RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SPONSOR
The sponsor for a pilgrim to our community has a long list of responsibilities that extend over a long period of time – from several weeks before The Walk/Fight, intensively during the Walk/Flight, to several months after The Walk/Flight. Sponsorship should be considered your first act of agape for a pilgrim/caterpillar. Here is the list of responsibilities adapted from The Emmaus Library book on Sponsorship by Richard and Janine Gilmore.
1. The sponsor’s first responsibility is to spend concentrated time in prayer in an effort to discern whom God wants you to sponsor.
2. Once you have discerned God’s will about whom to contact, your next responsibility is to continue to spend time in prayer. Devote this prayer time to your potential pilgrim and yourself.
3. When you have discerned that the time is right, make an appointment to meet with the potential pilgrim/caterpillar.
4. Give your prospect an application. (See above for appropriate form)
5. Obtain the application back and see that ALL information is complete before submitting the application to our registrar.
6. Begin preparations to request the personal agape letters for your pilgrim/caterpillar once he/she has been confirmed for a Walk/Flight weekend.
7. A few days before The Walk/Flight, contact your pilgrim/caterpillar once again to remind them about the upcoming weekend.
8. Take your pilgrim/caterpillar to The Walk/Flight site and assist with check-in. After send-off, plan to attend Sponsor’s Hour. (Children may not attend Sponsor’s Hour. In addition, adults who have not attended a Walk or a Flight may not attend Sponsor’s Hour.)
9. Spend as much time as possible in prayer for your person during The Walk/Flight weekend.
10. Throughout the weekend of The Walk/Flight, check on your pilgrim’s family.
11. Attend the candlelight time. Children may not attend candlelight. In addition, adults who have not attended a Walk or a Flight may not attend candlelight.)
12. Attend closing and take your pilgrim home. (Children may not attend closing. In addition, adults who have not attended a Walk or a Flight may not attend closing.)
13. The sponsor’s responsibilities do not end with attending closing and taking your pilgrim home. You are to take the new Emmaus community member to the next Gathering and help him/her in joining a share/reunion group.
14. Bring the new community member to gatherings and introduce them to other members of our Emmaus community.
15. Teach your new Emmaus member how to be a good sponsor.
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Remember – Take Agape to the Sponsor’s Hour Location, not to Send off!
SPONSORS, It is your responsibility to make sure that agape that does not fit in a letter size envelope is not sent. We cannot and will not be responsible for agape that is too large to fit in letter size envelopes. Please save the larger gifts for on the way home or sometime after the Walk/Flight itself.
It is also the Sponsor’s responsibility to inform the Pilgrim/Caterpillar to have money available for the opportunity to purchase from the book table.
