Rooster Tales U p p e r R o o m M i n i s t r i es Dick and Netha Pipho, Friends in Christ; How about another fresh look at Accountability! To have COURAGE and to ENCOUIRAGE. Courage is a simple word but an important quality of effective leaders. Courage is the ability to do something that scares or frightens you; it is strength in the face of pain or possible July 2018 Inside this issue: Community Lay Directors 1 Community Spiritual Co Director 2 General Information and Upcoming Events 3 Lay Directors 4 Conference Room Team 5 Agape Team 6 Community Service Information 7 Connect with us! 8 failure. It is much more than the bravery, valor or boldness of a single person. It starts with an individual who has a good deal of integrity and confidence, like the unwavering faith in God that we find in numerous men in scripture. In Joshua 1: 6-7 God tells Joshua to Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land only be strong and very courageous. It worked for him! As we read of another courageous man, Daniel 1:1-19, He made a firm decision right from his heart. He confirmed this decision by being firm and outspoken, followed by an attitude which flowed to his friends, who also became committed to a courageous resolution. It worked for them! The Latin word courage means heart, which is where courage begins. It s a decision that becomes an attitude a Godly one. We can quickly and easily learn from these examples and apply that same attitude to our lives, our work, and yes, our roles in the Emmaus Community. While courage describes your own attitude, encouragement is what you do to others. Encouragement is much more than vision casting. It enables others to pursue the vision with you. It builds them up and never breaks them down. Being courageous and standing for a cause strengthens the backbone of those around you. For reliable follow through, we all need encouragement the key to motivation. To encourage those around you, just show you value them, you want them to succeed and simply, that you care. We can apply these principals to our activities, our positions and yes, our responses to the leader who asks us to be a part of a Walk. When a Lay Director invites you to be a team member, just remember that the source of courage in your response is God himself. He won t call you without equipping you. Have courage, trust Him, and encourage those around you. Blessings all!
U p p e r R o o m M i n i s t r i es Rev. Dennis Shepherd, Community Spiritual Co-Director Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. As most of you know, Walk to Emmaus is a great tool for discipleship. It is an opportunity to guide individuals toward a stronger understanding of God, to challenge and encourage them, and nurture them on their journey of faith. Walk to Emmaus provides a safe environment to help Christians grow more comfortable in their relationship with Jesus Christ. From 2nd Corinthians 3:18, "All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit". Walk to Emmaus is about coaching others along with offering a support group to allow further Christian growth. "Teach the wise, and they will become wiser; inform the righteous, and their learning will increase" (Proverbs 9:9). In a recent movie release I attended with family, Hans Solo redirects his special skill-set of business practices into service for a just cause...much like discipleship. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don't rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your path's, and he will keep your ways straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6). Keep on serving God. "Teach the wise, and they will become wiser; inform the righteous, and their learning will increase" (Proverbs 9:9). Pastor Evelyn Lewiston, Community Spiritual Co-Director Today I am thanking God for all the servants who say YES to serve at Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, and Face to Face Encounter. Each person who gives of their time is fulfilling the words on the back of our crosses: Christ is counting on you. Are these words a burden or a blessing? As we look toward our summer walks in Humboldt I encourage each of you to prayerfully consider those words as you find ways to serve God. Be a sponsor, be a prayer warrior, come and work agape, come to candlelight, be present at the closings, provide table agape or write a note. If you were blessed at your experience I pray that you consider blessing our pilgrims for this summer! Christ is counting on you are you counting on Christ! In His Service 2
