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I hope you will join me in Nashville to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our phenomenal shared ministry -- The Walk to Emmaus®. The Upper Room® launched Emmaus in 1978 and, with your help, it has grown ever since, renewing people's walk with Christ and developing Christian leaders for service through the church. Based on the Emmaus road story in Luke 24:13-35, the Emmaus program has become a contagious spiritual renewal movement in its own right. Like the two disciples in Luke's story, today's Emmaus "pilgrims" return to their churches bearing witness to the risen Christ with burning faith, expanded spiritual awareness, and deeper commitment to serve and give for Christ's mission. While you are hosting your Emmaus weekend with 30 to 40 men or women at a time, the same experience may be taking place in as many as 350 locations, across 27 countries, and in 11 languages. Approximately 40,000 persons will participate this year in more than 1500 Walks, over a half million participants since Emmaus began.
As a young pastor, I found in Emmaus a way for us, the church, to really be Christ's hands and feet in today's world-through renewed openness to God's renewing grace and a daily walk following Christ's own pattern of piety, study, and action. "Jesus himself drew near" (Luke 24:15) through a series of great talks, honest table conversations, scripture meditations, worship, and prayer times. "Our hearts were burning within us" (Luke 24:32) as we experienced agape love in the sacrifices of those who selflessly supported our time with God with intercession and joyful service. Two decades later, the commitment I made to daily spiritual practice and a weekly accountability group sustains and energizes my daily walk.
On July 24-27, 2003, thousands of us will gather in Nashville, Tennessee, USA to celebrate 25 years and what God continues to do through Emmaus. Come and join us as we explore a deeper walk and paths to a more Christ-like world.
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