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    • A Biblical Observation
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About

    Home About

    If there is a single factor that makes spiritual direction effective as a change agency for the soul, it is this: spiritual direction holds our shame at bay long enough for us to see ourselves as God sees us in Christ.

    GARY W. MOON

    A BIBLICAL OBSERVATION

    The background story of Emmaus Formation Centre is centred on the biblical narrative of the road to Emmaus. Within the text, we see a paradigm of the faith journey, set before us by Christ Himself. He is the ultimate spiritual director.

    Our case study begins with two disciples walking together along the road to Emmaus. Jesus meets them on the way. Through the lens of their own confusion and despondency, they did not recognize Him. Their hopes for redemption through the emancipation from Roman oppression had been shattered. As Jesus comes alongside and shares their path, He begins to unfold the Scriptures in a way they can understand, clarifying the message of the Messiah’s sufferings foretold by the Hebrew prophets. In response, the disciples strongly urge Him to stay longer, so Jesus joins them for dinner. As they partake together in the bread and the wine, the presence of Christ is revealed to them—and their faith is restored. In response to this numinous event, their lives were changed forever.

    Like the disciples, we too sometimes amble along, heavy-laden with life’s troubles and oblivious to the presence and ministry of Jesus in our lives. We need a companion to journey with us, helping us to hear and see Christ, even in what seems like a hopeless situation. Jesus comes when He is invited and needed, even though we sometimes fail to recognize Him. In grace, mercy, and compassion, the risen Christ appears, changing lives forever. As spiritual directors, we create a safe and discerning place for those who come to us to have an Emmaus experience—to discover the presence of Jesus for themselves.

    MISSION

    Helping Christians bring about God’s transformative power of the gospel at an authentic, personal level, through spiritual companionship, spiritual formation groups, retreats, and training for spiritual formation and spiritual direction.

    VISION

    We envision the Church to be individuals who are living a full, redemptive life in the knowledge and experience of God’s unconditional love, through a deepening relationship with Him and others, to emanate God’s restorative plan for humanity.

    VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

    We are committed to:

    1. The Lordship of Jesus Christ and his leading—discerned through Scripture, people, and the witness of the Church, empowered by His Spirit.
    2. Authentic, humble leadership.
    3. Sacred hospitality—receiving all, as reflectors of God’s image, and of great value.
    4. The belief that God is already present and active in each student’s life; Emmaus has the opportunity to join God in the spiritual formation of each student.
    5. Intentional spiritual practice that nurtures the soul, creating avenues of grace in our lives.
    6. Following Jesus, where justice and peace become points of contact between each of us and the world.
    7. Wise, transparent stewardship of all resources entrusted by our donors.

    STATEMENT OF FAITH

    The sovereignty and grace of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in creation, providence, revelation, redemption, and final judgment.

    The birth of God incarnate—Jesus Christ—born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life.

    The divine inspiration of Holy Scripture and its consequent entire trustworthiness and authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

    Human beings alone are created in the image of God.

    The universal sinfulness and guilt of human nature since the fall, bringing everyone under God’s wrath and condemnation.

    The substitutionary sacrifice of the incarnate Son of God as the sole ground of redemption from the guilt, penalty, separation from God and power of sin.

    The justification of the sinner by the grace of God through faith alone in Christ crucified and risen from the dead.

    The illuminating, regenerating, indwelling, and transformational work of God the Holy Spirit in the believer.

    The unity and common priesthood of all true believers, who together form the one universal Church, the Body of which Christ is the Head.

    The expectation of the personal, visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    About

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    • A Biblical Observation
    • Mission & Vision
    • Values & Principles
    • Statement of Faith
    • How You Can Help

    Courses Open for Registration

    • Placeholder Spiritual Direction 4: The Ministry of Spiritual Direction $905.00
    • Placeholder Soul-Shaping Direction: INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL DIRECTION 1 $815.00
    • Placeholder Soul-Shaping Practices: LIVING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES $815.00
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    Spiritual formation gives us some really important Christian tools, primarily the spiritual practices to meet the deep longings and the big challenges of life.
    Rev. Dr. Paul Bramer
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    The testimonies of people who had experienced the benefits of having a spiritual director were moving and inspiring. Your ministry is a wonderful expression of God's love and tender care for His treasures here on earth.
    Steve Read, PHD
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    There's so much more you can learn with other people than when you're just reading scripture by yourself. The Spiritual Direction program has expanded my thinking about God, spirituality and how very different we all relate to Him. I highly recommend this program.
    Tammy Pierce, Emmaus Student
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    The course has developed a new hunger in me for scripture. I also appreciate the time of group spiritual direction as we process together between classes.
    Lynne Ball, Emmaus Student
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    Taking time in spiritual direction to reflect on where God is, day-to-day, has awakened in me, a clarity of vision. It has renewed my passion and continues to be a crucial part of my spiritual discipline. The impact of spiritual direction affects not only me, but my congregation and the community we serve.
    Rev. Angie Song, Associate Pastor, Vaughan Community Church
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    The first course – Introduction to Spiritual Formation – gave us high quality instruction that incorporated visuals, art, music, spiritual direction exercises as well as teaching that reflected a scholarly breadth of understanding and insight into both historical and current Christianity. I’d recommend this course, alone, for anyone interested in gaining a solid introduction into ancient-contemporary Christianity, and grasping something of how our orthopraxy and orthodoxy can fit even better together! Emmaus is a long-waited for gift, to believers and churches in the GTA and surrounding areas.
    Naomi Johnson, Emmaus Student
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    Ministry is challenging and can leave those who pursue it feeling depleted and lonely. Spiritual direction replenishes me. It deepens my perspective, keeps me grounded in God’s Word and reminds me that I am connected with Jesus and his community of friends.
    Rev. Andrew Gordon, Pastor, Compass Church
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    I discovered that I was serving out of a depletion—a growing depletion of soul. And so I knew that I needed someone to come alongside of me, and not listen for me—but to listen with me. And I think every emerging leader needs a spiritual director. Not to replace God. Not to replace the discipline of being in silence, in solitude, and listening to God through scripture, through His holy word, through the presence of the Holy Spirit—but to help clarify the questions.
    Rev. Marc Gauvreau – PAOC Discipleship & Spiritual Direction
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    Spiritual direction and spiritual formation has been a journey that I will continue for as long as I’m in ministry, and as long as I have breath because the benefits are just so astounding, and I can’t imagine carrying on in ministry without it.
    Rev. Ron Shantz, Executive Director, Front Line Outreach
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    How is your relationship deepened and nurtured in the context of your ministry? Many in ministry often say it’s not, and we’re all running around like a chicken without a head. It’s crucial, that we all have—especially in ministry—a spiritual director. These conversations about spiritual direction are immensely helpful because it starts where you are at—of your own ego and of your own desire to be somebody important in ministry. Now I can lead a life where I'm responding to God, rather than soliciting a response from God.
    Rev. John Kim – Pastor Bridgeway Church
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    The Individual Retreat is a process over a period of days where you interact with scripture, learn ways of praying, and develop that kind of personal connection with God. So it’s a process of developing our soul-connection—spirit-connection—with God, so that we are seeing God’s work in daily life, and that we are creating space for God in the crush of the normal things that happen in our daily lives. So that is one of the formation processes that an organization like Emmaus can facilitate or help with in churches—is to run retreats like that, that help people get into that mindset.
    Rick Wukasch – Associate Pastor, The Meeting House
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