The Emmaus News Columbus Indiana Area Emmaus Community, Inc.

February 2017 volume 25 issue 2

Letter to the Community…

I recently found a slow moving vehicle sign in my dad’s shed that I painted years ago. In the center was my dad’s

profile sitting on a tractor. I gave that to him on a Christmas day when he could still drive a tractor. Dad has been

gone now 17 years and, yes, we are still cleaning out the shed. It looked, when new, something like this:

I can still see him on that old Ford tractor that the family still owns.

Caution Christians!

How do we know they are Christians? Seems like a song should be written on this subject. Or is there al-

ready? At the next Emmaus gathering can we hear that song? Or we can make a sign or symbol that tells us.

“Slow church ahead” signs seem to be more popular these days. At first glance, I think: Do they need more educa-

tion or are they asking for help? Are they slow to pick up on what is happening or is it just me? Maybe I better just

slow down and see what Christ is doing up ahead.

Why do I need a caution sign? Because they may ask you to: pray, speak out loud, cook for 100, set up for skits and

worship, move supplies, sing songs, bring a Christian friend, listen to others, discuss a topic, read the Bible, do skits

and poster, invite you to a service or event, love one another, have fun, believe even more, wonder what is next,

accept other Christians as they are and be open to His calling. Sounds like something we all should seek in our lives

instead of what the world tells us. Be prepared for that calling and know He can direct you on how to respond.

Looking forward to seeing each of you at the next Gathering, Flight, or Walk in 2017.

Fly with Christ always, and sharing a bright DeColores!

Dan Kirkling

Your 2017 Columbus Indiana Emmaus Community Lay Director

Dates for Upcoming Walks & Flights...

Chrysalis #63 and #64 April 29– May 1, 2017

Lay Directors Tyler & Leah Griffin @Hilltop Camp

Caterpillar Application Deadline... April 21

($20 application discount deadline is April 7)

Men's Walk #103 March 30-April 2, 2017

Lay Director Tim Toborg @Camp Lakeview

Pilgrim Application Deadline... March 2

Women's Walk #104 April 6-9, 2017

Lay Director Jodi Engalstad @Camp Lakeview

Pilgrim Application Deadline... March 9

NOTE DATE CHANGE…

From the Chrysalis Lay Director...

Remember the spring Chrysalis flights April 29-May 1, 2017 at Camp Hilltop in Brown County.

That should be a beautiful time of year for the teens to get away and focus on their walks with Christ.

These are open to high school freshmen through college freshmen. (High school students will receive a school excuse for Monday May 1).

Do you know a young person in your life who you could sponsor on these upcom-ing flights? What a powerful experience it might be for them to go on a flight!

Keep your eyes and ears open for a youth at your church who might want to go. Sponsor your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew.

Talk to them in the next week or two, and get the application in!

What a wonderful gift it would be to the teams to have enough applications turned in even in the next few weeks.

Flight applications can be found on the Emmaus website.

There is a $20 discount (so, the cost is just $65) if the application is turned in by Friday, April 7. The final deadline for the flights is Friday, April 21.

Keep Leah and Tyler Griffin in your prayers as they form the Chrysalis worker teams, and have your heart open if they contact you to possibly work.

-Dale Guse (Columbus IN Chrysalis Lay Director)

I know, it seems like a long time off before the Spring Walks and the next Chrysalis Flights, but it’s

not really that far off when you consider the fact sponsoring someone is not a quick process – or at

least it should not be.

Remember that Sponsorship is one of the real acts of AGAPE LOVE that you can share with

someone to attend a Walk. Be praying about this in the next few weeks and then get to work and

get their applications in before the deadlines.

1. Spend concentrated time in prayer in an effort to discern whom God wants you to sponsor. The

whole weekend experience leads pilgrims to desire a reordering of priorities, to understand and ex-

perience God’s grace within a community of believers, and to be drawn into deeper discipleship by

the Holy Spirit.

2. Meet with the potential pilgrim and share with them some of the aspects of the walk: This may be an

appropriate point to address the issue of secrecy. One of the worst mistakes made by those of us

who have attended the Emmaus Walk is to be too secretive about what happens on a Walk. The Up-

per Room Handbook on Emmaus states “There is nothing secret about Emmaus.” When your pro-

spective pilgrim asks you a specific question, you should always give an honest and truthful answer.

Chances are they aren’t going to think to ask you about Candlelight or Dying Moments, but if they

do, you should not try to deceive them. It would be better to tell them more than necessary than to

be too secretive.

3. Tell your pilgrim about the format of the weekend: There will be fifteen talks, group discussions, and

time for fellowship. It’s fine to tell them about the type of food served, communion, and the sleep-

ing accommodations. They will be with people they don’t know, but in a short time they’ll become a

close-knit community. This experience will demonstrate the love of God and Christian fellowship.

Hopefully, this will help to set their minds at ease. Also tell them about Reunion Groups and how

they can help to encourage them in further spiritual growth. After the walk, it is your responsibility

to help them find a reunion group.

4. After you have answered all questions, give your prospect an applica-

tion. (Registration forms can be downloaded from our website). Be

sure to explain the application. If you have a pamphlet or book on

Emmaus, give this to your pilgrim. Please note, if prospective pilgrim

is married and spouse has not been on an Emmaus Walk talk with

both of them as prospective Pilgrims.

