The Walk-Billings Emmaus

The History of the Billings "Walk to Emmaus" by Pastor Jim Fitzhugh

In 1980 Pastor Jim Fitzhugh attended an Anglican Cursillo in Laurel, Montana. He was so inspired that he served as a Spiritual director in two Anglican Cursillo weekends in 1981. As he attended these weekends he felt what he considered a prompting from the Lord to start a "Walk to Emmaus" in Billings, Montana. The Spiritual Director for the Anglican Cursillo concurred that he should do this. He began by inviting past participants of the Cursillo movement in Billings to a pot-luck luncheon in November 1981 to discuss the possibility of holding a "one-time" Walk at the First United Methodist Church in Billings. Many people were inspired to help as a result of that meeting and preparations for the local "Walk" started in 1981.

Pastor Jim received support help from many people and one key person was his co-worker Rev. Vern Klingman, Senior Pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Billings who gave him the go-ahead to begin the process. Pastor Jim received backing and help from both Anglican and Roman Cursillo as he developed a plan. Most of the help came from these associations and it was necessary since not many United Methodists had been to Cursillo weekends however, some First United Methodists Church members had attended Cursillos, and they also worked hard to get things started. The members of the First United Methodist Church were instrumental in getting showers installed in t he Church building to be used during the "Walk" weekends.

By January 1983, we were "ready to go". Our first Lay Directors were appointed. George Schuyler was named the men's Lay Director and Joni Peterson served as the women's Lay Director.

Pastor Jim considered it a special privilege to be named the lead Spiritual Director from 1983 through 1992. Pastor Jim was succeeded by Rev. Paul Aita (First Baptist Church, Billings, Montana), and he was followed by Rev. Tim Hathaway who still serves as Spiritual Director today.

The first walk in 1983 was a trial one-time Walk. It was agreed that if it seemed to be God's will to continue the founders would forge ahead and this they did. The Billings Walk has had 57 succeeding "Walks", since 1983 with about 2,500 pilgrims attending. God has certainly blessed our "Walk"'.

Spin-off "Walks" from the Billings Walk include those in Helena and Missoula Montana as well as Powell, Wyoming. People from the Billings Walk helped start "Homeward Bound" at the Billings Women's Prison as well as a Chrysalis for area teens held in February every year.

Two of the early originators of the Billings Walk, Grover and Joni Peterson have helped start "Walks" in South Africa and Australia.

It takes lots of background help to make Walk weekends and the Billings Walks have been blessed with hundreds of people that have helped over the years. One of these special people is Ziggy Zigler who has run the Kitchen for every Walk since the first one in 1983.

The purpose of Emmaus is the renewal of the Church as the body of Christ in the world through the renewal of Christians as faithful and committed disciples of Jesus Christ.

It is not meant to replace your church, but it's purpose is the renewal of the church. This is why only those actively attending a church are invited to participate – so they can go back into their church, renewed. It is not a secret society or organization, and those who say otherwise have mistakenly understood the purpose of the Walk. There are no secrets in Emmaus.

As of this writing, the Walk to Emmaus movement is taking place in all 50 US states, in 30 countries around the world, and over 1 million have attended Walks worldwide.

The Billings Walk to Emmaus for Men and Women is held each year. Usually the Men's weekend is the third weekend in January and the Women's Walk is the fourth weekend in January, the actual dates are posted elsewhere on this web site.

Emmaus is for people who want to grow spiritually and want to build up the church in love.
Emmaus celebrates our unity in Christ whether we are traditionalists, liberals, conservatives, activists, or charismatic's.
Emmaus encourages unity without labels and camps.
Emmaus is for building faith and discipleship.
Emmaus is for fostering unity in Christ.
Emmaus is a concentrated three-day course in Christianity.
Emmaus is for empty hands and an open heart. Leave your world behind for 72 hours.