Equip, Learn, Lead: NIC Lay Academies
Lay Academies provide valuable opportunities for laity to grow as leaders in their churches and communities. Academies are held in each district, a few times a year, offering convenient ac…
Posted: February 28 2024 at 02:23 AM
Author: Linda Bjur, Northern Illinois Emmaus, Walk 167 Lay Director
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While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and walked with them. – Luke 24:15
When is the last time that you spent 72 hours working on your spiritual life? The Northern Illinois Emmaus community invites you to consider attending a Walk to Emmaus Weekend.
The Walk to Emmaus develops Christian disciples and leaders by inspiring, challenging, and equipping active adult church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities. It also benefits less-active members who are seeking to renew a relationship with God, grow spiritually, or discover firmer foundations for their lives.
The program begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity that is wrapped in prayer and signs of sacrificial service. It continues for the rest of participants’ lives with follow-up groups that, along with the local church’s robust spiritual development opportunities, contribute to participants’ ongoing growth in grace.
The Emmaus community has shown me the meaning of agape and grace. It has given me a path on how to live out my Christian walk.
The application process starts with prayerful discernment and an openness to the Holy Spirit’s invitation. After one accepts this invitation, they complete an application. The Emmaus leaders prayerfully consider each applicant and in God’s time, the person is invited to attend a three-day experience of New Testament Christianity as a lifestyle. The Walk to Emmaus is held in the spring and fall of each year. The spring walks for 2024 are April 4-7 (Men’s Walk) and April 11-14 (Women’s Walk). Both walks are held at the Bishop Lane Retreat Center in Rockford.
An applicant needs a sponsor from the Emmaus community. If you do not know anyone currently in the community, please contact one of these people: Dave Stivers, sponsor chair (davidstiver09@gmail.com or 224-715-8756), Tom Wood, community lay director (twood@nationalfibersupply.com or 312-406-7324), or Nancy Pitsch, assistant community lay director (nancy@pitschfamily.com or 815-499-3802). Applications are appreciated two weeks before the walk so arrangements can be made.
Find more information at nil-emmaus.org.
Walk to Emmaus Ministries is overseen by The Upper Room, a division of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries.