What We're About...

Emmaus Student Ministries seeks to help students see and understand God’s transforming grace, respond to Christ’s presence in their lives as He walks with them, and form friendships that move them along on their journey of faith. We get our name from a story in Luke 24:13-35. This simple story takes place the first Easter afternoon. The risen Christ appeared to two disciples who were walking together along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, and then walked along with them. Like many of us today, who are blinded by our own busyness and agendas, these two disciples’ hopelessness seemed to prevent them from recognizing Jesus for who He really was.

As they walked to Emmaus, Jesus explained to them the meaning of all the Scriptures concerning himself and what was really going on. When they arrived in Emmaus, Jesus “took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them,” and their eyes were opened. They recognized Him as Jesus and they remembered how their hearts had burned within them as they talked with Him on the road. Within the hour, the two disciples left Emmaus and returned immediately to the other disciples in Jerusalem. At the core of this great story is this verse from Luke 24:15, “While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.” We think this verse serves as an incredible summary of all that will be taking place at Emmaus Student Ministries!

At Emmaus, we want to be intentionally relational in all we do because we know that nothing impacts students more than friendships which are grounded in the journey of discipleship! We offer programs and events as a way to interact with students and to allow students to interact with each other. The community that is formed becomes an important place for students where they are challenged to know God better, are encouraged, learn how to serve and are held accountable to God’s Word.

OUR VISION

The foundation and core of all that we will be doing in Emmaus Student Ministries comes from the Great Commandments found in Matthew 22:35-40:

"One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: ”Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “ `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

We want to fully love God will all that we are and understand what it means to live lives that demonstrate that love. We also want to love each other, to have a solid community of faith where students are encouraged and supported and are safe.

Our Vision Statement is:
On the journey of discipleship, Emmaus Student Ministries is all about...
•Response: understanding and fully reacting to the Father’s love -Romans 12:1
•Relationships: serving each other as companions on the journey -I John 4:7-8
•Road-work: working to walk closer to Christ, step by step - Col. 1:28