Sponsorship
Suggestions and Checklist for Sponsors

Suggestions for Sponsors

Here are a few suggestions for recruitment that should increase your effectiveness, help you properly interpret Emmaus, and effectualize your responsibility in sharing God's grace as a sponsor.

1. When you are talking to a married person, we suggest you talk with both husband and wife. We
want both husband and wife to make the decision together. Their applications should be turned in together.

2. Remember, the Walk to Emmaus is not for everyone. These three days cannot rectify every problem marriage, enthuse every disenchanted church member, cure disturbed persons, or make
saints of sinners. The Walk to Emmaus is designed to change environments through Christian leaders. Pilgrims should at least know where the path is, if they are not already walking it. We don't need just any candidates, we need the best.

3. Feel free to share with a potential applicant what Emmaus meant for you as fully as will help,
realizing that all explanations will fall short. It's not that we are not allowed to tell what went on, but that it is difficult to explain. We want their experience to be fresh, especially for candlelight and agape letters, which will hopefully be surprises.

4. Don't assume the person you are sponsoring will experience the same things you did. Each of us is at a different place on our spiritual journey. For some, the Emmaus experience will be a mountaintop, a new beginning. For others, it will be strengthening for the journey they are already on. We must not pre-judge our candidates or set them up with unhelpful expectations.

5. To assure the applicant you are personally interested in their attending, make plans to bring them to the Emmaus site for send-off. Your bringing them, helping them with suitcases and registration, and sharing in the send-off and sponsor's hour is a form of prayer and sacrifice.

6. During the weekend, you and your family become a substitute for the pilgrim. Leave your phone number with their spouse. Do something special for them during the weekend, like giving them a few hours during the day for personal time. Share a meal with them. Let the pilgrim's spouse know that you love and care for them.

7. You have responsibilities to the pilgrim. Pray for him/her during the weekend. Write him/her letters of prayers and sacrifice and make sure others do likewise, especially those closest to them. Support your pilgrim with your presence at candlelight and closing.

8. After the Walk, stay in contact and support the pilgrim you sponsor during their Fourth Day. Be responsible for getting them to the Fourth Day meeting following their Walk. Take them to at least their first gathering. Help them become involved in a group reunion as soon as possible.

^! From Walk to Emmaus Lay Director's Manual. 1989. o. 80.

Checklist for Sponsor Responsibilities

Before the Walk

·        Spend concentrated time in prayer in an effort to discern whom God wants you to sponsor. Continue to pray for both you and the pilgrim God has laid on your heart.

·        Make an appointment to meet the potential pilgrim. (Couples are encouraged to attend the same set of walks. The registrar can assist in filling this request.)

·        Give the potential pilgrim an application and be prepared to explain everything on it.

·        Obtain the application, assuring the information is complete.

·        Submit the application along with the sponsor's form and partial fee to the registrar.

·        Pray for your pilgrim and their family.

·        Begin preparations to request the personal agape letters for your pilgrim.

·        Meet with your pilgrim in an informal setting and discuss further the Walk to Emmaus and the weekend. Offer guidance about what to pack, provide positive encouragement and reassurance, and encourage the discussion of any fears or apprehension the pilgrim may be experiencing.

During the Walk

·        Take your pilgrim to the Walk site and assist with check-in.

·        If possible, bring a snack to be used during the weekend. Perhaps one you know your pilgrim would enjoy.

·        Spend as much time as possible in prayer for your pilgrim. Be part of the 72-hour prayer vigil. When your pilgrim sees your name on the 72-hour prayer vigil chart it provides a special lift.

·        Attend sponsor's hour and have a brief prayer prepared to share for your pilgrim.

·        Have 8-14 pieces of agape from family members and close friends to the agape room by Saturday night.

·        Check on you pilgrim's family and/or household to provide necessary assistance.

·        Attend Saturday candlelight service and Communion.

·        Attend the closing and take your pilgrim home. They will appreciate someone who understands their excitement and/or silence.

After the Walk

·        Pray for your pilgrim. Allow them time to digest as well as discuss what they discovered on the weekend.

·        Take your pilgrim to the Post-Walk Fourth Day Gathering.

·        Invite and take them to their first gathering.

·        Assist your pilgrim in joining a reunion group.

·        Inform your pilgrim of upcoming candlelight, closing and training meetings.

·        Teach the new Emmaus member how to be a good sponsor.