A Gateway to Christ

My name is Hugh Peeples, and I made my original walk on Florida

Crown Emmaus Walk #76(the Spirit of 76), where I sat at the table of

Barnabas. I Worship and serve at Orange Park Methodist Church. Oh,

by the way, I am Mari Anne’s husband! I am excited to be serving on the Board as your Logistics coordinator for 2024. (once I find out exactly what I will be doing!)

I have great memories of Walk 76 for many reasons. Mike Oakes

served as our Weekend Lay Director, Lee Pruitt served as my Table Leader and Don Twiggs served as my Assistant Table Leader. Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would have the honor of one day serving with these 3 men on the Emmaus Board. Each one of them contributed greatly to lighting the fire that now burns within me to be a better Christian, husband, father, and friend. One of the best things

about serving on this Board is knowing Don Twiggs will NO longer be walking behind me (as he so often did as an Assistant Table Leader), but always in front of me and leading the way as our Community Lay Director!

Walk 76 was a great weekend experience for me, one that has inspired me to help in every way I can to make each of our future Walks as meaningful to our new Pilgrims as the Spirit of ’76 was to me! Obviously, we need men and women pilgrims for the upcoming Walks in March! Let’s max out attendance this year. I could also use some help as I take on the logistics responsibilities for the Walks. If you areinterested in volunteering, please reach out to me. Cell-904-759-8082

or email-hpeeples1@gmail.com.

It is an honor to be your Agape Coordinator. Thank you for this opportunity to serve our community. I LOVE Agape, making it and receiving it. I know there are many who feel the same way. I pray for the continued commitment of providing Agape for the Men’s (I heard they love getting Agape too) and Women’s weekends. Thank you for all the past Agape, let’s continue to show this unconditional love to the pilgrims as they are finding their way on these weekends. I will have an Agape drop bin at each gathering throughout the year, so you can drop off Agape to supply the weekends. If your Agape has candy, you can drop off at the gathering closest to the weekend or better yet, at Send Off. Thank you in advance for your Agape love and Agape gifts for the pilgrims, past, present and future. May GOD’s Blessings continue to fall on you like a gentle rain, saturating you in His Grace!

Agape Coordinator 

From Men's Team Selection..

You could say that my relationship with Jesus was more like we were

acquaintances. I was aware of him and I had no idea how he felt

about me. I was in my fifties when a member in my church started

badgering me to go on a walk to Emmaus. Where the heck is

Emmaus anyway? Am I going to need a passport and get

inoculations to go there? How dadgum far will I be walking?

I’m not sure how many walks I sidestepped; I had many excuses. My main concern was that everyone there probably knew more about the Bible than I did, and I was sure there would be laughter behind my back as my lack of understanding of the

Gospel was uncovered. I finally gave in and I attended Walk # 70.

I was wrong! I was introduced to a new world, a world filled with love and understanding, people who actually cared about my spiritual wellbeing were there and giving their heart in Agape. On Saturday night, I sat in my chair, and for the first time I heard the song “Have You Seen Jesus My Lord?” My emotions welled up in my heart and poured out of my eyes in an uncontrollable

flood. The scales were removed from my eyes, washed away if you will, the ringing in my ears settled down and for the first time in a very long time I could hear my Lord speaking to me.

I surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ that night in April of

2012. To say that The Walk to Emmaus changed me would be a

great understatement. When I arrived home on Sunday night, fully

fed spiritually and physically, my wife of 30 years did not recognize me, I was not the man that had left on Thursday afternoon.

Community we all have an obligation; we are charged by the

Lord himself to go out and make disciples and to spread the Gospel.

In the years since my walk, some things have changed. I can’t put a finger on what has happened, but the community has definitely gotten smaller. Less people are showing up for send-offs and gatherings and the closings are smaller too. I don’t know what to say, I do know that my Lord and Savior is the same, he is still there, he is still giving love and compassion, and is with every team and team member. He is with this new board and with his help we can guide the walks back to where

they need and deserve to be.

If you know of a pilgrim who would benefit from the walk, now is the time to get them registered, I’m so glad someone sent me.

A Word... From Communications

Sometimes when you say, "Yes Lord, here I am, send me", you just don't know what you are committing to. ; p You have heard be careful what you pray for... because you will most certainly be blessed... but what about what you say yes to? I have many excuses: "Lord, I am ill equipped, unknowledgeable (is that even a word?), busy, I really haven't a clue!" Of course the reply is I will be with you. I will help you. You will be fine... whatever is needed I will equip you. I am thankful to say, that this adventure so far has blessed me with many, many helping hands.

I hope to be all that is needed. In the meantime, I need a learning curve on all the social media and formats that are required for this newsletter and relaying information to you, the community. I will be at the gatherings, so look for me and let me know what you are looking for on these platforms.

Blessings,

Angela Whiteside/ 904-629-0729

FCE Walk #52 table of Sarah.

Worship and serve @Black Creek Methodist Church.