Real Dangers of Walk to Emmaus - It Ruined My Marriage

[concernedhusband]

Some of you may already know about a movement being popularized by the Methodist Church called "Walk to Emmaus." If not (or even if so), then let me share my experience with you.

After years of marriage, two children, and numerous life challenges, the only thing that has ever divided my wife and I was the Emmaus walk she attended last year. The biggest mistake I ever made was letting her attend that walk. She was taken from our home, and we were not told where she was going. Neither was she supposed to communicate with us. This type of secrecy is evil, and not scripturally based.

I became further alarmed when I learned of the mind control techniques employed during the weekend. Very carefully choreographed acts combined with sleep deprivation lead the participants to a feeling of love and euphoria. This is the same strategy employed repeatedly by numerous cults.

Following the weekend, participants are encouraged to join “reunion groups.” These are groups of Emmaus graduates that meet together periodically. However, their meetings are conducted in secret, and outsiders are not welcome.

Most infuriating were the lies told to me by our pastor when he was questioned about the walk. He claims there are no secrets. Yet, information about the weekend is not readily available to outsiders. He claimed the reunion meetings are not held in secret – but rather they simply don’t tell outsiders when or where they occur. That sounds like the definition of a secret to me.

The organizers don’t even follow their own rules. The “equal commitment rule” on the pilgrim application states that no pilgrim shall be approved to attend a walk unless their spouse (who has not attended) is informed about the walk and is in agreement. No such courtesy was paid to me.

The Emmaus weekend my wife attended was the worst experience of our marriage, and deeply damaged it. Rules were broken by the organizers of the event, and no consideration was shown to me or our children. I felt completely abandoned.

I discourage everyone from participating in Emmaus events. I pray daily for the end of the Emmaus movement, and that God will show Emmaus adherents the error of their ways, and change their hearts. Emmaus is truly a divisive force in congregations, and must be eliminated completely.

 

[JPPT1974]

Welcome to the forums
Feel free to post
Don't be shy at all
God bless you!

 

[thepianist]

Hello and welcome to the forums

 

[Rut]

Hi!

Welcome to CF.I hope you enjoy it.

Rut

 

[little esther]

hi and welcome

 

[cajunlady]

Very Interesting. I will pray for you and your wife..May God bless you both... Welcome to the forums...

 

[psalms 91]

welcome to cf

 

[LadyIcthus]

I hope and pray that with the love of the Lord things will get better for you and your wife

welcome to CF

 

[karen16652]

welcome and be blessed

 

[thejdubb02]

Welcome to CF! Dang that sounds pretty creepy to me!

I pray for you are your family.

 

[Shubunkin]

I hope your realize your wife was a victim here. You should blame the organizers of that event, rather than her. It seems your attitude is what divided the marriage more than anything else. You should forgive, and get on with your life, and be wiser for it.

 

[Law of Loud]

I can't necessarily speak to Emmaus, as I've never been involved with that program. However, I have both attended and worked on a Chrysalis/Journey. If you're familiar with these programs, Chrysalis and Journey are basically a younger-age bracket (High School and College basically) version of Walk to Emmaus. They should be fairly similar in most respects, and I'll try to explain some of the things you have concerns about. I'll refer to this henceforth as Chrysalis, but realize that just about everything should transfer to Emmaus...

It's not something you should be concerned about, but I don't have the time to explain it at the moment. I promise I'll get around to it later.

 

[Sketcher]

The organizers don’t even follow their own rules. The “equal commitment rule” on the pilgrim application states that no pilgrim shall be approved to attend a walk unless their spouse (who has not attended) is informed about the walk and is in agreement. No such courtesy was paid to me.

That sounds like the major blunder here. The people who made it should be held accountable. If the pastor can't see what this is doing to your marraige, he is being derilict in his responsibility to you.

I had a friend with major issues who went on it and it really helped bring him back to God - for a while. He foolishly decided to turn his back on God again. And from what I gathered from the reason for the secrecy and the one-tme only bit, that was supposedly a safeguard against something like this.

Following the weekend, participants are encouraged to join “reunion groups.” These are groups of Emmaus graduates that meet together periodically. However, their meetings are conducted in secret, and outsiders are not welcome.