General Information 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS: If you have any thoughts or ideas, share them with any one of these directors. Please pray for them that they will serve with diligence and faithfulness in the coming year. Community Lay Directors; Dick and Netha Pipho (Grimes) Community Spiritual Directors: Pastor Dennis Shepherd (Panora) and Pastor Evelyn Lewiston (Ogden) Members: Jeff and Toni Anderson (Belmond)(Trainers), Jim and Linda Burk (Minburn), Brad & Luanne Gafford (Grimes)(Chrysalis) Brent Gibbons (Minburn), Jeri Goodell (Lake Park), Gary Harris (Belmond), David Mock (Ankeny), Steve Nielsen (Ankeny), Dawn Parker (Perry)(Face To Face), Jeff and Mary Patterson (Lohrville), Mark and Cindy Willson (Johnston), Rosie Wurpts (Odgen) Upcoming Community Events Summer Walks: Faith UMC, Humboldt, Men s (#134), July 19 22, LD - John Lizer Women s (#135), July 26 29, LD Kristi Bihrer Fall Walks: Ankeny First UMC Men s (136) Oct 18 21, LD Leonard Willis Women s (#137) Oct 25 28, LD Jackie Riccio Winter Walk, West DM UMC, Men s (138) Feb 7-10; LD - Daniel Evans Women s (139) Feb 14-17, 2019, LD - Crystol Streasick 3
I o w a W a l k t o E m m a u s Kristi Bihrer, Women s Lay Director It is very humbling being asked to be the lay director for this Summer s Walk to Emmaus. Many different feelings come with this assignment. Joyful, excited, doubt and fear come to mind. Questions like, Is this really something I can do? Am I worthy of such a position? Can I do this assignment by myself? No, but with God anything is possible. God is always giving us the opportunity to take the next assignment, but we have to open our hearts say yes, then step out in faith knowing that God is always with us. When preparing for this I have done a lot of soul searching. The Bible verse that has been very helpful to me is Proverbs 3: 5-6; Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your path straight. I have had to give up my control issues and completely trust in God. Realizing that I m not in control of this team but God is and it is on his time. This Emmaus community has also given me much support. I recently heard the song that reminded me of the Emmaus community. I want to share part of the song with you. It is Dream Small by Josh Wilson. But dream small, don t bother like you ve gotta do it all, Just let Jesus use you where you are, One day at a time, Live well, Loving God and others as yourself, Find little ways where only you can help, With His great love, A tiny rock can make a giant fall, So dream small, Keep loving, keep serving, keep listening, keep learning, keep praying, keep hoping, keep seeking, keep searching, Out of these small things and watch them grow bigger, The God who does all things makes oceans from rivers. Continue to be Gods hands and feet. Thanks for this opportunity. God Bless. John Lizer, Men s Lay Director Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am humbled and excited to be the Men s Lay Director for walk #134 in Humboldt. Wow, another chance to serve God at A walk! Is there anything more exciting than to give yourself to the service of God in this way? God has chosen His teams and now it is up to us to do His work. Please continue to keep the pilgrims, team, and agape in your prayers. As our walks get closer, remain humble. Remember that what we do is for the pilgrims. We are Gods hands, feet, and voice. We only do this to glorify God and draw more people closer to Him. We cannot think of ourselves. This isn t our time. It is God s and the pilgrims time. When we leave our homes for the weekend, bring with you a servants heart and your love for Jesus. If we do this, the holy spirit will wrap his ever-loving arms around our walks and change lives. Your Brother in Christ 4
Conference Room Positions John Lizer Leonard Willis Daniel Evans Ryan Akers Ken Miller Jeff Patterson Brent Gibbons Leonard Willis Todd Hartsock Gary Ruka Steve Swenson Leroy Wickls Glen Rohden Ken Miller Bud Young Dennis Shepherd Jim Lawton Ken Roth Dan Rogers David Scholl John Lizer Daniel Evans Jody Mao Bob Thornton Dick McCord Men s Walk Conference Room Lay Director ALD - 1 ALD - 2 ALD - 3 Spiritual Director Music Leader Board Representative Talk -TL/ATL Priorities (ALD-1) Prevenient Grace (ASD) Priesthood --Believers (TL/ ATL) Justifying Grace (ASD) Life Of Piety (TL/ATL) Growth Thru Study (TL/ATL) Means of Grace (SD) Christian Action (TL/ATL) Obstacles To Grace (ASD) Discipleship (TL/ATL) Changing Our World (TL/ATL) Sanctifying Grace (ASD) Body Of Christ (TL/ATL) Perseverance (LD) Fourth Day (ALD-2) ATL s 5 Kristi Bihrer Rosie Wurpts Jackie Riccio Mary Patterson Leila Blackburn Diane Duis Netha Pipho Rosie Wurpts Dawn Freese Heather Gunn Kolleen Queener Tere Rohret Rose Robertson Leila Blackburn Barb Stumbo Nancy Peterson Katie Dorsey Jean Yanders Lana Williams Amy Jo Kerr Kristi Bihrer Jackie Riccio Haley Abbott Kim Ausborn Evelyn Keen Cathy Farwell Jeanelle Stokes Bargb Adams Kelli Kraft Women s Walk
