December 14, 2016

Contents: 1. Important Dates 2. Message from Community Lay Director – Stephen Morris 3. Message from Community Spiritual Director – Billy Adams

Important Dates & Times December – No Gathering this month – Spend this time sharing Christ love!

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Message from Community Lay Director – Stephen Morris

Hello Community! As I have grown these past few years, some of the best memories I cherish have come from Emmaus. Whether it was working a walk, attending a training, special service, or gathering, the Emmaus community has helped this country boy grow. Early in my Emmaus years, a younger Brian Rafferty challenged me, a challenge I still work at to this day. Brian’s family and my family were at a school sporting event, like most parents, we were cheering on the team and our children. Upon a score from our team, several of us parents jumped up to cheer, Brian included. As Brian started to sit back down, he said to everyone that could hear, “That is the kind of excitement we need for Jesus!” Thanks you Bro. Brian, I’m still working on it! A few years ago, I befriended a young lady, a student in one of my classes at Campbellsville University. This young lady asked me to help sponsor her on a mission trip to Costa Rica. Carolyn and I helped a little and her testimony to us and the class was priceless. Before this young lady graduated, I felt led to sponsor her on an Emmaus YAC. She agreed. She was sick the whole week leading up to the walk and it was hard for me to tell if she had received any blessing from her walk. I felt so convicted, how could I have been wrong? The young lady graduated, later married her college sweet heart, and life happens. I stay acquainted through Facebook, enough to ease my convictions. The young lady is a school teacher and her husband is a youth minister in Tennessee. The young lady and her husband are unable to have children at this time, but following their announcement of decision to adopt, I notice her convictions from days in Costa Rica, and even a mention of her YAC walk. I have shared with you some of what is on my mind today, if you are following your convictions, you will surely grow. Sometimes we may not see the fruit of our labor, but no fruit will grow if the seed is never planted. I feel blessed to be a part of the Campbellsville Emmaus Community. My prayer, “God, convict me to do your will, and convict this Emmaus Community to plant the seeds, so others can grow!”

Hallelujah! That one is for you Bro. Brian

De Colores, Stephen Morris

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Message from Community Spiritual Director – Billy Adams

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus! Can you believe that 2016 is almost over? WOW! It’s hard to believe that we are already staring 2017 in the face. As we leave 2016, one of two things are happening. Either 2016 has been amazing and we are not real excited about leaving it; or 2016 has been less than expected and we are thrilled to see hope of a change coming in 2017.

As I write this newsletter, I am filled with a mixture of emotions. For me, 2016 has been a year I will never forget. It has been a year that has affected my life and grown me in the Lord more than any other year of my life.

I started a new prayer journal early this year, and the Lord told me that this journal would hold some of the greatest things that I have witnessed yet. WOW! How true that has been!

As I was praying about the word the Lord wanted us to receive as we transition from one year to the next, Holy Spirit began stirring “future” in me. A holy anticipation and fire started to burn. He immediately took me to Jeremiah 29:11-13. I believe this is the word that the Lord wants released over us for this next year.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

In Jesus name, we pray that 2017 will be a year that supersedes 2016 in ways that we cannot imagine. Regardless if 2016 was good or not so good, 2017 will vastly look better than 2016. The thoughts of the Lord are toward us, for good and not for evil! We receive this in Jesus name!

May the next year be filled with more grace, peace, joy, love, power, presence, family, hope, miracles, glory, and intimacy with the Lord than ever before! In Jesus name, Amen!!

Decolores!

Bro. Billy Adams