How Can Emmaus Benefit Congregations?
People continue to return from the Walks with their sleeves rolled up and asking, "Where can we help?"
—Layperson in Texas
Every church revitalization or church growth plan acknowledges the priority of spiritual renewal. To this
end, Emmaus provides a means by which people gain a lively overview of Christian faith, encounter the risen
Christ in Christian community, and experience a rekindling of the gift of God's love in their hearts. A plan
of disciplined follow through for developing a lifestyle of discipleship and for being a vital member of the
body of Christ supports this fresh grounding of the faith. Emmaus is proving to be an effective means by which
God changes church members into effective disciples of Christ and plants seeds of renewal in
congregations.
Emmaus is not the only route to church renewal, nor does it stand alone. Emmaus does, however, infuse
new levels of energy, vision, and commitment into congregations through those who participate.
Congregational leaders observe effects such as these:
· increased giving,
· persons' willingness to serve as teachers and leaders,
· deepened hunger for regular Holy Communion,
·
increased participation in Bible studies and other sources of spiritual nurture,
·
stronger spiritual discipline,
·
openness to faith sharing and witnessing to Jesus Christ,
·
intensified eagerness for evangelism and mission. .
When Emmaus participants return with this openness and willingness to serve, leaders must be ready with
ways to enable people to invest themselves in Christ and his mission. An Ohio laywoman, reporting on the fruit of
Emmaus in her large church, wrote:
Emmaus graduates are well represented in the church as Sunday school teachers, project leaders, and
mission volunteers. Not only does their commitment to Christ ensure that the job gets done, but their
personal faith influences many more! Also, the many Emmaus community acts of service in sponsoring
needy families, offering time for the elderly, or starting ministries in the prisons can be mentioned. The one
thing all these acts have in common is love for Christ, and fervent hearts that feel the need to share the
good news. More than anything, it's the continual joy we share as we seek to know, love, and serve the
Lord.
Emmaus has a leavening effect in congregations. The leavening effect does not depend on congregation-wide
participation but on the impact of a few lively, committed persons in the total chemistry of the church. For this
reason, Emmaus becomes effective as an avenue toward renewal when church leaders participate at the outset and
encourage other active members whose presence and influence in the congregation is positive. But Emmaus can
prove ineffective in moving a congregation forward— and in some cases actually has proved problematic—when
leaders are not supportive and when the influence of those members who do participate is narrow or negative.
Congregations can sustain the leavening effect of Emmaus by encouraging participants, immediately after their
Emmaus experience, to band together into the weekly follow-up groups or group reunions. These little face-to-
face groups become dependable centers of life, spiritual discipline, and commitment within the larger fellowship.
They also prove to be significant bases of support and inspiration for mission and outreach. Group members help
one another maintain regular contact
with Christ. They hold one another accountable to living a daily life of vital piety, study, and action.
Linking Emmaus with other complementary emphases, such as Disciple Bible Study, Covenant
Discipleship, Basic Christianity, gifts discovery classes, Volunteers in Mission, or a variety of other spiritual
formation and missional engagements can enhance Emmaus's effectiveness. An overall system of intersecting
pathways to growth in discipleship provides avenues of continuing development and challenge for those who
attend. In addition, people naturally resist and resent the implication that Emmaus is "the only way" to spiritual
renewal, which is the unintended message in churches that do not offer a variety of opportunities for spiritual
formation and service.
Finally, Emmaus's effectiveness for the congregation increases when the congregation publicly affirms
those who attend and acknowledges the value of their involvement both personally and for the
strengthening of the church. The church communicates with the membership about Emmaus-related
activities (such as dates for Walks, meeting times for group reunions and gatherings). The church office may
establish contact persons who provide more information about upcoming Walks. This openness eliminates any
impression that Emmaus activities are different, secret, or exclusive.
One pastor's report of Emmaus in the church relates how Emmaus can be a quiet leavening influence in
the life of the whole congregation. He writes:
Before Emmaus, these persons served as Sunday school teachers, committee and board members in the
church, and were regular workshop attendees. After Emmaus, they continued to serve but did so with
enthusiasm and a quiet, but noticeable inner peace. Then tactfully and politely they began inviting
others in the community to attend worship services and to go on Emmaus Walks.
As a staff-parish relations chairperson put it, "Emmaus is not the only reason, but it is the major
influence in turning our church around. There's a new spirit of willingness on the part of the people to try
what was once considered to be impossible."