Agape Positions Men s Walk Brad Peterson John Meister Jay Bargman Dick Pipho Denny Wilson Dean Kluss Jim Burk Agape Lay Director Asst. LD Asst LD Asst. Spiritual Director Spiritual Director Music Leader Head Cook Kitchen Asst's Kitchen Asst's Kitchen Asst's Housekeeping Mail Room Prayer Chapel Dining Room 72 Hour Prayer Vigil Trailer Transport Community Agape Dir Women s Walk Carrie Brock Lori Hawbaker Deb Parkinson Alliyson Miller Sarah Strohman Cami McColley Sharon Meier Rhonda Giebelstein Kathy Van Pelt Elaine Thornton Dean Kluss Jim Burk YOU ARE NEEDED! Remember when you had your experience at Walk to Emmaus? How special you felt? We want others to have that same experience. We need all of you to come and work, cook, clean, PRAY! It takes a lot of helping hands working behind the scenes to keep this great ministry flourishing. We want and need it to continue to be what it always has been. I know everybody's lives are busy, but when the Walk is in your area please come help, we need you! If you are a newer 4 th dayer, this is a great time to become more involved and build friendships. If you are an old-timer 4 th dayer, you will want to welcome and partner with them. Welcome them, Include them, Love them! If we are in your area, you can even sleep in your own bed! Thank you for saying yes! Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus!!! 6
Community Service Information The Summer Walks, Faith United Methodist Church, Humboldt:. The Men s Walk (134) will be July 19-22. The Women s Walk (135) will be July 26-29, 2018. John Lizer (Ft. Dodge) and Kristi Bihrer (Ames) will lead these Walks as Lay Directors. Please join us in praying for them and their teams. You can participate in the Walks by working Agape, attending Sponsor s Hour, Candlelight and Closing. These are great opportunities for the community to support these pilgrims and teams. We invite all, especially newer 4 th dayers to join the Agape team for all or part of the weekend. This will help you learn and progress as you wish in this great ministry. Set-Up Time: We ll unload the trailer and set up for the walks on Thursday, July 19th at 4:00 6:00 p.m. just preceding the Men s Walk, and reset on Thursday, July 26 th, 5:00 6:00 p.m. prior to the Women s Walk. Both Team and Agape members should participate and then remain for the pilgrims arrival and/or Sponsors Hour. This is also a great way for newer 4 th dayers to get even more acquainted, make more friends and be a part of the fellowship. Many hands make light work, so come and join us. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m. COMMUNITY SERVICE INFO: Walk Set-up: Thursdays, July 19 th, 4 6 p.m., & July 26 th, 5 6 p.m.. Sponsor s Hour: 7:00 p.m. following set-up & pilgrims arrival or after pilgrims are called out. Candlelight: Saturdays, July 21st & 28 th, arrive at 8:30 pm for service and communion. (Bring your mail for pilgrims and team Closing: Sundays, July 22 nd & 29th, arrive 4:00 pm for closing ceremonies, testimonies and community communion. Come and hear the testimonies of experiencing God s great grace and love! Trailer Reload: 3:00 p.m. Sun, July 29 th. Come early for closing! 7
Connect With Us LOOK for info on upcoming Walks, pilgrim and team lists, articles on Agape FAQ s, Sponsorship info, links to other Emmaus communities throughout Iowa, etc. Contact us via email using IowaEmmaus@gmail.com. Like our Facebook page to receive updates on upcoming Iowa Walks Remember to include Iowa in your search for our page. h t t p : / / w w w. i o w a w a l k t o e m m a u s. o r g / Read about us on the Conference web site at IAUMC.ORG - Ministries and News & Media - Iowa news The purpose of Emmaus is to develop leaders for the church. Emmaus will inspire, challenge, and equip participants for Christian action in their homes, churches, and places of work. Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others. 8