My friend who attended it didn't tell me about that part, what he told me is you can only do it once, and the only way you can do it again is if you become a leader in it.

 

[Law of Loud]

Some of you may already know about a movement being popularized by the Methodist Church called "Walk to Emmaus." If not (or even if so), then let me share my experience with you.

Having read this, I'm a little doubtful as to whether this was a sincere experience, or whether you have a gripe with this program and fabricated a story to attack it. However I'll answer this, both for you if you're sincere, and for anybody else who reads this thread. Part of the reason for my doubt is that you came to CF and didn't ask for help in understanding what Emmaus was. Rather, you came on and made a single post denouncing it as un-Christian, cult-like, and something that must be eliminated completely. If you'd just come around to ask an honest question, you probably wouldn't have been quite so virulent in your word choice.

I have no direct experience with Emmaus, but I have both been on, and volunteered to work on, a Chrysalis which is a parallel program for a younger age bracket.

After years of marriage, two children, and numerous life challenges, the only thing that has ever divided my wife and I was the Emmaus walk she attended last year. The biggest mistake I ever made was letting her attend that walk. She was taken from our home, and we were not told where she was going. Neither was she supposed to communicate with us. This type of secrecy is evil, and not scripturally based.

I'll be honest, I'm a little surprised her sponsor didn't tell you where she was going. So you're aware, the location was almost certainly a local Protestant church (not necessarily Methodist... I've seen Chrysalis done at a Lutheran church, though the hosting church has no real influence on the Chrysalis beyond some background involvement).

The reason they don't want communications between those on Emmaus and the outside world is that it distracts from what is a once-in-a-lifetime sort of event. I'll admit to you in complete honesty that I brought a cell phone and called some people, and I regret it. That connection to the outside world distracted me, but I recognized that by the second day and pretty much stashed my phone for the rest of the week.

I became further alarmed when I learned of the mind control techniques employed during the weekend. Very carefully choreographed acts combined with sleep deprivation lead the participants to a feeling of love and euphoria. This is the same strategy employed repeatedly by numerous cults.

To be entirely honest, there isn't a whole lot of theological value to Chrysalis (or Emmaus). The effect moreso reinforces what you believe, rather than trying to teach you new ideas. To speak to that, the last Chrysalis I worked on had at least two non-Methodist speakers (a Lutheran and a Baptist, but there might have been one more). Most of the speakers are lay, though there are clergy present, and clergy do speak. Speaking of carefully choreographed acts, I will attest to that... but I don't think they are what you're worried they are. It's not as if they're giving people LSD or conducting "carefully choreographed" satanic rituals. I'll give you a sampling of those events that really stuck out to me... and you can tell me what you think. If you're considering going on a Chrysalis, DO NOT READ THIS. But if you're genuinely concerned... I guess you can. Just highlight the area after this.

The most touching thing of my entire Chrysalis weekend was the Candlelight Vigil, which basically involved hundreds of people holding candles as my Chrysalis group walked past them in song and into the Church's sanctuary, where we sang a bit... and then they filed out. But there was my family, my grandparents... an aunt... an uncle who was in his third battle with cancer (and was at this point terminally ill, he'd die a few months later - him being there really caught me). And I never spoke to them... but I saw them, and there was something absolutely beautiful about it. I guess I'd say that I genuinely felt loved... it was tangible.

The discussions are somewhat led by the leaders, one of whom is a very visible adult leader, and another who is a youth leader at the table who's already been on a Chrysalis (though it's not mentioned that he's a leader and not a caterpillar... you figure it out by the second or third day). They don't say that much, but rather spend most of their time trying to encourage discussion in the caterpillars. The assistant table directors (the youth one) are also responsible for perpetuating many enjoyable (albeit, rather insignificant) traditions of Chrysalis.

Perhaps equally touching to before was recieving letters from my family and friends... letters that I had never expected and were of a nature that I'm not used to, in that they were honest. You could get so much out of those... and reading them... I don't know how to explain it. It's a different experience for everyone, but it meant a lot to me.

Following the weekend, participants are encouraged to join “reunion groups.” These are groups of Emmaus graduates that meet together periodically. However, their meetings are conducted in secret, and outsiders are not welcome.

