An excellent source of sponsoring tips is Chapter 8, “The Next Generation –Being a Good Sponsor” in Day Four, the booklet that sponsors give their pilgrims.  Copies are always available on the book table at camp on Sunday afternoons of walks, and they are also available at the Cokesbury Book Store in Vestavia Hills.   These tips are expanded in Sponsorship, one of several booklets in the “The Emmaus Library” series, also available at the Cokesbury Book Store.

One thing to keep in mind is that the vitality of any Emmaus community is a reflection of the community’s sponsoring practices, just as the strength of any team is a direct result of its recruiting.   It is always a good idea to ask a more experienced person to co-sponsor your first one or two pilgrims

The following are a summary of tips from those two booklets and from other Emmaus cluster websites:

1.  Sponsorship is a partnership between the Holy Spirit and you.  God knows who should go on a Walk, when they should go and who should sponsor them.   We are merely the human instruments He uses in the process.  We may tend to say “my” pilgrim, when we should say “God’s” pilgrim.

2.  Sponsoring should be a product of prayer, just as each Walk is the product of prayer.  Ask God who He wants you to sponsor.   Some lists of tips suggest initially making a list and then praying for God’s direction regarding whom to approach now and whom to approach later.

3.  Feel free to share how the Walk impacted your relationship with Christ, your family life and setting priorities.  But, remember that different people may react differently to God’s grace.  A person should approach the Emmaus experience with an open heart and mind.

4.  If a prospective pilgrim is married, make every effort to offer the Emmaus experience to them as a couple, and get signed applications with a deposit check for each pilgrim, if at all possible.  This will facilitate both going reasonably close together.  You likely will need one or the other later to help you contact friends and relatives when soliciting pilgrim letters.

5.  Explain the Walk in broad terms, such as sitting as table groups for the weekend and listening to and discussing 15 talks by lay people and clergy on aspects of the Christian life.  Explain where the camp is located and tell them about the housing facilities and the need to bring their own towels and bed linens or a sleeping bag.   Tell them to leave alarm clocks and watches at home.   Remember that the fear of the unknown is a powerful emotion, and be prepared to answer their questions.   Dress is casual and comfortable, even on Sunday. Explain that the weekend is only the beginning of a deeper life in Christ, including life in a reunion group afterward and opportunities for service in the community.  If they have dietary, medical or mobility concerns, explain that they can indicate those on the registration form.  Let them know that except in cases of an emergency, they should not expect contact with their family or business.

6.  Be diligent about soliciting letters for your pilgrim.  Create a list of close friends and relatives early on and contact them about three weeks in advance of the pilgrim’s scheduled Walk.  Letters can be delivered to the Agape team on Thursday night, but make sure they arrive by Saturday night.  You don’t want the community to have to take up the slack and the pilgrim to receive letters from strangers.

7.  Adjust your work schedule so you can drive the pilgrim to camp, attend Candlelight and drive them back home.   Pilgrims should not drive themselves to camp. Once at camp, help them with registration and locating their room.  Make their bed and help them make a few friends at the gathering time before pilgrims and team members leave to begin the weekend.   If possible, introduce them to their roommates.  Remember that virtually everyone they meet on the opening night will be unfamiliar.  These little things you do help introduce the concept of servanthood.

8.  Be sensitive to any needs created by a pilgrim being away from family on a weekend.  Offer to provide babysitting, mow the lawn, rake leaves or whatever is appropriate.

9.  Your sponsorship responsibilities continue after the weekend.  Purchase a copy of the "Day Four" booklet from the book table on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon and put it in their hands after closing, on the return trip home.  Tell him or her to schedule time for you to take them to the community Follow-up meeting and help him or her affiliate with a Reunion Group.   Sometimes, a prospective pilgrim can benefit from participating in a Reunion Group prior to attending their Walk.