Light for the Journey

Transcription

1 Summer 2017 Blue Ridge Emmaus Dear Emmaus Brothers and Sisters in Christ, You are invited to the BRE Summer Gathering Picnic BRE "Summer Gathering" picnic WHERE: Camp Tekoa in Hendersonville WHEN: July 15th from 2:00-6:00 SWIMMING: from 2:00-4:00 WORSHIP/PRAISE: from 4:00-5:00 DRAMA PRESENTATION: Led by David Gaddy, Entertainment Coordinator DINNER: from 5:00-6:00 We always have a blast even if it rains!! So round up your family and bring a side dish or dessert to share and we will supply the hotdogs. Looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones! Inside this issue: Chairperson s Corner Devotional by Jorge Herrera 2 BRE Tech Talk 5 Kairos News 6 Help Spread the Agape Kitchen Corner Board Members 3,4 7,8 10 Bonclarken Info 11 The address is 211 Thomas Rd. Hendersonville, NC If you get lost my cell number is (828) De Colores! Virginia Wilkinson To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.

2 Page 2 Chairperson s Corner Well, it is summer again and Blue Ridge Emmaus has been busy. We have all had the pleasure and reassurance of having our Emmaus Family to support and love each other through difficult times and to celebrate during the good times. Our faith is tested constantly. Faith is not about everything turning out okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out. Annetta Powell We have our Emmaus brothers and sisters to help us during those tough times. I can share with you from personal experience what that really means. I know that I can go to my Emmaus friends to remind me during those rough times of God s love. When I m asking God, WHY and I m questioning my very faith, is when I have needed it most. I have had the comfort and confidence of my Emmaus Family to lean on in times of tested faith. AND YOU DO TOO!!! That is what your Reunion Groups are for. If you do not have a Reunion Group, get in one in your area or start one. You can call myself or Dave Dunaway for help. Freda Graham, who is our fearless leader for the October Women s Walk, October 26-29, 2017, has been very busy getting the team together, scheduling team meetings and assigning talks. After the February Men s Walk, there was a huge request for another Men s Walk in God must have wanted a 2 nd Men s Walk as well, because everything has fallen into place. Bon Clarken was terrific in working with us in adding our 4 th Walk this year on December 7-10, We are so very blessed that Joe Ruminski has agreed to be the Lay Director. Please be in prayer for these upcoming Walks. Please start thinking about the women or men that you know would like to see Christ in a different way. Give them the gift of a 72-hour encounter with our Lord and Savior. What a special gift it is!!!!! I hope to see everyone out at Camp Tekoa on July 15 th from 2-6pm for our Summer Gathering. Sherri Noble Blue Ridge Emmaus, Walk #55, Table of Elizabeth

3 Page 3 I am not a fisherman or a hunter, although I have had friends who have tried to make me both. It doesn t matter if the fish are biting or not, they just want to fish. Circumstances don t deter them, discouragement doesn t bother them, bad weather won t stop them, why? Because they have a vision for fish! During his life and ministry, Jesus attracted hundreds of disciples, but he personally selected twelve. To these twelve he taught the secrets of the coming Kingdom. To these twelve he entrusted powers for healing and the casting out of demons. These twelve eventually became the custodians of Christianity with a call to evangelize the entire world. Of the twelve, the first four were fisherman. Why these four guys? Think about it! Here is Jesus and he s about to plant a church, starting a movement that will change the world, and he picks these guys. Who would you go to? Who would you try to recruit to start a church? Jesus picked these four guys who appear to be partners and who make the equivalent of a penny a day! If there was a profit to be made, these four would have to set out to sea at dusk, fish all night; repeatedly casting and retrieving the nets, and sail into Capernaum s bay the next morning in time for their merchandise to be sold in the fish market that next morning. That s a long day by my standard. I estimate they sailed out at 6 p.m., to be able to be at the fishing spot at dusk. Then they didn't return home until 10 a.m., depending upon how quickly they made their sale at the market. Jesus chooses ordinary people, people like you and I, and says to us follow me and I will make you fishers of men! Do you have a vision for fish? Let me put it to you this way, DO YOU HAVE A VISION FOR THE LOST? Look at how Jesus called them: Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men! No questions like Where are we going? How long will we be gone? This is not a call to salvation but a call to service, however I do want to say that for me salvation is following! What s the difference? Jesus calls us to follow Him, we ve separated salvation from following. What if on Oct. 23, 1976 (The day I got saved) all I did was say a prayer, but I didn t follow? It would be like Jesus saying to these guys come follow me and they said ok, but didn t.

