C r oss P oi nt N ewsl ett er opyri ght 2016 C ros sp oi nt Emm aus Vol XXV1I1 Number 5 Cross Point Emmaus Newsletter May 2016 Page 1 Wow, wow, WOW! God is GOOD, ALL the time! We just completed Walks 101 and 102 and they were AMAZING! Thank you to all of our sponsors and to those who worked so hard behind the scenes! These walks would not be so easy if it weren t for the hard working, men and women who tirelessly show the grace of God to ALL of those in the Conference Room. Which brings me to my next point. When you fill out an application to Volunteer for the walk PLEASE make sure that ALL your information is correct and up to date. There was a bit of confusion with some of the workers and them not receiving confirmation that YES indeed they were going to be working the walk. It has been the policy of Cross Point Emmaus Community that IF you send in an application then YES you will be asked to work. So here is another point I would like to make. If you send out an application to work the walk, go ahead and ask for that time off from your job. AND, if you send in an application and then decide you don t want to or can t work the walk. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let the Lay Director know as soon as you find out that you won t be able to be there. Don t just not show up and think everything is going to be fine. The Lay Director is COUNTING on YOU! And so we begin again! Karin Nuner, Community Lay Director David Woerz, our Assistant Community Lay Director, has the responsibility of the collection Volunteer Applications. The deadline of May 28th is set because a selection committee consisting of David, the Spiritual Lay Director, Steve Harshaw and 3 or 4 other nonboard members that have a broad awareness of the community membership and solid understanding of team needs, have a set deadline to meet and make decisions. So, if all of us respond with our submissions by that date, it makes their work of praying over and choosing, so much easier. If God is urging you to serve, but unsure where, simply write, Where God Leads., He ll take care of you.
SATURDAY, MAY 14th at 6:00 PM ADA We are looking forward to this Gathering! Know why? Because we just came off the walks, (where we gathered) and then 4th day meetings (where we gathered) and so, we should be feeling a little hungry again for the company of the brothers and sisters of Emmaus! Like it says in Hebrews, we should never quit the good habit of meeting together! And isn t this a wonderful place to inspire, encourage and engage in all the wonderful gifts the Holy Spirit has given us? Particularly at this Gathering! Everyone that comes will get the opportunity to use their hands in helping with the preparation and cleanup as Asbury s Emmaus Member Group is small but on fire about having a gathering at their church. Let us all come together and bless them as they are a blessing to us for the invitation. Gatherings are by church invitation and we are grateful for theirs. Has your church had a gathering lately? Jeff Hiller is the person to contact if you would like to extend an invite!
Vol XXV1I1 Number 5 Cross Point Emmaus Newsletter May 2016 Page 3 Greetings Crosspoint Community. Well, I think we are finally catching our breath after being a part of 2 great walks. Congratulations to all of our new members from Walks 101 and 102! We had a great turnout for our 4th Day Meeting in Ardmore last week and look forward to hearing great results from our Ada meeting. We had over 80 turnout in Ardmore and were able to start up 11 new Reunion Groups and plug in several members from previous walks who were needing a new group. If you are still looking for a reunion group to join, or you are in a group that is looking to add a member or 2, please let me know. I am going to be trying to make connections to get people plugged into groups. We all need support and accountability to keep moving forward in our spiritual walk, and Reunion Groups is the vehicle to help make that happen. As I was sitting around the fire pit last night, I thought about the fact that the fire will only burn for so long without me having to stir up the coals and add more wood. In our spiritual walk, we must be active in doing the things required to keep the flame lit. Let's keep each other burning! Bryan Scott, Fourth Day Wonderful meeting! Lots of food, fellowship and smiles!
Vol XXV1I1 Number 5 Cross Point Emmaus Newsletter May 2016 Page 4 Dear Crosspoint Community, The Board met at Calvary Christian Fellowship in April. Thank you CCF! We met over last minute details for the Spring Walks and discussed the upcoming Fall Walks. Please continue to be in prayer for the Fall Walk Lay Directors, Mens-Don Wilson and Womens-Sharri Hiller! There is a lot of work to be done by them until the Fall Walks. God already knows the team and pilgrims. Let us pray that Don & Sharri hear him as they begin this time of preparation. April has flown by! It was a busy month. I want to welcome the new pilgrims of Walks 101 & 102! It is great to have you as a part of this Emmaus Community and I pray Blessings over you and your 4th Days! Please get hooked up with a reunion group! This is an important part of your Walk to Emmaus! See you at the Gatherings! See you at the Gatherings, Lisa Gipson Board Secretary #103 Sept. 22nd - Sept. 25th Don Wilson - Lay Director #104 Sept. 29th - Oct. 2nd Sharri Hiller - Lay Director
Vol XXV1I1 Number 5 Cross Point Emmaus Newsletter May 2016 Page 5 A Facebook post reminded me that far too many of us live with chronic pain. This young man, a cousin who I wished I knew better, expressed how so many tragic events had piled up in his life and he could no longer understand how there could be a loving God left in this world. He had a long list of life events that took his peace away: a debilitating back injury, his own life threatening illness, both parents struggling with life altering disease, grandparents who died much too young and a few other things. Upon reading his long post, I sat dumbfounded wondering how to respond. There really is no way to respond in a comment or with a reaction. Nothing I could type would change his thoughts or effect his spirit in a positive way. The simple truth is our relationship is much too shallow to offer any meaningful advice or comfort. Sure, I could tell him that God was and is there through each experience that God sent the Holy Spirit to offer comfort and guidance that God still loves him and that there is hope in Jesus. But, it would all be empty words. Why? Because we do not know each other and because I have never taken the time to build a relationship with him. I must admit in this case that time and distance has made it difficult. So what cousin? Well, my intent is not for is the point? Why should you be concerned with my you tend to him but, to remind us all how important it is to build relationships with the people around us. There are many people we cross paths with every day that have some sort of chronic pain; physically, emotionally, and psychologically, and of course, others who just cannot seem to find Jesus in this cruel world. We know gives us hope, and how the how Jesus has changed our lives, how Jesus grace of God could touch their lives. So, what are we doing to share that witness? What can we do or what should we do so that they see Jesus through us? First, we must get to know them and we must allow them to get to know us. Then, like a friend, we must tend to their needs and actually show them that Jesus does love them. Tend to those you know who are in pain, and also remember, if we reach out to our neighbors before they find themselves in distress they will have the tools they need to remain in the peace that passes all understanding. This life is cruel and our only hope is Jesus Christ. Love one another. Go into all the world and make disciples. Do not forget, part of all the world is the person you routinely interact with. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Pastor Jeff,
Vol XXV1I1 Number 5 Cross Point Emmaus Newsletter May 2016 Page 6 For your fabulous hospitality. Our April Gathering & Commissioning was filled with Blessed Moments.
CROSS POINT NEWSLETT ER OPYRIGHT 2016 CROSS POINT EMMAUS Address: Phone: 580-221-0324 E-mail: joydouthit@yahoo.com Newsletter 737 14th Ave NW Ardmore, OK 73401 Cross Point Emmaus We re on the web crosspointemmaus.org On the Road to Emmaus 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles [a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over. So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? Luke 24: 13-16, 28-32