Welcome to the Community

A Few Things You Should Know

The Great Banquet exists to share the overwhelming love of Christ and to help people grow into solid leaders in their own churches. Getting plugged in doesn't happen all at once, be patient with the process, and be faithful to a reunion group once you find one. It's alright to try a different group if the first one isn't the right fit.

You don't have to serve on a team right away. There are plenty of ways to support the Community in the meantime, helping in the kitchen, joining the Agape team, or serving on one of our support committees.

• The weekend belongs to the guests. It's normal to want to be close to the heart of the Banquet because of your own memories of it, but the Community respects that this time is for the people attending, not for reliving our own weekends.
• If you're serving in the kitchen or around the building, please keep contact with guests to a minimum, only kitchen crew and servers should be in the dining area with guests and team.
• We have "surprises," not "secrets." Nothing about the weekend is meant to be hidden, only saved for the right moment, so guests can experience it themselves.
• Candlelight on Saturday and Closing on Sunday are open to anyone who has attended a Great Banquet or a similar renewal weekend (Emmaus, Cursillo, Tres Dias, and others). Childcare is typically available for Send-Off, Closing, and Community gatherings, but not for Candlelight.

History & Purpose

The Great Banquet traces back to the Cursillo movement, a three-day course in Christian living that began in Spain in the 1940s. As it spread to the United States, Protestant communities adapted it into the Walk to Emmaus. The Great Banquet grew out of that same tradition, an ecumenical weekend, open to all denominations, built on the same model but carrying its own identity. Lampstand Ministries serves as the covering ministry that has helped the Great Banquet movement take root in new communities, including ours here in South Central Indiana.

Purpose. The focus of the Great Banquet is to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, and to make Him known, living out a life of grace and carrying that grace back into our churches, homes, and workplaces long after the weekend ends.

Who should attend? Anyone who:

• Wishes to strengthen their spiritual life
• Wants a deeper understanding of prayer, the sacraments, study, and Christian action
• Strives to live a Christian life that bears fruit for God
• Seeks to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, and to make Him known

Sponsor Responsibilities

Sponsoring someone is one of the most meaningful ways to be part of this ministry. The growth of a new guest often rests heavily on their sponsor, so here's a general outline of what that looks like:

1. Prayerfully choose a guest, someone who wants to grow spiritually and is open to a weekend that will challenge and encourage them.
2. Talk with them ahead of time. Answer their questions honestly, and share your own story of what the weekend meant to you, without giving away the surprises.
3. Explain the follow-up meeting shortly after the weekend, where reunion groups and next steps are introduced.
4. Coordinate agape letters for your guest, and gather them from family and friends ahead of the deadline for that weekend.
5. Stay in touch with your guest up through Send-Off, and plan to be there for Candlelight and Closing.
6. Help your guest find a reunion group afterward, and encourage them to keep showing up for it.

Consider Giving Back

The Great Banquet runs entirely on donations, your own weekend was made possible by someone else's generosity. Once you're ready, consider giving what you're able so the next guest's weekend can be covered too.

Follow the Community

Once our social media accounts are set up, you'll be able to follow along here for ministry updates, event announcements, and encouragement between weekends.