4 Page 4 To follow Christ is to set aside our own goals and pleasures and to embrace the purposes for which God created us. Those purposes are: To know Him in a personal way, and to make disciples of others by teaching them all of Christ s commands. All those who truly follow Christ must exchange their affections, goals and priorities for his. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew their goal was to be successful fishermen. In asking them to forsake this goal, he invited them to follow him and He would make them fishers for men s souls. Jesus did not simply invite His disciples to become fishers of men but rather He promised to make them fishers of men. It is a holy call, a heavenly call. This is one of the things I love about Emmaus, when we answer the call to serve, on the board, on a team, or wherever God calls us to, we lay down our agendas, our desires, and follow Him who called us. Our prayer should be, not my will but Yours be done. I have had the pleasure to share in significant ministry in Emmaus, Chrysallis, and Kairos with folks of every denomination and non-denomination. We have all come with the same goal, to glorify Christ and to be Fishers of men and women. for His glory. The mission of Emmaus is: Empowering Leaders to be the hands and feet of Christ. The vision of Emmaus is: Fourth Day Leaders Embodying Jesus Christ. I love it! Paul says in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Fourth day leaders who allow Christ to live in them and through them, who have allowed their flesh to be crucified with Christ and now are motivated by one thing: To be the hands and feet of Christ by allowing ourselves to be the embodiment of Christ in the earth. De Colores! Jorge Herrera

5 Page 5 BRE is adopting new technology to help make our community even better! Read on about are our exciting new projects: Conference Room Audio/Visual Solution We have introduced a lyric and media presentation software package (similar to ProPresenter used by many churches) to manage the technology needs inside the conference room during our walk weekends. This application, called OpenLP, is used to access and consolidate song lyrics, speaker presentations, pictures, bible verses, and video clips, into ordered/sequential services that are customized for each day of the walk. The coolest part is that real time changes can be easily made as the Spirit leads! The best news is that the cost to the community is ZERO! All of the applications are open source, meaning that they are available for free. Also, several laptops were donated and dedicated for this purpose. OpenLP was piloted on Walk #78 and used again on Walks #79 and #80. Feedback from the teams has been very positive. Another benefit is that OpenLP maintains libraries of presentation materials that grow with each walk. This means that subsequent walks can take advantage of the planning from previous walks. We continue to gather ideas and improve things as we gain more experience with this application. ***A new technology position is being added to teams to perform the technology duties that, in the past, had to be split across other team members (i.e. musicians, board representative, ALDs). Improving Communication and Efficiency of Our Community BRE is employing a new software service, called IMS, designed exclusively for Emmaus community walk and member management. Over 120 communities across the USA are currently using it. IMS includes a robust reporting functionality and set of tools for Team Selection and Registration that save time and effort. IMS also provides integrated solutions and tools that will improve communications within our community. distribution capabilities will facilitate community announcements and our newsletter, and enhance the community s ability to engage new members in sponsorship and reunion groups. IMS is accessed through your computer browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) and has a self-service portal for member updates and access to a community directory. This is just the start! IMS is currently in the process of importing existing BRE walk and member data and we expect to be fully functional soon. Stay tuned! For more information and suggestions on technology needs and solutions for BRE, please contact Dave Korb at korbd@yahoo.com.

6 Page 6 Kairos Prison Ministry is an Interdenominational team of volunteers, both clergy and laypersons, ministering to the incarcerated. Bringing Christ s love inside a prison is a gift from God, a miracle. Kairos is a four-day weekend teaching and demonstrating what God's agape love, unconditional love, is like. Kairos is very similar to the Methodist Walk to Emmaus weekends, the Catholic, Presbyterian, and Episcopal Cursillo weekends, and the Lutheran Via de Cristo weekends. The Kairos program currently operates in 350 prisons (15 in North Carolina) 32 states in the U.S. and 8 additional countries: United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and Canada. As the Kairos team keeps growing, we can expand the ministry to additional prisons. Christ in Matthew 25 challenges all of us as his disciples to visit those in prison, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and then adds, "inasmuch as you've done it to the least of these, you've done it to me." The Next Interdenominational Kairos Events in Western NC are: *September 21-24, 2017 at Swannanoa C.C. for Women (SWCC) and *November 16-19, 2017 at Craggy C.C. in Asheville for men We are in the process of recruiting volunteers and clergy to serve on these weekends. Contact: Michelle Young (Leader of Kairos SWCC) ph: myoung319@gmail.com John Klees (Leader of Kairos Craggy CC) ph: john44@charter.net While not everyone feels at ease going inside a prison to fulfill this command, you can go vicariously through participation in this prison ministry; there are plenty of ways to help. Pray for the weekend, the trainings and everyone involved. There is a prayer vigil and we would love to include your name if you can commit to praying for these weekends. Other ways to get involved include writing letters, having your church or youth group make a poster and or place mats for these men and women, as well as financial needs that range from paying for someone's meal to sponsoring a "table family" to other major expenses involved in hosting a Kairos weekend. Please prayerfully consider how God can use you in this ministry. Like to see a glimpse of what a Kairos weekend is all about? Visit:

