Emmaus equips you to lead others in spiritual formation and renewal
In the sacred space of this retreat-based community, participants learn by example, practice, instruction and mentoring to attend prayerfully to the presence and work of God, and are equipped to lead in ways that are in step with what God is doing in the lives of those they serve.
Each retreat provides an enriching environment for ongoing encouragement and growth in the spiritual life, in discernment, and renewal.
Year One
The Leader’s Formation
In the first three retreats, you’ll focus on your own transformation and spiritual growth. Topics include:
- Spiritual formation (yielding to the work of God, being formed by the Holy Spirit)
- Spiritual practices (Scripture, listening prayer, reflection)
- Spiritual rest (rhythms of renewal and sabbath rest)
Year Two
The Leader’s Ministry
In the final three retreats, you’ll focus on how formational leadership is lived out in your specific context. Topics include:
- Spiritual leadership (within the Kingdom and spiritual authority)
- Spiritual discernment (practicing a preference for God, discernment of emotion, holy listening)
- Spiritual community (soul hospitality, spiritual friendship, relationships of grace)
...where new leaders are formed and experienced leaders are transformed...
Emmaus is for those who…
- Are tasked with leading and caring for the souls of others
- Long to live in ever-deepening reverence of God’s presence
- Seek to learn how to listen to the voice of God, to one another, and to one’s own soul
- Desire to grow in spiritual discernment and responsiveness to the presence and movement of God
The Emmaus Certificate Program Includes:
Retreat
Participants gather for six retreats over two years
Community
One-on-one mentoring/spiritual companioning and community-based learning with ministry peers
Equipping
Spiritually formative leadership curricula for personal enrichment and leadership development
Renewal
Unhurried, reflective, and contemplative settings support Spirit-empowered renewal
Participant Testimonies
"The Emmaus experience reminded me after almost 30 years of ministry that maintaining spiritual disciplines is not enough...you need a band of brothers and sisters who are engaged in the same journey. This journey has provided me with wise counsel, spiritual healing, and inspiration for continued ministry. I would strongly advise any spiritual leader who wants to finish well in his or her calling to be a servant of Jesus to consider being a part of the Emmaus journey."
What is Formational Leadership?
Formational Leadership involves accompanying people in the process of being spiritually formed in and by the Holy Spirit. It requires a way of being present and attentively attuned to the actual work of God in the soul, and learning to cooperate in that work as it is taking place in real time.
Listening (rather than telling) is the primary leadership posture; discernment (rather than taking charge) is the dynamic in the leader’s role. The fruit of this disciplined and mature leadership presence is the formation of persons and communities of grace, humility, compassion who increasingly yearn after God and hunger and thirst for righteousness. These are people who are open-handed and open-hearted, who are in possession of a capacity for unity amidst diversity, for mercy in judgment, for tenderness with the weary. They are learning to abide in Christ, to walk by the Spirit, to love God with all their heart, mind and soul, and to love their neighbors as themselves.
Watch the below webinar recording, “Servant, Steward, Shepherd: Learning to Lead Like Jesus“, for a panel discussion from Emmaus faculty on what Formational Leadership looks like:
We would be delighted to help you explore if Emmaus is right for you. Please contact Jeremy Stefano at jeremy@leadershiptransformations.org if you have any questions or need assistance in the application process.
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