IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM COMMUNITY LAY DIRECTOR
Dear Athens Area Walk to Emmaus (AAWTE) Community,
My name is Allan Dean – Athens Area Walk to Emmaus # 36, where I sat at the Table of Luke. Walk #36 was in the spring of 2011. AAWTE’s last walk was in the spring of 2018. I know from my experience walking the Road in 2011, and from serving many pilgrims on walks since then, that this ministry has been used by God. It has helped many believers grow closer to Jesus, closer to the community of faith, and stronger in Christian leadership. But now we are in a very difficult place:
1) We have not had a walk in nearly three years, so we have lost momentum.
2) Covid 19 has created a major new safety threat that has to be managed in a 3-day walk environment.
3) Finding willing pilgrims for the 3-day weekend, and finding servants that can support the walk – from the preparatory stages of training, and planning, to actually doing the weekend – is extra difficult because of the Pandemic.
4) The next scheduled walk is this October 14-17 for the men and October 21-24 for the women at the Hartwell Mennonite Center.
5) The Board of Directors for AAWTE has four open slots. The Board is normally a group of 13 people that provide leadership for the local Walk To Emmaus community. The current members of the board are:
Community Lay Director - Allan Dean
Community Spiritual Director - Liza Taylor Marler
Exofficio - Morris C. Flexner
Secretary - Shelby Eidson
Treasurer - Jan Roe
Registrar - Sally Bunker May
4th Days Chair - Jenny Jarrett Rutledge
Agape Chair - Teresa Bradley Self
Kitchen Chair - Rhonda Hutcheson Compton
If we do not have both pilgrims and workers for this October, we will not have the Walk. For the past 2 to 3 years, the Board has been struggling, waiting, struggling, and waiting, wondering when we will have the next Walk. Now we are to the point of asking a bigger question: Is it time to have an Emmaus hiatus? Or is it time to get serious about planning for this October’s walk? Unless we get fresh burst of leadership and interest from the Community, it could be time to give this particular Christian ministry a rest.
Friends, recall your Walk and how your life was shaped by that Walk. Remember as you were walking through the line in candle-light, when you saw the community, your brothers and sisters in Christ, (and Jesus in their eyes), how they loved you. Now, envision someone you know from your church meeting Jesus on that Road to Emmaus, having that time of reflection, blessing, and growth in Christ.
With that background in mind, please take just a few minutes to respond to this simple survey. Your response will help the Board determine the best course to take. Remember, Christ is counting on you…. And you can count in Him!
De Colores!
Allan Dean, Athens Area Walk to Emmaus Community Lay Director
Please reach out to a current Board member with your comments on the following three questions...
1. Are you willing to serve on the AAWTE Board in one of these positions?
Prayer
Facilities
Music
Team Selection
2. Are you willing to sponsor pilgrims on the October 14 - 17 Men’s Walk or
October 21 - 24 Women’s Walk?
3. Are you willing to serve on the above mentioned walks?
Dear Athens Area Walk to Emmaus (AAWTE) Community,
My name is Allan Dean – Athens Area Walk to Emmaus # 36, where I sat at the Table of Luke. Walk #36 was in the spring of 2011. AAWTE’s last walk was in the spring of 2018. I know from my experience walking the Road in 2011, and from serving many pilgrims on walks since then, that this ministry has been used by God. It has helped many believers grow closer to Jesus, closer to the community of faith, and stronger in Christian leadership. But now we are in a very difficult place:
1) We have not had a walk in nearly three years, so we have lost momentum.
2) Covid 19 has created a major new safety threat that has to be managed in a 3-day walk environment.
3) Finding willing pilgrims for the 3-day weekend, and finding servants that can support the walk – from the preparatory stages of training, and planning, to actually doing the weekend – is extra difficult because of the Pandemic.
4) The next scheduled walk is this October 14-17 for the men and October 21-24 for the women at the Hartwell Mennonite Center.
5) The Board of Directors for AAWTE has four open slots. The Board is normally a group of 13 people that provide leadership for the local Walk To Emmaus community. The current members of the board are:
Community Lay Director - Allan Dean
Community Spiritual Director - Liza Taylor Marler
Exofficio - Morris C. Flexner
Secretary - Shelby Eidson
Treasurer - Jan Roe
Registrar - Sally Bunker May
4th Days Chair - Jenny Jarrett Rutledge
Agape Chair - Teresa Bradley Self
Kitchen Chair - Rhonda Hutcheson Compton
If we do not have both pilgrims and workers for this October, we will not have the Walk. For the past 2 to 3 years, the Board has been struggling, waiting, struggling, and waiting, wondering when we will have the next Walk. Now we are to the point of asking a bigger question: Is it time to have an Emmaus hiatus? Or is it time to get serious about planning for this October’s walk? Unless we get fresh burst of leadership and interest from the Community, it could be time to give this particular Christian ministry a rest.
Friends, recall your Walk and how your life was shaped by that Walk. Remember as you were walking through the line in candle-light, when you saw the community, your brothers and sisters in Christ, (and Jesus in their eyes), how they loved you. Now, envision someone you know from your church meeting Jesus on that Road to Emmaus, having that time of reflection, blessing, and growth in Christ.
With that background in mind, please take just a few minutes to respond to this simple survey. Your response will help the Board determine the best course to take. Remember, Christ is counting on you…. And you can count in Him!
De Colores!
Allan Dean, Athens Area Walk to Emmaus Community Lay Director
Please reach out to a current Board member with your comments on the following three questions...
1. Are you willing to serve on the AAWTE Board in one of these positions?
Prayer
Facilities
Music
Team Selection
2. Are you willing to sponsor pilgrims on the October 14 - 17 Men’s Walk or
October 21 - 24 Women’s Walk?
3. Are you willing to serve on the above mentioned walks?
Upcoming Walks
Men's Walk - October 14-17, 2021 - Lay Director, Joe Hutchins
Women's Walk - October 21-24, 2021 - Lay Director, Debbie Dean
Women's Walk - October 21-24, 2021 - Lay Director, Debbie Dean
Men's Walk - March 17-20, 2022 - Lay Director, TBD
Women's Walk - March 24-27, 2022 - Lay Director, Tanya Eidson
Women's Walk - March 24-27, 2022 - Lay Director, Tanya Eidson
SIGN UP FOR THE PRAYER VIGILS!
Links will be added soon.
Links will be added soon.
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Click HERE to sign up for Men's agape
Click HERE to sign up for Women's agape
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