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Welcome to Vineyard Grace Emmaus Community

Western Cape, South Africa

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our PURPOSE

Welcome to the Vineyard Grace Emmaus Community Website. The purpose of this web site is twofold. The first and primary purpose is to further the mission of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The second is to increase the communication within our community as we strive to fulfill God\’s plan of salvation. 

The Vineyard Grace Emmaus Community is part of the greater Emmaus Ministries of South Africa (EMSA, previously Africa South) covers the regions of Southern Africa in promoting Christ\’s Mission via three-day retreats for men and women. These retreats are an intense study of the word of our Lord and are intended to promote discipleship and servant leadership in churches at a local level.

Emmaus

Emmaus

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Chrysalis

Chrysalis

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Emmaus

Face to Face

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Chrysalis

Kairos

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Testimonials

Let’s see what our community members have to say about us

I just to thank God for the wonderful time we had when we attended th Africa South AGM in PE SA. It was an eye opening trip as I learnt a number of thing that will help us to improve on the way we do things here in our communities, in Zim. I also had a chance to share with others SD\'s concerning the ministry in the Chrysalis and Emaus weekends. I thank you for the privilege to attend that august event. It was worth the long trip.
Pastor Ngoni Panganose
I count it a privilege to have worked in the conference room on several walks as a lay person and to be a part of St Elsewhere also. It is with a deep sense of awe that I find God using ordinary people for the building up of His church and that He should call me in the way He has. May He have all the glory
Anthony Castledon

Start your journey today!

You can attend a Walk to Emmaus weekend by contacting a friend who has already attended a Walk to Emmaus retreat. Ask them about their experience and to help you decide if the Walk would be helpful in your Christian journey.

You may also locate a nearby Emmaus community with members in a local church. If you do not know of someone in your area who has been on a Walk, please view the community list on this site which lists Emmaus communities by geographic region.

JOIN US

A friend or individual who knows you must agree to be your sponsor for a Walk. Each Emmaus community is different as to their requirements for attendance and scheduled dates for the Walk to take place.

Please check with your sponsor for the specifics in the area you are planning to take your Walk. The Walk will be identical to every other Walk hosted around the world.

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About Emmaus

A Journey with Christ
While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and walked with them. – Luke 24:15

The Walk to Emmaus is an experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation that begins with a three-day short course in Christianity. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as God’s grace and love is revealed to you through other believers.

The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with the prayerful discernment and invitation from a sponsor. After one accepts this invitation they complete an application. The Emmaus leaders prayerfully consider each applicant and in God’s time, the person is invited to attend a three-day experience of New Testament Christianity as a lifestyle.

Following the three-day experience, participants are joined in small groups to support each other in their ongoing walk with Christ.

Through the formational process of accountable discipleship in small groups and participation in the Emmaus community, each participant’s individual gifts and servant-leadership skills are developed for use in the local church and its mission. Participants are encouraged to find ways to live out their individual call to discipleship in their home, church, and community.

The objective of Emmaus is to inspire, challenge, and equip the local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, communities and places of work. Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others.

On the Road to Emmaus – Credit to the Abide Team and appreciation for the blessing of this meditation

What Emmaus IS and is NOT

The Walk to Emmaus is Not:
A cult
An exclusive club for \’super Christians\’
A replacement for a person\’s home Church
A place to fix emotional, psychological, social and marital problems
A reason for a person to act as if they are better than others

The Walk to Emmaus Is:
A place where a person learns how to become a better servant to fellow believers in Christ (Philippians 2:1-11)
A place where a person sees the love of Christ in action
A time of spiritual renewal and rededication to Christ as Lord
An opportunity to grow as a disciple of Christ
A place to be reminded of one\’s \”first love\”, Jesus Christ
A gift of God\’s love for you
An opportunity to revaluate your priorities in life
A place to experience God\’s power and direction in your life
A time of prayer, fellowship and communion
An opportunity to meet new brothers and sisters in Christ
A discipleship group to encourage you after the Walk
A program to strengthen leaders in the local Church
A call for unity among believers

How can I attend a Walk?

You can attend a Walk to Emmaus weekend by contacting a friend who has already attended a Walk to Emmaus. Ask them about their experience and to help you decide if the Walk would be helpful in your Christian journey.

