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Hold the Rope

Friends are a special gift from God. Friends encourage, comfort, listen, and point us in the right direction when we have lost our way. The Holy Spirit does all these same things, but our earthly friends are ones we can see, hear, and touch.

In Mark 2:1-12 I was reading about four friends who went out of their way to make sure that their friend got close to Jesus. They actually tore open a roof to lower their friend to Jesus. What they were expecting was a physical healing, but what their friend received was so much more.

In our Emmaus community we need “four friends” who will “hold the ropes.” One of those four is the person who steps out to sponsor someone for a Walk to Emmaus. In my mind, this is the most important of the “four friends.” If a friend does not take this step, there will be a missed opportunity for God to transform a pilgrim and open his/her eyes to see and experience God in a different way.

The Conference Room Team is another “friend” who ministers to the pilgrims once they get to the camp. The Behind-the-Scenes “friends” (Logistics, Kitchen, Snacks, Agape, etc.) also provide for the pilgrim once he/she gets to the camp. The Prayer Vigil “friends” make sure that every minute of the 72 hour experience is covered with prayer.

It takes all four “friends” working as a team to lower their friend to an encounter with our Loving Lord and Savior. We never know what God has planned for each Walk to Emmaus. It may be something totally different than we could ever imagine. Will you be a “friend” to “HOLD THE ROPE”? Which “rope” is God asking you to hold?


De Colores,
Colleen Folger
Community Lay Director

 
   
 
 
 

More from Mid-Ohio Valley Emmaus

 

A Taste for Life


Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.  Every walk we have reinforces this Bible verse. The pilgrims receive both spiritual and physical nourishment as they take their journey down the Emmaus pathway. 

In the kitchen, our goal is to meet the dietary needs of every pilgrim.  We are looking for simple but delicious recipes for soup and sandwiches.  If you have any that you would like to share with us, e-mail Beth Andexler at bandexler@k12.wv.us

We are also looking for workers.  The kitchen is a great place to serve, fellowship and have fun.  Contact the e-mail above if you are able to volunteer. Thank you!

 
Thanks for The Gift!

In 2016, Emmaus pilgrims and communities contributed $76,261 to The Gift Program in order to support eight new communities as they emerge around the world in the next five years.


More individuals gave to the program in 2016 than any previous year, and more than 57% of the donors to this effort were people who had not previously given to Emmaus Ministries. More than 52 percent of the donations were given in the last three months of the year.

Upcoming Events


Community Training
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  
February 25
First Baptist Church, Williamstown

March Gathering & Dinner
6 p.m.
March 21
First Baptist Church, St. Marys
Join us for our monthly gathering. Dinner will be provided!

Men's Walk to Emmaus #50
March 30-April 2
Ritchie County 4-H Camp, Harrisville

Women's Walk to Emmaus #50
April 6-9
Ritchie County 4-H Camp, Harrisville

April Gathering
7 p.m.
April 25
Christ United Methodist Church, Marietta
Pray for our global community

Please pray for the new, emerging Emmaus community in Kenya, which will have its first walks in the coming months (April 27-30 for men; May 4-7 for women). In the past few years, Kenyan leaders went to neighboring countries to experience a Walk to Emmaus, and now they will bring the ministry to their home country.
 
“Praise God! Our brothers and sisters, including I, are totally challenged to perform the work of the ministry. This has been our prayer that the walk be launched here in Kenya. Our land is hungering for this movement. We are eagerly waiting.”          
- Collins Ambani of Kenya
 
Community Training
Event & Gathering


10 a.m. - 1 p.m. February 25
First Baptist Church, Williamstown
 
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of an Emmaus walk? Interested in learning ways you can serve? Need some help figuring out how to sponsor someone? 

We'll provide the answers to these questions and more at our community training event and gathering. Discussion topics include: 

- An Overview of Emmaus
- The Ins and Outs of an Emmaus Walk
- Progressive & Anonymous Servanthood
- Sponsorship & Pilgrim Scholarships
- The Value of Share Groups, and How to Find One
- Talk Preparation

We encourage ALL community members to attend this training. If you have served this community for a long time, this will still be worth your time because some things have changed. This will also be incredibly useful for newer community members who are looking for ways to become more involved. 

This will also serve as our February Gathering, so we will enjoy worship, Holy Communion, and refreshments. 

Our walks (and community) depend on willing, informed, and trained volunteers. Please plan to join us for this important event. Hope to see you there!
Sponsors needed!

Women's Walk to Emmaus #50 is just seven weeks away, and our registrar reports that we have not received many pilgrim applications. Please pray about whether God is leading you to sponsor someone. Pilgrim and sponsor forms are available on our website, and our registrar, Roger Riggs, is always happy to answer any questions. 

The men's walk is coming along nicely, but there is still room for additional pilgrims. Please send your pilgrim and sponsorship forms (along with the deposit) as soon as possible to secure your pilgrim a spot on the spring walks. 
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301 Wooster Street
Marietta, OH  45750

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Mid-Ohio Valley Emmaus · 301 Wooster St. · Marietta, OH 45750 · USA

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