E-209 Rector Message

I was not expecting this call to be a Rector for an Emmaus weekend. I walked on E-112 and then became involved in the Emmaus community through teaming and serving as the applications coordinator. God gave my wife Shannon and me and another Emmaus couple, the desire to open a Christian Coffee house where we could serve coffee and the Good News. We found a location but it was 80 miles one-way from where we lived. We would work our secular jobs Monday – Friday and then run the coffee house Friday nights and all day Saturdays. Sunday afternoons after church we would drive home and start the week again. I know we were tired, but each week excited us to see how God was going to work!

After serving as the AR on E-151, I received the call asking me to be an R the next year. I was excited but knew the coffee house was where we were being led. I reluctantly declined. We attended Emmaus events when we could but not with any consistency.

During a chance meeting with another Emmaus alumnus, Shannon found out his family was attending Image Church in Woodbridge. We attended, became members, and then sponsored people to walk on E-199 and E-200. While not active in the Community for many years, old friendships were renewed and new friendships were made and the love of the Emmaus Community was reignited in our hearts.

Being gone for so long, I was happy to let the current leaders grow and to have their own weekends. When George called and asked if I would consider being an R, it was a surprise as I didn’t even know I was still up for consideration. After much prayer, I said yes, and put in my application to team on E-204 so I could get a refresher on any changes since my last team of E-181. There were small changes, but the joy and the love had not changed, and neither had our God! He shows up each and every time!

After praying about several themes and scriptures, I decided on the one that I have been using on my email: The Disciple whom Jesus Loves. It is mentioned 5 times in the Gospel of John and John 21:7 is the one that speaks the most to me. It is written after the resurrection of Jesus when several of the disciples are fishing and Jesus is on the shore. Jesus tells the disciples to cast their nets on the right side of the boat and they get their net-breaking, boat sinking, haul of fish. John 21:7 – Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: “It is the Lord!” Then Peter jumped into the water and swam to Jesus.

This one verse has so much in it. While John calls himself the disciple whom Jesus loves, we know Jesus loves us just as much as John, which makes each one of us the disciple whom Jesus loves. And because John recognized just how much Jesus loves him, he was able to recognize Him on the shore. When John said it was Jesus, Peter immediately went to Him. I pray that we all remember we are a disciple whom Jesus loves and to point others to Him and that in return we witness the same response that John did, our friends and loved ones immediately running to Jesus as well!

De Colores and Be Blessed!
Jake the disciple whom Jesus loves