You may also locate a nearby Emmaus community with members in a local church. If you do not know of someone in your area who has been on a Walk, please view the community list on this site which lists Emmaus communities by geographic region.

A friend or individual who knows you must agree to be your sponsor for a Walk. Each Emmaus community is different as to their requirements for attendance and scheduled dates for the Walk to take place.

Please check with your sponsor for the specifics in the area you are planning to take your Walk. However, the Walk itself will be identical in all respects as it is modeled on the prescribed guidelines issued by the Upper Room which ensure consistency of the programme on all Walks around the world.

The Emmaus Weekend

The Walk to Emmaus begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy volunteers on the themes of God\’s grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship and what it means to be a church.

A Walk typically begins on a Thursday evening and ends on a Sunday evening. Men and women attend separate weekends. Husbands and wives are strongly encouraged to attend Walks on consecutive weekends. The Walk to Emmaus is administered through the Upper Room ministry of the United Methodist Church. The Walk to Emmaus is, however ecumenical and is open to Christians from all denominations.

Emmaus FAQ

WHAT IS AN EMMAUS COMMUNITY?
An Emmaus community is made up of individuals in a local area who have attended the Walk to Emmaus. They meet in small groups or as a larger body for fellowship, Communion and encouragement. They also assist in conducting Emmaus Walks by agreement with the Upper Room.

WHAT IS A GATHERING?
A Gathering is made up of individuals in a local area who have attended the Walk and is a subset of a larger Emmaus community. They meet as a small group for fellowship, singing, Communion, prayer and encouragement. They also participate in supporting the Emmaus Walks held by the whole Emmaus community in many different ways, including: the sponsorship of pilgrims, serving on a team and prayer.
For additional information about our community\’s gatherings, see the community’s web pages.

WHY SEPARATE WALKS FOR MEN AND WOMEN?
The Emmaus experience is designed for individuals to focus on their personal walk with Christ. It is a weekend where distractions are removed to create an environment that allows God to speak more clearly and directly to a person. Things like newspapers, clocks, phones, pagers, televisions, radio and romantic attachments are all left behind so that a person can devote their full attention to the Walk experience.

The Walk is not a ministry for couples and its purpose is to develop strong Christian leaders. Couples attend a set of consecutive weekends because they can then share their experiences with one another. Most often the Walk experience will strengthen a couple\’s relationship with each other and with Christ.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE WALK TO EMMAUS?
The Walk to Emmaus had its beginnings in the Roman Catholic Cursillo de Christiandad, or short course in Christianity, which originated in Spain around 1949. The weekend retreat design was adapted by the Upper Room in the late 1970\’s and became known as the Walk to Emmaus based on the story found in Luke 24:13-35.

PILGRIM APPLICATION FORM

WHAT IS AN EMMAUS COMMUNITY?
An Emmaus community is made up of individuals in a local area who have attended the Walk to Emmaus. They meet in small groups or as a larger body for fellowship, Communion and encouragement. They also assist in conducting Emmaus Walks by agreement with the Upper Room.

WHAT IS A GATHERING?
A Gathering is made up of individuals in a local area who have attended the Walk and is a subset of a larger Emmaus community. They meet as a small group for fellowship, singing, Communion, prayer and encouragement. They also participate in supporting the Emmaus Walks held by the whole Emmaus community in many different ways, including: the sponsorship of pilgrims, serving on a team and prayer.
For additional information about our community\’s gatherings, see the community’s web pages.

WHY SEPARATE WALKS FOR MEN AND WOMEN?
The Emmaus experience is designed for individuals to focus on their personal walk with Christ. It is a weekend where distractions are removed to create an environment that allows God to speak more clearly and directly to a person. Things like newspapers, clocks, phones, pagers, televisions, radio and romantic attachments are all left behind so that a person can devote their full attention to the Walk experience.

The Walk is not a ministry for couples and its purpose is to develop strong Christian leaders. Couples attend a set of consecutive weekends because they can then share their experiences with one another. Most often the Walk experience will strengthen a couple\’s relationship with each other and with Christ.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE WALK TO EMMAUS?
The Walk to Emmaus had its beginnings in the Roman Catholic Cursillo de Christiandad, or short course in Christianity, which originated in Spain around 1949. The weekend retreat design was adapted by the Upper Room in the late 1970\’s and became known as the Walk to Emmaus based on the story found in Luke 24:13-35.