De Colores, Phil Newton Sponsorship and Reunion Committee Chair

The Walks are coming! The Walks are coming! The Flights are coming!

A note from our Community Spiritual Director

As visions of valentines might be dancing in our heads this month, let’s make sure we don’t forget our Pastors. This is a busy time for them of pre-paring for more solemn Lenten activities, followed by the glorious Easter season with its special experiences to plan.

If your particular Pastor has not yet been on an Emmaus Walk, participating in one just weeks before Easter may not sound very appealing to them. But if God desires it, then our prayers will certainly help to clear the way and remove any barriers for them to participate. So a loving act on our part might be to gently invite & encourage our pastors to enjoy a spe-cial 3-day journey with Jesus and new Christian friends this spring.

But remember that with pastors, as with all of our fellow believers, going on a Walk isn’t for everyone. And God’s timing for some to participate might not coincide with our own hopes for them. So as we pray for those we might want to sponsor on a Walk, let’s rely on God to stir receptive hearts and work out the timing that God knows is best. What a loving gift we might then be able to provide them!

Pastor Mike Seaney, Community Spiritual Director

A note from our Head Music

Psalm 144:9 I will sing a new song to You, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you Thank God for the wonderful and fulfilling gift of music. I believe the purpose for the existence of music is to worship Him. We are seeking Emmaus musicians for serving on the 'walk' music teams and the 'gathering' music teams. Seeking: Vocalist, Key-

board, Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Banjo, Drums/percussion. Also, I am searching for several lost Emmaus music books. If anyone knows the whereabouts of a Emmaus music book, please contact me. De Colores Mark Neafus 812-371-8493

Hello, my name is Mike Hien and I have just come on the Emmaus board to serve as Team Selection. My wife Jane

and I have been married for 42 years and we have two adult children. Our son Aaron is married to Jackie and our

daughter Stacey is married to Justin. We are truly blessed to have them in our family and they are like having a sec-

ond daughter and son. They have blessed us with five wonder grandchildren, Cole, Alison, Ava, Nolan, and Mady.

I went on walk 28 in 1999 and Jane and I have been involved with the Columbus In Emmaus Community ever since.

We both have had the opportunity to serve on several Emmaus Walks and Chrysalis Flights. We both have also have

had the opportunity to serve on the Emmaus board and I have been blessed to also serve on the Chrysalis board. For

the past seventeen years Emmaus has been a big part of our ministry.

I hope to meet you at one of our Gatherings or at one of the Walk weekends. I ask each of you to please pray about

being involved in our Emmaus/Chrysalis communities. I have seen a lot of lives changed (including mine) as God

touches those who have attended an Emmaus walk or Chrysalis Flight. Remember, God is counting on you.

DeColores Mike Hien

Hello Emmaus Community,

Perry Shepard, walk #93, table of Mark. I’m humbled and excited being the new supplies board representative fill-

ing the position vacated by John Ulrey at the end of his term. I know John is well respected, proficient, and ardent in

his involvement with Emmaus and with your prayers, I’ll give it my best to live up to the standard he set.

Gail, truly my better half in every sense, and I have been married 37 years, soon to be 38 and are members of Ogil-

ville Christian Church. Gail is a travel agent and owns Flamingo Fridays Travel Company. We’ve been blessed to have

had the ability to travel the world throughout our time together and to see what beautiful things God has placed on

this wondrous creation. In soon to be retirement, we plan (if it’s in God’s plan) to live on the road and continue our

travels on a continental basis, letting the Lord guide us where we can assist in His work… perhaps other Emmaus

communities. There’s so much beauty and Christian action opportunities in North America we want to experience.

And there are way too many mountain bike trails I haven’t ridden! My goal is to ride trails in all 50 states and ridden

in over 20, and counting.

On 3-10-10, my life changed when I accepted Christ as my personal savior. I knew we grow as Christians, but didn’t

know how much it would change, again, after attending my walk. Following that weekend, people knowing nothing

of the walk came to me and said I was different somehow. God’s subtle pokes and nudges have become much easier

to recognize. Since then, I’m drawn (nudged) to serving on walks and in everyday life. Guess you could say I’m now

an agape addict and this board appointment is the obvious continuation of my growth.

Something you may have heard before: “We’re not here by chance, but by God’s choosing. His hand formed you and

made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else – you’re one of a kind. You lack nothing His grace

can’t give you. He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation”.

I’m so thankful for our introduction into the Emmaus community and can’t wait to see what roles Gail and I play in

His special purpose. DeColores Perry Shepard

Supplies Representative

Let’s learn about our new board members...

Team Selection

February Community Gathering

Friday, February 17, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Ogilville Christian Church

7891 W. 450 S. (St. Rd. 58) Columbus

A-L bring snacks and drinks

Future Community Gatherings

March 17 -- Central Christian Church, Seymour (All Team Commissioning)

April -- no Gathering due to Flights/Walks

Board Meetings at The Rock

3990 Rocky Ford Rd., Columbus

Chrysalis— Tuesday, February 7, 6:30 pm

Emmaus— Saturday, February 11, 9:00 am

SEVERE WEATHER ALERT

If an Emmaus event is cancelled due to severe weather the community will be notified through the following sources

On our Website—www.columbusareaemmaus.community

and

an E-mail alert

Columbus Indiana Area Emmaus Community, Inc.

www.comumbusareaemmaus.community

Emmaus Information Page (for community members)

Username: columbus password: 4thday!