As I ponder this Christmas season, I often think back over the year to assess how much growth has happened. It’s with the greatest joy and most humble spirit that I can say that this year has been one of the greatest years of my life. Having the distinct honor of serving the South Mississippi Emmaus community as Community Lay Director has given me the renewed joy of serving our Lord Jesus Christ again. May the Lord be praised.

I also have the distinct and privileged honor of presenting the newest board members to the community. They are Dan Walley and Larry Easley, Monica Sandifer, Nancy Freeman, and Rev. Lisa Pridmore, Rev. Joe Reynolds. Rev. Lisa Pridmore has graciously accepted the position as Community Spiritual Director. I encourage every-one to support her in her new role as community-wide spiritual leader.
 
As a community, we are blessed with servants that are willing to give of their lives and to serve this community with their whole hearts. I would also like to honor those community members who graciously allowed their names to be placed on the ballot. For some it may have been an easy choice, but for me it was a difficult decision to whom to vote because every person had gifts and services to offer our community.

I would also like to thank all of you who served along-side of me during each Walk, every board meeting, every phone call, and (please forgive me if I left out an area of service) and every email. I could not have done this task without each of you.
The South Mississippi Board desires to serve this community guiding each Walk to honor our Lord; so as a community, lets support SMWE with pilgrims, our gifts, talents, money, and service. I challenge each of you to Walk the walk and remember your experience with this Walk to Emmaus community every day.

With service to our Lord,
Brent Wilson 

The Worship committee is looking for one banner that has not been located in several Walks. It is the burgundy satin with the silhouette of Jesus. Most probably someone saw that it needed some minor repairs and took it home to do those repairs. Please look around your home or if you know if someone wanted to re-pair it and took it home; often times what we believe could only take a few hours turns into several months—then time has a way of getting away from us . Please see that it is returned to the community—it’s a valuable piece of our Worship experiences. 

As many of you know, Mr. James “Hutch” Hutcherson had agreed to be our next Lay Director for Walk #23. Due to an illness, Hutch has asked to postpone his service as Lay Director for Walk #23. The Lord has other plans for Hutch. This is when we know that the Lord is in charge of all the Walks. So the Board of Directors has asked Mr. Grady Fleming to step up to the plate and fill in the big shoes that Hutch left vacant. At this time, if you have been asked to work this Walk, please consider continuing to offer your service since Grady will need all the support that our community has to offer. From this point forward, you will be in contact with Grady. And remember, lets continue to offer prayers and concern for a speedy recovery for Hutch.
 

It has been my pleasure and blessing to have been your South Mississippi Community Spiritual Director for the last two years (and to have been on the community board of directors for the last three years). It has given me an opportunity to work with many people dedicated to Christ and dedicated to the Walk to Emmaus. Forty messages on Grace and eighty other spiritually uplifting messages, with all the discussions, all the prayers locally and throughout the world (once the schedule of walks is on the Internet—there is no telling what Walk to Emmaus person will see it and be led by Almighty God to pray wholeheartedly for the Walk). All the work that I saw the great volunteers do, in the conference room, AND elsewhere; all the counseling, encouraging, and yes at times heartache; all the blessings received and shared (and sometimes not shared-but some recognized); the Christian friendships formed; those who have completed the Walk to Emmaus who have been led and enabled to become workers-WOW-what a blessing.
 
The end of my term on the Board has arrived and it is time for my successor to assume those “responsibilities’ which are really BLESSINGS. Please be in prayer for Rev. Lisa Pridmore who is your new Community spiritual director. Please be in prayer for all the new members of the SOUTH MISSISSIPPI WALK TO EMMAUS Community Board of directors as well as those who are continuing as members working with such a tight budget requires God’s help
.
Rejoice in the blessings received from Almighty GOD.
Gratefully,
Bro. Bill Sanford 

In today’s  world, everyone communicates in a code. I’ve often said it’s the acronyms uniquely unto a specific field of work that allows the coworkers to share info that only they under-stand. The Emmaus community is really no different. I believe that the LORD has laid it on my heart to share some of the Emmaus lingo and at-tempt to explain what each means. The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of GOD‟s grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church. The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship and daily celebration of Holy Communion. The “Emmaus Community,” made up of those who have attended an Emmaus weekend, sup-port the 72-hour experience with a prayer vigil, by preparing and serving meals, and other acts of love and self-giving. The Emmaus Walk typically be-gins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening.

During and after the three days, Emmaus leaders encourage participants to meet regularly in small groups. The members of the small account-ability groups challenge and support one another in faithful living. Participants seek to Christianize their environments of family, job, and community through the ministry of their congregations. The three-day Emmaus experience and follow-up accountability groups strengthen and renew Christian people as disciples of Jesus Christ and as active members of the body of Christ in mission to the world. 

It is so important to become a part of a follow up accountability group, some of the Emmaus community may call these Reunion Groups. Our service cards provide a simple format if you have never been a part of a small group before. This is probably one of the most critical aspects of encouraging our brothers and sisters when we return home. As you may have felt during your weekend, you want to share your experience with those you love and others. This is the beginning of your Emmaus community. This meeting occurs when a group of Emmaus com-munity members come together (gather) share and eat. We all know that Emmaus community members love to eat. This also can be called Gatherings. During the three-day event, we have one purpose, to share with each other our gifts. I encourage each of you to find a small accountability group to join and share GOD‟s love with others.

Our SMWE board desires to share community news with you on a regular basis and ultimately will do so through Newsflash and Newsletters. We will also share a SMWE Focus to inform our community at large the pilgrims and team for the upcoming Walks for the express purpose of bathing each Walk in prayer.

Our LORD GOD and SAVIOR commissions us To “go and make disciples,” and what better way to share with others than to introduce them to the Emmaus community. We strive to be open and honest without giving away some of the surprises that occur during the weekend and remain accountable to GOD and our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. 

De Colores

Greetings to everyone in the South Mississippi Emmaus Community.  My prayer is for SMWTE to join God in his work in the year 2010.  Four Walks are scheduled & team formation is well under way. 

Economic times have been better . . . innumerable charities---all worthy---ask for financial support daily.  Most of us must prioritize our charitable giving.  Prayerfully it is hoped you will feel moved to support your Emmaus Community financially.  SMWTE is classified as a 501(c)3 organization by the IRS & is tax exempt.  All your donations will be tax deductible.  Our sole purpose is to present a short course in Christianity & in so doing raise up & strengthen local church leaders.  All funds are dispersed to that end.  As God would move you in a step of faith, please consider supporting South Ms. Emmaus this year. 

One may consider honoring a loved one with a contribution or a memorable may be given in a loved one`s name. 

Contributions can be made to Emmaus through:

               Jim Johnson, Special Asst. to Treas.

                92 Claude Smith Road

                Tylertown MS 39667

 IHS

Bo Gabbert/Community Treasurer