A Chrysalis weekend is an experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation that begins with a three-day short course in Christianity. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as God’s grace and love is revealed to you through other believers.

The Chrysalis experience begins with the prayerful discernment and invitation from a sponsor. After one accepts this invitation they complete an application. The Chrysalis leaders prayerfully consider each applicant and in God’s time, the person is invited to attend a three-day experience of New Testament Christianity as a lifestyle.

Following the three-day experience, participants are joined in small groups to support each other in their ongoing walk with Christ.
Through the formational process of accountable discipleship in small groups and participation in the Chrysalis community, each participant’s individual gifts and servant-leadership skills are developed for use in the local church and its mission. Participants are encouraged to find ways to live out their individual call to discipleship in their home, church, and community.

The objective of Chrysalis is to inspire, challenge, and equip the local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, communities and places of work. Chrysalis lifts up a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others.

What happens on the Chrysalis Weekend?

You will enjoy three days of singing, learning, laughing, worshiping, reflecting, praying and participating in small groups. Discussions center around fifteen talks given by youth and adult laity and clergy. These talks present the theme of God’s grace, how that grace comes alive in the Christian community and how it is expressed in the world. You’ll also discover how grace is real in your life, how you live a life of grace, and how you bring that grace to others.

In addition, you will also have the opportunity to participate in the daily celebration of Holy Communion and to understand more fully the body of Christ. You will experience God’s grace through the prayers and acts of anonymous service offered by the Chrysalis community. You will leave with an experience of Christian love in action that will equip you for new levels of grace-filled service and leadership.

Click here for the Upper Room’s Introduction to Chrysalis

How can I attend a Flight?

You can attend a Chrysalis Flight weekend by being sponsored by a friend who has already attended a Walk to Emmaus, a Flight or an Alarga Stroll. Ask them to share their experience and to help you decide if Chrysalis would be helpful in your Christian journey.

You may also locate a nearby Chrysalis community with members in a local church. If you do not know of someone in your area who has been on a Walk, please view the community list on this site which lists Chrysalis communities by geographic region.

A friend or individual who knows you must agree to be your sponsor for Flight . Each Chrysalis community is different as to their requirements for attendance and scheduled dates for the Flights to take place.

Please check with your sponsor for the specifics in the area you are planning to take your Flight. The Flights are modeled on the prescribed guidelines issued by the Upper Room which ensure consistency of the programme on all Flights around the world.

Emmaus FAQ

WHAT IS AN EMMAUS COMMUNITY?
An Emmaus community is made up of individuals in a local area who have attended the Walk to Emmaus. They meet in small groups or as a larger body for fellowship, Communion and encouragement. They also assist in conducting Emmaus Walks by agreement with the Upper Room.

WHAT IS A GATHERING?
A Gathering is made up of individuals in a local area who have attended the Walk and is a subset of a larger Emmaus community. They meet as a small group for fellowship, singing, Communion, prayer and encouragement. They also participate in supporting the Emmaus Walks held by the whole Emmaus community in many different ways, including: the sponsorship of pilgrims, serving on a team and prayer.
For additional information about our community\’s gatherings, see the community’s web pages.

WHY SEPARATE WALKS FOR MEN AND WOMEN?
The Emmaus experience is designed for individuals to focus on their personal walk with Christ. It is a weekend where distractions are removed to create an environment that allows God to speak more clearly and directly to a person. Things like newspapers, clocks, phones, pagers, televisions, radio and romantic attachments are all left behind so that a person can devote their full attention to the Walk experience.

The Walk is not a ministry for couples and its purpose is to develop strong Christian leaders. Couples attend a set of consecutive weekends because they can then share their experiences with one another. Most often the Walk experience will strengthen a couple\’s relationship with each other and with Christ.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE WALK TO EMMAUS?
The Walk to Emmaus had its beginnings in the Roman Catholic Cursillo de Christiandad, or short course in Christianity, which originated in Spain around 1949. The weekend retreat design was adapted by the Upper Room in the late 1970\’s and became known as the Walk to Emmaus based on the story found in Luke 24:13-35.

About Face to Face

Face to Face is an experience in the Emmaus tradition for persons 60 and older.

