A Total Commitment
Probably the most personal way you can provide agape love is to sponsor someone on a walk. Not to be taken lightly, this probably requires about a year-long commitment to that person. A sponsor is a person who has been through a Walk to Emmaus (or similar) experience, is willing to share that experience with prospective participant and is active in their Fourth Days by participating in a reunion or share group. It starts with explaining what the Walk to Emmaus is about and answering his or her questions.
The candidate should already be on a pilgrimage, willing to grow and move forward in his/her journey of faith.
They know that God has made a difference in their life and must be able to "clear their plate" to give full attention to the message and experience of the Walk during the weekend and its follow-up activities.
There are booklets available through the Upper Room’s Walk to Emmaus Library Series that are wonderful resources to help you through the process, three of which are, “Sponsorship“ by Richard and Janine R. Gilmore, “Day Four: The Pilgrim's Continued Journey” by Robert Wood and Marie Livingston Roy, and the “Upper Room Handbook on Emmaus” referenced below.
The New-Ark Area Emmaus Community is strengthened by committed sponsors. The following steps are from the “Upper Room Handbook on Emmaus” - ten steps in sponsoring a prospective pilgrim.
- Pray for the person's openness to God's call to discipleship, not for how to get him or her to go on a Walk.
- Make an appointment with the person or couple for the purpose of discussing participation in Emmaus.
- Extend an invitation. Invite the prospective pilgrim to attend for the sake of a more vital relationship with Jesus Christ, not just an event to go to. Share your faith; explain the basic elements of the Walk, it’s purpose, and follow-up dimensions that help us live in grace for the rest of our lives. Take the attitude that you are giving the person a wonderful gift rather than that he or she needs to go.
- Ask the person to make a commitment by filling out the registration form. If the person is married, speak with both partners and encourage an equal commitment by both.
- Continue to pray for your prospective pilgrim, prepare agape letters, and enlist the support of their pastor. Collect six to twelve personal agape letters. Do not ask the team to deliver personal gifts during the three days.
- Support the Walk through your prayers during the 72-hour prayer vigil and your presence at Send-Off, Sponsors' Hour, Candlelight, and Closing. Support the pilgrim's family by house-sitting, baby-sitting, watering plants, picking up mail, feeding pets, or just checking in with a spouse to see if any help is needed.
- Encourage the pilgrim in his or her Fourth Day involvement. Give your friend an opportunity to talk through the experience. Help the pilgrim find a share group, or be prepared to start a share group with him or her for a period of time until others join the group. Take the pilgrim to Gatherings as your guest for a couple of months - or more.
- Help the pilgrim reenter his or her church and consider ways to act out new commitment and enthusiasm.
- Inform the pilgrim of ways to serve the Emmaus Community and future Walks.
- Help the pilgrim sponsor others.
Enlarge your “Sponsorship Toolkit” by keeping these ten steps with your Fourth Days book so that you can refer to them. Remember, "Christ is Counting on Us".
Other considerations include:
- Only sponsoring persons who are active members of a church
- Waiting to sponsor someone who is experiencing a time of emotional trial, such as a serious health problem, death or divorce until these issues are resolved
- Not sponsoring a pilgrim while you are serving on a live-in team
- Waiting at least six months after your walk before sponsoring