Oconee River Basin Walk to Emmaus Community
Serving Baldwin, Greene, Morgan and Putnam Counties in Georgia
We are the Oconee River Basin Emmaus Community, and we are dedicated to those who are interested in strengthening their relationship with Jesus Christ, good news to those who are interested in serving God in this community, and a resource to those that are spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
ORBEC currently has two Men’s and two Women’s Walks to Emmaus per year in the Spring and Fall. All of the Walks take place at the beautiful Collinswood of Aldersgate Camp in Buckhead, GA.
2016 Newsletters
ORBEC January Newsletter 2016
ORBEC Newsletter March 2016
ORBEC Newsletter July 2016
ORBEC Newsletter September 2016
2015 Newsletters
ORBEC Newsletter November 2015
ORBEC Newsletter September 2015
ORBEC NewsletterMarch 2015 (1)
2014 Newsletters
ORBEC Newsletter Nov-Dec 2014
PROMISEKEEPERS SERVING AT JULY 2016 GATHERING
The Promisekeepers Reunion Group served a DELICIOUS Spaghetti Supper at Wesley Chapel UMC on July 10th. The Oconee River Basin Emmaus Community is extremely grateful for their service.
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The Oconee River Basin Walk to Emmaus Community has a new Reunion Group
The “Women of God” Reunion Group is in the process of establishing mutually agreeable meeting times and dates. The Group will meet at Freedom Church in Milledgeville, GA. The contact person for the Group is currently Kathy Martin. At this time there are five members. It is such a blessing when ORBEC members come together in new Reunion Groups. The Emmaus Fourth Day principle is alive and well in the Oconee River Basin Walk to Emmaus Community. SC
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The Gazebo Guys and their Gals had a lovely Valentine’s dinner on
Tuesday night, February 9, 2016. They had a great time and wished everyone could have been there.
Community Building Through Sponsorship
An example of good sponsorship is most apparent in the way that a pilgrim
is led by his/her sponsor to approach the Fourth Day…as they are encouraged to participate in the Gatherings, reunion groups. perhaps even to serve on a Walk and become a sponsor. The Fourth Day activities of new members help to build the Community and help to ensure success in future Walks.
“Success” on the Walk to Emmaus begins and ends with appropriate sponsorship. Though team selection, training and community participation are essential components of a Walk To Emmaus weekend, they have meaning only as they relate to the experience of the pilgrims.
The sponsorship process begins when a sponsor prayerfully asks God to lay on his/her heart the name of someone who might be interested in attending, then thoughtfully talks with that person to explain the Walk To Emmaus and answer questions. Potential pilgrims should be encouraged, but not feel forced, to consider attending the Walk. Once they have said, “Yes” to the experience, sponsors stay in close touch as they walk with them through the process of application submission and making plans for themselves and their families for the Walk weekend.
The weekend is a benchmark, a point on the timeline of our Christian walks. What makes Emmaus different from most “retreats” is that it keeps on going. It designs a pathway for us to follow to become more Christ-like, and to encourage us on the journey.
Sponsorship does not end, but continues when a sponsor passes on to his/her pilgrim the baton of giving the gift of Emmaus. It is never too early to begin to pray for God to nudge us towards potential pilgrims, and to begin to plant seeds of interest in their hearts and minds.
De Colores. Flo Douglas, Lay Director, Walk #14
KAIROS-FOURTH DAY BLESSINGS
Kairos is the extension of the Walk to Emmaus which focuses on those of God’s children who are imprisoned. Several men and women in the Oconee River Basin Walk to Emmaus Community are active in the Kairos Ministry in prisons within Georgia.
Some of the ORBEC men who are on a Kairos Team tell the story of “Cowboy”. He accepted Christ on Kairos Weekend #13 at Washington State Prison. He claims to have been a soul mate of Satan up until that time. He’s now a free man again and walking tall and strong with the Lord. He was paroled in December 2015.