The main reason that outsiders aren't really welcome is that you're missing a major aspect that brings the group together. There's almost no way to understand what the Walk to Emmaus is like just by hearing about it... Chrysalis is the exact same way. The experience that you have isn't something that's easy to explain... and you're at an odd position for relating to a group of people who are brought together by that experience. To paraphrase that, you'd stick out like a sore thumb. Your wife could bring you, it's just that it'd be akward.

Most infuriating were the lies told to me by our pastor when he was questioned about the walk. He claims there are no secrets. Yet, information about the weekend is not readily available to outsiders. He claimed the reunion meetings are not held in secret – but rather they simply don’t tell outsiders when or where they occur. That sounds like the definition of a secret to me.

Be aware that many Pastors only know what they've been told about Chrysalis. Many haven't been involved with it specifically, but on that note many have. There are not necessarily any secrets, but likewise the information about the event is restrained. This is both because Chrysalis is a real-world activity and doesn't have much of an internet component (the organization is done by the leadership and the sponsors... the caterpillars are sponsored by a sponsor and attend... they don't have to pay for it or put in forms or such). There isn't the need for that information component, because the sponsors already know how it works.

The organizers don’t even follow their own rules. The “equal commitment rule” on the pilgrim application states that no pilgrim shall be approved to attend a walk unless their spouse (who has not attended) is informed about the walk and is in agreement. No such courtesy was paid to me.

If that actually happened, then that's a definate mistake, and I'm sincerely apologetic... that was a major mishap and wasn't intentional. Still, I'm a little surprised that it would have happened. After all, Emmaus isn't some cult, and they make a very honest effort to make sure everything works out well at home for the family. After all, they're supported by the Church membership... and these events would cease to exist if they lost that support.

The Emmaus weekend my wife attended was the worst experience of our marriage, and deeply damaged it. Rules were broken by the organizers of the event, and no consideration was shown to me or our children. I felt completely abandoned.

Oddly, you spend all your effort blaming this on your wife. If this was a real experience, part of the problem with your marriage is your fault for having such an appalling attitude towards it. But your story is pretty far out there, and I have trouble believing it.

I discourage everyone from participating in Emmaus events. I pray daily for the end of the Emmaus movement, and that God will show Emmaus adherents the error of their ways, and change their hearts. Emmaus is truly a divisive force in congregations, and must be eliminated completely.

I'm involved in Chrysalis, and in fact my cousin and his wife are very high up in the leadership for the local Chrysalis.

I'll try to explain more... but you're attributing to Chrysalis things that don't exist. You're putting concerns where there shouldn't be any. And you're almost deliberately misinterpreting things.

 

[wonderwaleye]

Some of you may already know about a movement being popularized by the Methodist Church called "Walk to Emmaus." If not (or even if so), then let me share my experience with you.

After years of marriage, two children, and numerous life challenges, the only thing that has ever divided my wife and I was the Emmaus walk she attended last year. The biggest mistake I ever made was letting her attend that walk. She was taken from our home, and we were not told where she was going. Neither was she supposed to communicate with us. This type of secrecy is evil, and not scripturally based.

I became further alarmed when I learned of the mind control techniques employed during the weekend. Very carefully choreographed acts combined with sleep deprivation lead the participants to a feeling of love and euphoria. This is the same strategy employed repeatedly by numerous cults.

Following the weekend, participants are encouraged to join “reunion groups.” These are groups of Emmaus graduates that meet together periodically. However, their meetings are conducted in secret, and outsiders are not welcome.

Most infuriating were the lies told to me by our pastor when he was questioned about the walk. He claims there are no secrets. Yet, information about the weekend is not readily available to outsiders. He claimed the reunion meetings are not held in secret – but rather they simply don’t tell outsiders when or where they occur. That sounds like the definition of a secret to me.

The organizers don’t even follow their own rules. The “equal commitment rule” on the pilgrim application states that no pilgrim shall be approved to attend a walk unless their spouse (who has not attended) is informed about the walk and is in agreement. No such courtesy was paid to me.

The Emmaus weekend my wife attended was the worst experience of our marriage, and deeply damaged it. Rules were broken by the organizers of the event, and no consideration was shown to me or our children. I felt completely abandoned.

