor.
  9. Continue to Pray, prepare and solicit agape letters and enlist support of their pastor. Pastor must sign their registration form indicating approval of attendance.
  10. Support them throughout the Walk
  11. Participate in the 72 hour Prayer Vigil
  12. Take them to “Send Off”
  13. Participate in Sponsors Hour
  14. Be there at Candlelight
  15. Attend Closing and pick them up for return home.

Support your pilgrim’s family by House sitting, Baby Sitting, Pet Care or any other way that help may be needed. You are responsible for their care and “mental comfort” while the Pilgrim is on the Walk.

  1. Encourage and guide them in their “Fourth Day” involvement.
  2. Give your Pilgrim an opportunity to talk through and appropriate the walk experience. (The ride home is a good time for this)
  3. Call the Pilgrim on Monday (the “First Fourth Day” to check on well being
  4. Be responsible for getting them to the “Fourth Day Gathering” after the walk.
  5. Continue to take them to gatherings as your guest for a couple of months.
  6. Help them to find and become a part of a “Reunion Group”.
  7. Be prepared to start a new group with them if necessary.
  8. Help them Re-enter their churchas they consider ways to act out their new commitment and enthusiasm.
  9. Help to enlighten their pastor if he or she is not “Emmaus Savvy”
  10. Educate them on their potential role on Walks and explain how they may become involved on future Walks. Briefly explain the “Team Process”. Urge them to become an integral part of the Emmaus community.
  11. Caution them not to be in or become a part of an “Emmaus Clique”!
  12. Help them sponsor othersby explaining this Sponsorship Process to them and working with them in whatever ways necessary.

And so the process goes on and on and on.

  • Sponsorship is an act of Love for God, for the Pilgrims, for the Emmaus Community and for God’s Body the Church.
  • It is a live demonstration of Agape Love.
  • It is making oneself an instrument of Prevenient Grace.

DeColores