Dear Grand Rapids Area Emmaus Community Member,

We need your help! Our Community is under siege and the enemy is trying to drive our Community apart. One of our most effective weapons we have to fight this attack is prayer. Here are some specific areas in need of prayer… first, for the Group Reunions and Gatherings, which is the heart of the Community. They are beating irregularly causing a loss of Community connection. Second, please ask God for spirit-filled leadership, which is the life blood of our Community that has clotted causing cancelled walks. Third, please pray for the Board, which is the central nervous system of our Community. This system has done poorly with communicating to the body. Fourth, for new leaders, that will prayerfully consider stepping up to help reenergize our Community. Another weapon we have to fight with is the truth. So let us review where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going.

We as a Board have re-aligned several areas over the past few years and we have not effectively implemented these, but let us assure you that these adjustments are required as part of our covenant with the Upper Room. We as leaders apologize for the lack of effective leadership and we humbly ask for your forgiveness and patience with us. This letter is the first step in correcting our lack of communication. It is our hope that we can begin the path toward healing and then onto thriving in the purposes which God has given us.

It is also obvious to us that we as a Community have been so focused on managing amazing walk weekends that we have forgotten about the true purpose of the Walk to Emmaus: which is to grow leaders in the church. This type of leadership does not happen over a three day experience, but during the fourth day. We believe to truly do God’s will we need to be connected as a Community and in a home church for all of our fourth days. Before we can correct these and other challenges we face as a Community we need the right leadership in the right roles.

The next step to heal as a Community is to restructure the leadership of our Community: with Board Members (committee chairs) and sub-committees. This approach is the only way to effectively lead the Community. This is where you can help. If this Community has touched your heart, gave you hope, or has helped you grow in your faith (as it has for us) then we strongly encourage you to pray for God’s guidance on how you should be involved.

If you feel a God given tug to be part of the Board or a sub-committee we encourage you to do two things. One, contact any member of the Board so we can pray with and give you some of the details of the open positions. Two, attend a Board meeting. The Board meetings are the first Tuesday of every month. They start at 7:30pm and are located at St. Paul’s in Kentwood. The next two dates are March 4^th, and April 1^st.

We have been given a vision for the healing and reenergizing of this Community, but without proper leadership we cannot move forward, nor have another walk. So again we urge you to get involved and make a difference.

GLYASDW

Jaclyn DeLaney – Lay Director

Bill Dykstra- Agape Acts

Richard Wnuk- Candlelight & Entertainment

Kristy Somsel- Community Communication

Gail Holmes- Database

Rex & Karen Wambaugh- Facilities Management

David & Kathy Thwaites- Gatherings

Barb Miller- Sponsorship

Joel Darling- Treasurer

Auxiliary- Open

Registration- Open

Spiritual Director- Open

Supplies- Open

Team Selection- Open