May 2018 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Loudoun Valley Emmaus Community. Of course, God has to be given the credit for the wisdom and dedication He instilled in women and men from NCA Emmaus and West Virginia Emmaus as they faithfully planned our Community’s birth. The early commitments of those dedicated founders have resulted in more than 2,000 pilgrims, 85 Walk weekends and approximately 30+ women and men who received their personal calls to become Pastors, most of whom continue to Minister in the Virginia Conference.
Consistent with an ethos which was stressed throughout the walk weekends, most of the 2,000 pilgrims returned to their churches, approached their Pastors and volunteered, studied and joined reunion groups. Additionally, as those pilgrims attended the Day of Deeper Understanding, they sponsored others in their families and churches and circles of friends…they “Passed-it-on.”
In November 2017, we held a Day of Deeper Understanding with a large percentage of recent pilgrims – and their sponsors – in attendance and we had an initial flurry of pilgrim applications.
Today, with date and location certain for our October and November Walk weekends, we have about five and one-half months to submit applications for willing pilgrims. The Board is energized to perform some clean-up, sorting and painting at the 4-H center and we are praying for God to continue the blessing which He and the Holy Spirit provide before, during and after the weekend. Please consider being a part of the sponsorship activities and give someone the gift which you received!
Our May Gathering will be held at Sterling UMC on May 19, 2018, The 25 year-old Community hopes to see you there!
DeColores,
Phil Hannum, CLD, LV # 5