7 Page 7 Help Spread the Agape Did you LOVE your WALK to EMMAUS? Do you wish you could pass that LOVE forward? There are many ways to do that... Become a SPONSOR Upcoming Walks: WOMEN'S WALK #81 Oct 26-29, 2017 Freda Graham, LD MEN'S WALK #82 December 7-10, 2017 Joe Ruminski, LD WOMEN'S WALK #83 February 22-25, 2018 Donna Ensley, LD MEN'S WALK #84 May 17-20, 2018 Matt Miller, LD For complete Sponsor information go to: resources/sponsorship Join a REUNION GROUP AND Make AGAPE SUPPORT the WALK: Thursday at 7 p.m. (10/26) - "Community" Send-off Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (10/28) - Candlelight (please come for fellowship at 7 p.m.!) Sunday at 4 p.m. (10/29) - Closing Follow Up (11/3) at 6:30 p.m. - Biltmore UMC, 376 Hendersonville Road PRAY, PRAY, PRAY Before - for Team Members, Sponsors, Pilgrims During - *Sign-up for the 72 Hour Vigil on the website: *Volunteer in the Prayer Chapel

8 Page 8 VOLUNTEER During the WALK Places to volunteer: *PREPARE FOOD IN THE KITCHEN *DINING ROOM SET UP AND SERVING *SPREAD LOVE THROUGH THE AGAPE ROOM *JOIN THE DRAMA TEAM *SING AND MAKE MUSIC *BE A PHOTOGRAPHER *PREPARE FOOD FOR AND HELP WITH AFTER GLOW *SEND UP PRAYERS IN THE PRAYER CHAPEL *SERVE ON THE TEAM AND/OR THE BOARD Open BOD Positions for 2018 are: -Secretary-Recording for BOD Meetings -72-Hour Prayer Vigil -Candlelight -Dining Room -Volunteer Coordinator DO YOU GET THE PICTURE? REMEMBER JESUS IS COUNTING ON YOU!!!

9 Page 9 The Kitchen Pantry included... MEN S WALK #79 WOMEN S WALK #80 59# Ground Beef 40 Chicken Breasts 40# Shredded Pork Shoulder 45 Portobello Mushrooms 40# Pork Loin 40# Pork Loin 40 Dozen Eggs 3 gallons Strawberries 150 Sausage Patties One case Bananas 16# Bacon 30# Bacon 14# Italian Sausage One case Onions 20 Heads Iceberg Lettuce 12# Butter 5 Gallons Heavy Whipping Cream There are many areas that would welcome volunteers to help during the weekend of a Walk. We welcome and encourage everyone to come and help in the kitchen for whatever time you have available. There is always a need for help. If you would like to make a specific time to serve in the kitchen, please contact Donna Sheline at (828) or at dshel50789@morrisbb.net to designate this time. Regardless, even if you only have an hour to spare on a given day, we would love for you to choose to share this time in the kitchen at Bonclarken. With rising food costs, if you are sharing a meal with us, we ask that you contribute a $5.00 donation for the meal for Kitchen Agape.

10 Page 10 Community Chairperson Sherri Noble Community Spiritual Dir Jorge Herrera Asst. Spritual Director Duane Corle Vice-Chairperson David Dunaway Treasurer Lynn Long Secretary Terrie Scarboro Team Selection Sue Marvin Web Servant Michael Trufant Registrar Cindy Contillo Send-off/Sponsor's Hr. Dave & Michelle Cole Send-off/Sponsor's Hr. Dave & Michelle Cole InComming -Follow UP Virginia Wilkinson Agape Co-Chair Robin Corbin Agpae Co-Chair Robin Royal Hour Prayer Vigil Jennifer Barbash Prayer Chapel Rick/Joan Phillips Candlelight Dave & Kathleen Lambert Purchasing Malinda Holley Kitchen Donna Sheline Co-Kitchen Dave/Michelle Cole Dining Room Bob & Brenda Muery Closing LarryBetty Morris Set-up/Tear Down Chris Donaldson Volunteer Coordinator Chair Extraordinaire Carl Marvin Database/ Dave Korb Sponsorship David Dunaway Newsletter Brenda Pagan #81 Women's Director Freda Graham #82 Men s Director Joe Ruminski #83 Women s Director Donna Ensley donna.pierce@gmail.com #84 Men's Director Matt Miller mmiller2262@gmail.com

11 Page 11 Bonclarken Conference Center 500 Pine Dr., Flat Rock, NC GPS users: Enter 5 Pine Drive, Flat Rock, NC This will bring you to the main entrance. Many GPS systems do not recognize 500 Pine Drive For a Google map see our website above under Directions.