Episcopal Cursillo #132 Dioceses of Dallas/Ft. Worth
Dr. Mickey Griffin served on the team that established Emmaus #1 in Dallas and also served on the first Emmaus team in Johannesburg, South Africa (Sonshine Community). She has a great vision of the connection between Emmaus, vocation, and service to our local community gained through her work with Kairos. Griffin serves as the Director of Programming for Kairos Horizon Communities Corporation and as the Community Resource Manager of Horizon's faith-based residential initiative at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Florida. The Horizon program is an extension of the 3-day Kairos ministry that helps men focus on personal and family responsibility and employability. A key contribution Griffin has made to Horizon is the development of a fatherhood program of journaling and tape recordings for the inmates' children. Miraculous family reunification and restorations have resulted!
Walk #1 Louisville, Kentucky
Who better to lead our International Emmaus Celebration in an evening of praise and worship than Larnelle Harris, Walk #1, Louisville Community. Some of Larnelle's best-loved hymns include "The Father Hath Provided" and "How Excellent Is Thy Name." His duos include "I've Just Seen Jesus" and "More Than Wonderful" with Sandi Patty. After more than 18 albums, 5 Grammys, and 11 Dove Awards, Larnelle still keeps his priorities. His unflinching integrity and dedication to putting his family before his career are often the subjects of print, radio and TV interviews. "I don't consider the story of my own life to be all that interesting," Larnelle says. "But the story of what the Lord has done in my life and in my heart, that's the story I have to tell." And we will have the opportunity to hear that story on Friday evening.
Walk #1 Southern Africa
Rev. Christopher Harrison was an Emmaus pilgrim on Walk #1 in Southern Africa, marking the beginning of his service to Emmaus. In 1990 he served as the Chairperson on the Steering Committee of the first Southern African Emmaus. The following year he was elected as the first Spiritual Director of the Son Valley Community where he served for 3 years. Chris set up the first Chrysalis Flight in Southern Africa and served as Spiritual Director on Flight #1. He organized the Africa South Emmaus Coordinating Board that coordinated all the communities of Southern Africa. He was elected as the first Spiritual Director for the Coordinating Board and served in that position for a period of three years. He served as Spiritual Director for fourteen weekends. During this period six new communities, including the Zimbabwe Community, were launched. He continues to serve by doing talks on weekends and offering guidance to existing communities. Chris is married to Leigh and has two daughters, Shervon (11) and Alyssa (9). Chris serves as the Senior Minister at West View Methodist Church, a 2,000 member church he has served for 7 years.
Walk #47 Nashville community
Dr. Robert Pierson is presently the Senior Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he has served for thirty-one years. His long history of service to the local church and The Walk to Emmaus allows him to speak to the interconnectedness of the two -- the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. During Pierson's pastorate at Christ United Methodist Church, the church has experienced extraordinary growth. This growth has been attributed to a strong emphasis on seeking to follow the example of Jesus, on a strong lay involvement, and on being a servant church. As the church has grown, so has the number of Emmaus pilgrims in the congregation. Don't miss the great opportunity to hear how The Walk to Emmaus and the local church work together to make a world of difference.
Rev. Isron Tlholwe was one of the first clergy leaders to take The Walk to Emmaus to South Africa. In 1987 he attended an International Religious Foundation Conference in Key West, Florida. During this visit he traveled to Nashville where he was introduced to The Walk to Emmaus. Later he was asked to bring Emmaus to South Africa. In 1993 Tlholwe led an interdenominational group of 47 Methodist, Anglican, Baptist and Roman Catholic pilgrims to the Holy Land. Tlholwe lives a life of Christian service and makes a world of difference in many lives. After ordination by the MCSA in 1956 he served local churches, then went on to serve as Superintendent Minister, Assistant Secretary of Conference, Assistant/Deputy Bishop, and President of the Witwatersrand Council of Churches. Before retiring from full time ministry in 1995, he served as the sole delegate of the South Eastern Transvaal and Swaziland District of the MCSA at the World Methodist Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
Walk #22 Mt. Wesley Methodist Encampment Kerrville, Texas
Known for his warm and lively speaking style, Rev. Eradio Valverde, Jr. is a longtime friend and supporter of The Walk to Emmaus and Upper Room Ministries. He served as Spiritual Director for Walks #1 for Puerto Rico and the Rio Grande Conference and has served on numerous Walks for both Conferences. Currently he is senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he has served since 1998. Valverde has written many articles, the most recent being sermon contributions to The Preachers Manual 2002 by Abingdon Press. He publishes an email devotional entitled ConCafe, and served as the keynote speaker for the 2002 Youth Assembly of the Rio Grande Conference in Sacramento, NM. Drawing from his experience in the work of the church and The Walk to Emmaus, he will speak to us about making a world of difference in our churches.
Walk #7 East Florida
Bishop Graciela Alvarez has been instrumental in the international growth of The Walk To Emmaus. She was part of the group who in 1989 brought The Walk to Emmaus to Mexico, and later was part of the team who started the program in Puerto Rico and Cuba. Since that time, her dedication has not wavered. She continues to serve on teams, often as the Spiritual Director. Bishop Alvarez has served The Methodist Church of Mexico since her ordination thirty-six years ago. For the last eight years she has served as Bishop of the Annual Conference of Mexico and currently serves as pastor of Bethel Methodist Church, south of the metropolitan area of Mexico City, Mexico.
Dr. Tony Campolo is well-known for his tireless Christian service and his engaging and direct speaking style. His lifelong passion for developing and nurturing schools, universities, adult and child literacy centers, orphanages, AIDS hospices, urban youth ministries, and long-term Christian service programs in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Africa, Canada, and throughout the USA, gives him much to say to our international gathering. He also serves as a media commentator on religious, social and political matters, and as a guest on television programs like "Nightline," "Crossfire," "Politically Incorrect," and "CNN News." Campolo is an ordained minister, has served American Baptist Churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is presently recognized as an associate pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.
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