These ORBEC members had the pleasure of spending time with “Cowboy” on Saturday, January 23rd. They were blessed to be witness to what has transpired in his life. He couldn’t stop giving praises for all the doors that have been opened to him. His church has embraced him, his neighbor has given him a job (albeit, a seasonal one) and even takes him back and forth to work. He is living at home with his mother in a small travel trailer, and anyone can see the Lord is living in him.
This group of men praises God for the redemption of “Cowboy”, and they ask that the Oconee River Basin Walk to Emmaus Community remember him in prayer as he continues his walk with the Lord. They joyfully continue this Fourth Day ministry, knowing that there are more like “Cowboy” who are in need of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
De Colores
Bluegrass music in the Lake Country! Headliners Monroe Crossing will be bringing their entertainment to town on January 21, 2017. The event will be held at the Greensboro FUMC, at 4741 Carey Station Rd. From 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM.
MONROE CROSSING CONCERT BEGINS AT 7:00 PM LOCAL BLUEGRASS BANDS WILL PERFORM FROM 4:00 PM UNTIL 7:00 PM
A MEAL WITH BBQ HOG FROM GA BUTTS AND ROASTED OYSTERS PREPARED BY JAMES PRESSLEY AND AARON BAXENDALE OF THE RITZ CARLTON WILL BE SERVED.
SIDES INCLUDE BEANS, COLESLAW,
BREAD, BEVERAGE AND DESSERT
TICKETS FOR MEAL AND MONROE CROSSING CONCERT MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE.
MEAL AND MONROE CROSSING CONCERT..$50. MONROE CROSSING CONCERT…$20.
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When the middle Georgia September heat is sweltering, Highlands, North Carolina is cool and comfortable.
Join us June 10, for a delicious dinner and a chance to win a week in a beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 1\2 bath home atop Sagee Mountain overlooking Tennessee, North and South Carolina and just 2 miles from downtown Highlands.
Sleep or read to the soothing sounds of a rushing stream with a charming waterfall outside two of the bedrooms and decks. This home has two living rooms and would be comfortable for three couples or a family with children. There is a lovely landscaped yard with shaded nooks for reading and relaxing.
Dinner for 2 with a chance for participation in the drawing is $50. Dinner without a door prize chance is $10 per person. Reservations are necessary for your choice of a Salmon or a Chicken meal. Contact James Pressley at jameskpressley@gmail.com or Jane Lang at janelang1@me.com for your choice.
The $50.00 Door Prize ticket includes dinner, dessert, vote for best dessert, and a chance to win the Door Prize.
DOUBLE CLICK ON THE DOOR PRIZE LINK ON THE MAIN MENU AT FUNDRAISING TO SEE THE PROPERTY PICTURES AND MORE.
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On the Walk to Emmaus the love of God for his children is demonstrated in many ways. From the initial “welcome” to the Walk Weekend to the final “closing” of the weekend activities the presence of God’s love is undeniable. In the Emmaus Walk this love is called Agape.
Agape is the Greek word for love at its ultimate. Agape love is not like a brotherly love or a love between a husband and a wife. It is the most self-sacrificing love that there is. This type of love is the love that God has for His own children. Agape love is that which is always associated with the love of God.
There are many uses of Agape when speaking of God’s love in the Bible such as: John 4:8 “Anyone who does not love (agape) does not know God, because God is love (agape).” Romans 5:5 “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love (agape) has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
The Blessings of Sponsorship
Sponsoring a Pilgrim is a win, win situation.. The Pilgrim certainly wins as he or she gets to walk closer with our Lord and Savior. The Sponsor wins, too, as there is no better feeling than having helped someone to strengthen their faith.
It is never too soon to think about sponsoring a Pilgrim on the Walk to Emmaus. We need to prayerfully consider the sponsorship of someone we care about, someone we want to have what we gained on our Walk to Emmaus; Someone we want to have that wonderful feeling we felt as we walked closer to Jesus; Someone who we will have helped to have a joyous, richer Christ-filled life. Do Pass It On!
De Colores
Clif Smith, Board Sponsorship Servant
Source: About Sponsorship
Oconee River Basin Walk to Emmaus Community 