Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We always say that the weekend is a gift to those who attend and we avoid talking about the financial aspects associated with this ministry. That must change. We are now at a point where the Board must now look at canceling weekends just to keep the El ShaddaiWalk to Emmaus from running out of money.

Each set of Emmaus weekends cost approximately $7,800 and each Chrysalis flight costs approximately $4,000. Additionally, we have insurance costs and other necessary ancillary expenses above and beyond the weekends. Right now, we cannot see the funding for the flights in July. If we do not have the funds we must cancel the flights. The same is true of the October walks.

The board is very aware of current economic times, but we are also aware of our commitment to this community. We have raised weekend team donations to $75, the first increase since El Shaddai was formed 27 years ago. We are eliminating the mailed newsletter as a cost-saving measure. We are also instituting financial statements for those who donate by check or by cash in the provided envelopes.

We are also asking each of you to make a commitment to help us. Donate to support the Chrysalis youth workers and Butterflies. Donate to help with insurance and other costs. If you cannot afford to pay your team or sponsor donations then ask for help from an Emmaus friend and allow them to share in the blessing.

Pray for this ministry, this community, and those who strive to be the hands and feet of Christ through the Walk to Emmaus. Each of us can express how our weekend was a unique blessing and how the Holy Spirit touched us during the 72 hours. Each of us can speak to a specific moment when we were emotionally moved and challenged and how that changed our life. For me, it was a note from a stranger quoting Jeremiah 1. I received that note while on the car ride home in 1988. By the way, I still have my Agape letters and still occasionally look at them.

I also remember the speaker during my weekend that spoke to the challenge of the Walk. He attended his weekend two years before I did and said it was nice; that's right, nice. Several months later he was in an airport waiting for his flight home when somehow he was reminded of his weekend. It was then that the Holy Spirit went to work and this man began crying in the waiting lounge of the airport. When he got home he called his sponsor to find out how he could share the blessing he had received through theWalk to Emmaus. You too need to share this gift through sponsorship, through donation and through helping others attend and work.  Don't do it alone but do it!

Blessings

Galen