What began as a project of the Conference’s Hispanic Ministries’ office a decade ago has grown and developed into a model that others attend and emulate. In the past 10 years, South Georgia’s Spanish Walk to Emmaus has hosted 550 pilgrims from not just South Georgia, but North Carolina, Tennessee, New Jersey, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, and Uruguay. This year, a delegation of pastors and their spouses from the Dominican Republic Methodist Church came to experience the 72-hour retreat.
They attend to be renewed and encouraged in their faith and also to learn more about The United Methodist Church’s doctrine and structure. Held at Camp Dooley near Vienna, the retreats immerse pilgrims – those who attend the retreat – in a time of prayer, teaching, fellowship, and worship. Each year the planning team hosts a men's walk and a week later a women's walk.
Conference’s Spanish Walk to Emmaus retreat celebrates 10 years, impacts lives in South Georgia and beyond (Advocate Story, printed December 2018)
The Walk to Emmaus Movement
The Upper Room, part of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, began the three-day ecumenical spiritual-renewal retreats in 1978. The self-supporting ministry grew out of the Catholic Cursillo movement, and took the name Walk to Emmaus in 1981. The goal of Walk to Emmaus is to equip church members for Christian action. Following the three-day experience, participants are joined in small groups to support each other in their ongoing walk with Christ. The movement also includes the Chrysalis program for youth, the Face to Face program for adults 60 and older, and the Journey to the Table program for adults 18 to 35. Learn more