The Board has made the most difficult decision to cancel the Fall Men’s and Women’s Walks for 2025, with the intention to resume the Walks in the Spring of 2026.

This decision was not made lightly, and there are several factors that played into it:

    • Pilgrims numbers are down significantly.

    • It has become increasingly difficult to recruit volunteers, particularly for the Women’s Walk and specifically for Lay Directors and other conference room volunteers. Volunteering for a Walk is an act of agape.

    • Costs have risen for the use of the camp and without a full walk of around 80 people (pilgrims + teams) we would barely break even. There are other expenses that need to be met, in addition to what we expend for the Walks.

    • Applications and fees are neglected, which also affects our ability to meet expenses. All team members and pilgrims are expected to submit applications AND pay the required fees. We ask that you consider this fee to be your agape gift to the Community to be able to conduct the Walks. If the fees are hard for you to manage, let us know or ask your church to sponsor you.

    • Sponsorship is lacking. Many sponsors wait until the last possible minute to get their pilgrims signed up and ready. This is not a matter of just getting them signed up and bringing them to the Campground. This is a matter of preparing them to participate on their Walk. When we don’t have pilgrims signed up in advance of team formation meetings and the Walk, we defeat the purpose of doing either. If you are planning to sponsor someone for the Spring Walk, get their applications and fees in NOW. This will be your only opportunity in 2025. You should also start preparing any pilgrims for the Spring 2026 Walk now, rather than waiting.

All this may sound harsh to you, but this is the reality that the Hoosier Hills Emmaus Community is currently living in. If you have stepped away from being involved in Emmaus, we strongly urge you to resume that involvement in some way: sponsorship, committee work, monetary contributions, etc. We need you to be a part of our Community to keep it alive and to continue the work that is vital to the Kingdom.