An adaptation of The Walk to Emmaus, Face to Face is specifically crafted to meet the needs and life-stages of older adults. The program seeks to invite men and women, ages 60 and older, to experience Jesus through an 8-session journey, covering subjects such as discipleship, mission, grief, and end-of-life issues. The highly flexible schedule allows participants the freedom to engage in structured Bible study and prayer in a church setting or other community space. Led by clergy and lay leaders, Face to Face strengthens and renews followers of Christ and bolsters the spiritual life of individuals, families, and congregations everywhere. Face to Face is open to members of any Christian denomination who want to strengthen their spiritual lives, discover answers to their questions about faith, and are open to understanding the responsibility of living a Christian lifestyle.

Face to Face allows the opportunity to rediscover Christ’s presence in your life, to gain fresh understanding of God’s transforming grace, and to form friendships that foster faith and support spiritual maturity.

If you desire a deeper, more meaningful walk with the risen Christ; if you would like that relationship to be reflected in every other relationship in your life; if you wish to make a deeper impact on the world around you by living a life centered on Jesus Christ; then join us as we encounter the Risen Christ… Face to Face.

Face to Face will launch it’s first \”Encounters\” in selected Emmaus communities across South Africa in 2016. For more information about this wonderful ministry, please contact Allison Maritz or Rev Peter Butterworth.

To learn more about Face to Face, click here

How can I attend an Encounter?

A dedicated team of highly experienced Emmaus Ministry leaders, under the direction of Hess B. \”Doc\” Hall, Jr., Face to Face Program Manager in the Emmaus Ministries office in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, are presently preparing for the inaugural Face to Face Encounter in South Africa.

The first Encounter will launch in KwaZulu-Natal in mid-2016 and it is anticipated that further Encounters will then be available in selected Emmaus communities across South Africa from late 2016.

Should you wish to obtain further information about this wonderful ministry, please contact Allison Maritz or Rev Peter Butterworth

We look forward to welcoming you to a Face to Face Encounter in the near future and ask, in the interim, that you remain in prayer for the successful roll-out of this ministry in our country.

About Kairos

WHAT DOES THE WORD KAIROS MEAN?
There are two Greek words for time. One of them, with which we are all familiar, is ‘kronos\’ meaning linear time hours, day\’s weeks etc. The other is ‘kairos\’, used in the sense of time set by God for a particular occurrence.

‘KAIROS\’ was found to be a word of very special significance in the environment of the correctional institution where the word ‘time\’ carries so many special connotations.

KAIROS MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. is to bring Christ\’s love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families, and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition to becoming a productive citizen.

THE PURPOSE OF KAIROS:
The purpose of Kairos is to establish strong Christian communities among the population of correctional institutions, supporting fully the Restorative Justice Programme, Unit Management Programme, and other rehabilitation programmes in our institutions. This is done through the development of small share and prayer groups of inmates/residents in the institutions. These groups are to meet weekly to share their lives on a deep spiritual level and to pray with one another, for other residents and staff in the institutions.

For more information visit the Kairos website

Kairos participation

Be a team member.
Kairos volunteers come from all walks and strata of life. They all share a desire to follow Christ’s admonition of Matthew 25:36, \”I was in prison and you visited me.” If you feel God’s call to minister to the incarcerated as a part of a Kairos team, contact the District Chairperson to inquire about how you can get involved, or contact the Kairos national office to find out about qualification and training and to be put in touch with the local Kairos community.

Be a Prayer Partner.
All Kairos activities are covered with prayer. You can be a part of that prayer effort.Go to Agape/Prayer support!

Be a Support Volunteer.
Each Kairos retreat weekend has opportunities for outside support, such as baking cookies, writing letters of support, or preparing meals. Contact the district contact person

Be a Ministry Financial Booster.
All Kairos activities are funded by donations. If you would like to support this ministry by your donation, make your cheque payable (any amount is appreciated!) to Kairos Prison Ministry and send it to the registered Kairos office at PO Box 2216, Bromhof 2154 or contact the district contact person for banking details.

Be a Cookie Baker.
We may need a huge amount of cookies for a typical Kairos weekend. Homemade cookies are a tangible expression of Christian love and an indication of God’s concern for a group of people who seldom encounter either in the course of their daily lives. Your loving sacrifice will provide \”bread” that shines the Light of God’s Grace into the darkest corners of a prison unit. May God bless you for the gift of baking!