Blessings, Emmaus Family!
Can you believe it’s already May? As spring turns into warmer days, we’re blessed to witness the beautiful growth and renewal that God so faithfully brings into our lives and community. This season of ministry has been filled with so many blessings, and I truly feel grateful for each of you—how you’ve answered His call, shown love to our pilgrims, and served our Lord with heartfelt joy.
Praise Report for WV Walk#161
What an incredible weekend! Our hearts are lifted in gratitude as we celebrate the successful completion of WV Men’s Walk #161. As the men shared their testimonies at closing, it was clear that the Holy Spirit moved among us, transforming hearts and lives. We joyfully welcome 14 new brothers to our Fourth Day community! May we continue to surround these men with prayer, asking God to strengthen and guide them as they return to their families and churches, shining the light of Christ wherever they go.
A massive thank you to the dedicated team for their servant hearts, the Board for their tireless efforts, and the entire community for your powerful prayers, acts of agape, and support.
Now, We Rise Up for the Women’s Walk!
As we celebrate the success of the men’s walk, our hearts turn with anticipation to the upcoming Women’s WV Walk #162, just a few weeks away from May 14th to May 17th.
Now is the time to finalize preparations and fill this walk with the same love and prayer.
Here is how you can help:
- Prayer Vigil: Sign up for the 72-hour prayer vigil. Let’s surround these women with uninterrupted prayer.
- Agape: Start preparing your Agape gifts and letters for the team and pilgrims.
- Attend Key Events: Send-off, Candlelight, Closing
Let’s keep the momentum going, stepping forward as the hands and feet of Jesus to provide a loving, Christ-filled environment for the women’s weekend.
Opportunities to Serve in May
As we look ahead to May, there are several meaningful ways you can stay engaged and serve within our Emmaus community:
- Fourth Day Workshop: Join us at Faith Baptist Church, Knoxville, MD, on Saturday, May 2nd, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. for our Fourth Day Workshop—a great opportunity to learn more about sponsoring Pilgrims or joining a team to share God’s grace. Whether you’re new or returning, this is the perfect time to refresh your understanding and connect with others. We hope to see you there!
- Upcoming Gathering: Also on May 9th, don’t miss our Gathering—an uplifting time to reconnect, welcome new community members, and offer blessings and prayers over our WV Women’s #162 team as they prepare to serve.
- Reunion Groups: If you’re not yet part of an active Reunion Group, I encourage you to join one. Accountability is truly the heart of our Fourth Day experience. If you have any questions or need help finding or forming a Reunion Group, please email reunion@westvirginiaemmaus.org or reach out to our Board Chairs, Brenda Newhouse or Kathy Rudisill, for more guidance. You can also find a complete list of active Reunion Groups on our website under the “Reunion Groups” tab.
We also have exciting news to share:
After a period of prayerful discernment, our Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Jeff Jones will serve as Weekend Lay Director for the Spring 2027 WV Men’s Walk #165.
Jeff has been part of our community since Walk #102, consistently demonstrating servant leadership and grace. We look forward to seeing how God will use him to inspire the team and welcome new pilgrims next spring.
Let’s join in congratulating Jeff and praying for him as he steps into this important role.
A Final Thought
May is a month of blossoming. As the world around us awakens, I invite you to reflect on your own spiritual journey—are you nurturing the seeds God planted during your weekend? Remember, your Fourth Day is a walk meant to be shared, lived out in the warmth and support of community.
I am honored to serve alongside you!
Nancy Everstine, Community Lay Director