I discourage everyone from participating in Emmaus events. I pray daily for the end of the Emmaus movement, and that God will show Emmaus adherents the error of their ways, and change their hearts. Emmaus is truly a divisive force in congregations, and must be eliminated completely.

Dear Concernedhusband

I know your hurting and I want you to know I hurt with you.

" Both the Bible or the gun
can be used for good or
evil "

I have never attended or even know about these meetings.

When JESUS walked this earth
HE met with groups and then left and met privately with HIS Disciples.



I believe that even then someone could of written something similar to your post.


" The biggest mistake I ever made was letting her attend that walk. "


What was the alternative?



" The Emmaus weekend my wife attended was the worst experience of our marriage, and deeply damaged it "

Why? How?


Could it be possible that you lack trust or faith and therefore are unsecure?



The only way to determine a good homing pigeon is to let it go and see if it returns.



Just maybe your wife felt she needed the time alone with those that are striving to grow in their faith.



She could have even gave orders to others not to let you know where she was just because she knows what you would do.



I'm not judging either your wife, your pastor, or you, and I asked the HOLY SPIRIT to loose my hand in writing a reply to you.
Reading your post really bothered me and I knew not what to write.


We must put our complete faith and trust in the LORD because it is then that we know that no matter what happens on this earth, HE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH!!!


NEVER EVER FORGET:



XEven though you can't see Him, GOD is there!O
( click on the X and move to the O ) ( then feel who is around you )

 

[concernedhusband]

I hope your realize your wife was a victim here. You should blame the organizers of that event, rather than her. It seems your attitude is what divided the marriage more than anything else. You should forgive, and get on with your life, and be wiser for it.

I do not blame my wife. I feel like she was manipulated in this process. I do blame the organizers of the event, for the reasons stated. My purpose in posting this description is to warn others of these practices.

 

[concernedhusband]

Thank you for taking time to reply. I assure you that the events occured as I described them. I am not angry with my wife, but rather with the way we were treated by this organization.

I am not seeking further information about Emmaus. I assure you that I now know more about it than you. I posted to draw attention to these practices so that others may avoid similar situations.

 

[concernedhusband]

I had a friend with major issues who went on it and it really helped bring him back to God - for a while.

That seems very strange because they claim that Emmaus is not intended for recent converts or non-Christians. It would appear that his Emmaus community doesn't follow their own rules either.

 

[TheDag]

I discourage everyone from participating in Emmaus events. I pray daily for the end of the Emmaus movement, and that God will show Emmaus adherents the error of their ways, and change their hearts. Emmaus is truly a divisive force in congregations, and must be eliminated completely.

I know people who have attended and it was a very positive experience for them. I would be careful before denouncing them as evil. Rather I would pray that God would show me the truth about it. When doing that you need to keep your emotions in check so you don't hear your emotions answering instead of Gods answer

 

[Law of Loud]

That seems very strange because they claim that Emmaus is not intended for recent converts or non-Christians. It would appear that his Emmaus community doesn't follow their own rules either.

If you recall, it was expressed that Emmaus help to "bring him back to God". I wouldn't term that fellow a recent convert or non-Christian, but rather somebody who was struggling with his faith. And for that sort of individual, an Emmaus or Chrysalis can be a fantastic opportunity.

Thank you for taking time to reply. I assure you that the events occured as I described them. I am not angry with my wife, but rather with the way we were treated by this organization.

I am not seeking further information about Emmaus. I assure you that I now know more about it than you. I posted to draw attention to these practices so that others may avoid similar situations.

Then I apologize that you had such problems as you apparently did. Now I'd like to ask you a few questions. Beforehand did your wife explain to you that she was going on a Walk to Emmaus? I mean there's a bit of a communication disconnect if she couldn't explain a little bit about it, and tell you when she'd get back and such information. But if you were left completely in the darkness as she was whisked away... there's either some very wrong with your local Emmaus or there was a communications disconnect with your wife. I assure you, this experience is far from the norm.

I do not blame my wife. I feel like she was manipulated in this process. I do blame the organizers of the event, for the reasons stated. My purpose in posting this description to to warn others of these practices.

Just curious.

What did they teach your wife that was blatantly un-Christian? Or are you just upset with mismanaged communications.