The Emmaus Facilitator Institute

Transforming the Laity into Discipling Disciples

Imagine having a church filled with lay Bible workers. E.F.I partners with churches and conferences to transform church members into discipling disciples via small group, systematic Bible studies training- the E. M. M. A. U. S. way.

Christ's dream and the dream of every pastor is an evergreen church: a church where discipleship and evangelism cycles are truly evergreen.

If your goal is to spiritually strengthen your current members so they can become discipling disciples, then you are strongly encouraged to enroll trainees (we recommend 5 or more depending on your church size).

Partner with E.F.I to strengthen, train, and activate your members. Note: When we say "activate" we mean it...continue.

The E. M. M. A. U. S. Way

What is included in the training program?

LIVE Online Facilitator Training Sessions (20 Sessions): The training prepares trainees to create discipling Bible study groups that evangelize. We will go far beyond the basics of small groups and basic Bible study. We will also focus on reading the text for deep meaning and developing questions that provoke thought and stimulate conversation. You want your Bible studies to bring understanding, conviction and healing.

Weekly Bible Study Lesson Review (The Everlasting Gospel In Genesis): Each session covers every lesson in the Bible study workbook (hence the 20 sessions) so your facilitator-trainees will not have to scramble with each lesson to prepare or figure out how to go "DEEP". These sessions are also designed to be Emmaus experiences, themselves! Time flies & so will these sessions.

Weekly Faith & Prayer Challenges: These challenges/activities enable us to apply what is being learned so that your facilitator-trainees will be better armed to help their participants to also become faithful doers of the Word. The challenges are opportunities to grow in faith and prayer.

Church Spiritual Health Assessments: Pre, during, and post-training assessments will be done to determine the level of impact the training and discipleship plan had on groups/churches.

Small Group Launch Prep Training/ Activation: The unwritten understanding in our partnership is that you will activate your trainees to begin facilitating small group Bible studies at/for the church at least by session 8 WHILE they are still in training. That way their training will be more dynamic because they will be in the TRENCHES! (And your funds will not go to waste on another training that wasn't used).

Access to Ministry & Church Growth Experts: Get ministry tips and learn techniques from those in the trenches.

Study Buddies: This journey is not to be taken alone. Having a study buddy provides support and accountability for the duration of the training.

Customizable Discipleship Plan of Action for Your Church: The Discipleship Plan gives your church a way of fitting the training and resulting group Bible studies into your discipleship, evangelism, and growth plan. If you don’t already have a plan, then you can customize the plan for your unique congregation. This plan is built with harvest, multiplication, and church planting in mind.

Added bonuses to this Training

Access to Training Replays

Trainees are given 7-9 months of access to the training videos and lesson reviews. They never have to feel unprepared.

Deep Diving Experience

"Go Deeper"- that is the repeated phrase said throughout this training. Trainees will increase their ability to go beyond surface readings and understandings of the Bible.

Customizable Discipleship Plans of Action

Our goal is to support churches in having ongoing evangelism, reaping, and retention. Incorporate the plan as needed.

Your Lead Facilitator

Esther Green, MDiv (Andrews University), M.Ed (Columbia University) has been engaged in full time ministry since 2007 when she left her successful career in education in answer to God's call. She has served the church in a variety of capacities and offices including SS Supt., Personal Ministries Leader, Health Leader, AYS Leader, Elder, and Missional Pastor. Esther is very intentional about ministry and teaching and does so with specific ends in mind. With Revelation 14:15b as her mission, Esther created a Bible study series as a result of her work with the homeless, new believers, and church congregations. Esther is a (plant-based) "foodie" but her true "meat & drink" is strengthening peoples' vital connection to Christ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find an answer? Don't hesitate to reach out!

Why multiple trainees? Isn't 1 enough?

5 is our minimum recommendation. We have found that it is best to cover multiple segments of a church population. For example, two facilitators can start a Bible study group for Men’s ministry and another two do one for Women’s ministry and the 5th person do an online group. Or you have a Family Life group, Singles group, and Youth group. Configure as you desire. The number of trainees is up to you.

Why 20 sessions?

Thorough exposure and training is always the best option. The 20 sessions cover the entire workbook so your facilitators are prepared for every lesson. They also experience 20 opportunities for their own Emmaus experience which will enrich and prepare them to lead others accordingly. You want your trainees deeply enriched and as equipped and empowered as possible to do their part in executing your church’s discipleship and evangelism plan. Remember when crusades used to be 16 weeks? They made a difference, didn’t they?

Do we have to start our own small groups?

Your use of your trainees and your launching of Bible studies is entirely up to you. We recommend that churches encourage trainees to launch Bible study groups after a minimum of 6 training sessions. Implementation is critical for the deepening of the training experience. You are sending your trainees because you want to equip them to help make the difference in the church that is needed. Our philosophy is that discipleship and evangelism have an organic component with the congregation actively reaching their circles of influence.

Can individuals benefit from this?

Of course. I just recommend that you put your training to use. At my church I was able to start a branch SS and also allowed to do whole group Bible studies for the church in the afternoon. I also have launched online, virtual group studies as an individual. Everything is possible.

Is the workbook included?

Yes. You will have access to a digital copy of the weekly lessons at no extra cost. If you are like me and prefer hard copies, you may find the book at Amazon via this url: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JDTRGR6

When is the next training session?

The current co-hort began November, 2023. That group's doors close January 7, 2024. Contact us directly to find out when the next co-hort training begins.

What is the E.M.M.A.U.S. Way?

It is the method of Bible study Jesus used in Luke 24:13+ Jesus spoke to the disciples and helped them to connect the dots of the scriptures to the dots of Himself- which He then connected to the dots of their experiences. When the dots were connected AND they saw Jesus, they took off running. Our job as facilitators is to work with Jesus to help people connect the dots. This means, Bible study has to be more than just informational: it has to result in more than a good discussion; it has to lead to a transformational encounter with Jesus. THAT kind of Bible study is different, indeed.