Hoosier Hills Emmaus

Hoosier Hills Emmaus To learn more about the Hoosier Hills Emmaus, click www.hoosierhillsemmaus.com.

08/18/2026

Hi all, if everyone could please pray for Pastor Sherry Willerton, she is in ICU in Evansville. Sherry served for many years in HHE and needs our prayers.

John Douglas “Doug” Sanders, 65, of Spencer, Indiana, passed away at his home, surroundedby his family on August 11, 202...
08/17/2026

John Douglas “Doug” Sanders, 65, of Spencer, Indiana, passed away at his home, surrounded
by his family on August 11, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Doug was born on October 30,1960, in Sandborn, Indiana. He attended North Knox High
School in Bicknell, Indiana, where he played baseball as a pitcher and graduated with the Class
of 1979.

Doug lived a life defined by service, faith, adventure, and a relentless curiosity. He believed it
was never too late to learn, grow, or answer a new calling. He was a beloved husband of 28
years, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Throughout his life he was a friend, a mentor,
an avid fan of live music and a lifelong sports enthusiast, particularly of Indiana University
athletics and the Indianapolis Colts.

Doug first earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in General Studies before
dedicating 37 years to Indiana University Facility Operations. There he led major projects
throughout the university’s campus and put his extensive construction knowledge to use,
occasionally taking particular delight in pointing out an architect’s error so it could be corrected.
Throughout his career, he maintained his lifelong curiosity and earned additional bachelor’s
degrees from Indiana University in Sociology and Teaching.

His determination to continue pursuing knowledge ultimately led him to a new vocation later in
life and one of his proudest accomplishments of becoming an ordained minister at the age of
57. After earning his master’s degree from Cincinnati Christian University in 2016, he was
ordained at Sandborn First Christian Church and Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in 2017.
Doug served in ministry at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church and Westside Community Church
in Bloomington, as well as Bethel Baptist Church in Spencer. He was also a devoted member
and spiritual leader within the Emmaus, Kairos, and the Indiana Dream Team communities.
Doug’s commitment to helping others extended far beyond his professional and ministerial work.
He served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Owen County and as a volunteer firefighter in
Greene County. He was also a member of the Indianapolis 500 fire crew for almost two decades
and traveled around the world as part of the Indy Racing League’s safety crew. In addition,
Doug served as an IHSAA football, baseball, and basketball official, officiating middle school
and high school games throughout Indiana. But one of his most valued services was as a
softball coach for his daughter Amanda and encouraging young players while building their
confidence and creating treasured memories.

Travel was one of Doug’s greatest joys. His journeys took him to the Holy Land, Japan, Hawaii,
Aruba, and 14 Caribbean islands. As a certified scuba diver, he enjoyed exploring beneath the
water as much as he did the world above it. Of all the places he visited, St. John held a
particularly special place in his heart.

In quieter moments, Doug loved boating on Lake Monroe aboard his beloved boat, “Sweet
Summertime,” and relaxing with his dogs at home. He had a deep appreciation for history and
delighted in lively social debates, although, by his rule, never church and politics at the same
time. Doug will be remembered for his servant’s heart, adventurous spirit, deep faith, intellectual
curiosity, and the enthusiasm with which he embraced life. Through his ministry, friendships, and many years of service, he touched countless lives.

Doug is survived by his wife ‘Janie’ Juanita Jane Sanders; his children Amanda (Jamie)
Edmondson, Amy (Casey) Hanlon, Craig (Kari Anderson) Pahmeier; his grandchildren Austin
Singleton, Matthew Lantrip, Levi Singleton, Joshua Singleton, Madison Pahmeier-Hanlon, Layla
Hanlon; his great-grandchildren Nevada, Georgia, Jaylon; his sister Debbie Brown; his nieces
and nephews Julie (Paul) Morrison, Jennifer (Lanny) Neal Foster, Jeff Neal; and great nieces
and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Janet Sanders, his sister
‘Patty’ Patricia Neal, brother-in-law Tom Brown and a great-niece.

A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at Sherwood Oaks in Bloomington, Indiana, with Bryan
Sanders presiding. The visitation will be held on August 20 from 4:00–7:00pm with the service
beginning at 7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be made to the Pink Connection, Dottie’s Refuge, or Food for the Hungry charities.

Arrangements and care have been entrusted to Meng Family Funeral Homes, Anderson-Poindexter Chapel in Linton. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family online at www.mengfuneralhome.com.

08/07/2026

Hello Emmaus Community

August gathering this evening. Please join us for this time of fellowship.

Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
Where: Orleans Wesleyan Camp, 1617 S
Maple St, Orleans, IN 47452
Time: 6:00 PM

08/05/2026

Please join us this Friday!

Hello Emmaus Community,

Community Gathering
Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
Where: Orleans Wesleyan Camp, 1617 S
Maple St, Orleans, IN 47452
Time: 6:00 PM
Date:8-7-26

Meat will be provided please bring a side to share!
This gathering will include a love offering to the camp, given that we had to cancel the Fall Walks. We're grateful for your support - our goal is $500 minimum.

08/04/2026

Hello Emmaus Community,
Please see below for information regarding the upcoming board meeting.

HHE August Board of Directors Meeting
Location:

Bloomington Eastview Church of the Nazarene
4545 E Lampkins Ridge Rd, Bloomington, IN 47401
Date: August 6,2026
Time - 6pm

In the interest of conducting Board business in an orderly and efficient manner, and out of respect for the time of all participants, guests are expected to comply with the Hoosier Hills Emmaus (HHE) Guest Guidelines for Board Meetings.

Hoosier Hills Emmaus
Guidelines for Guests Attending a Board Meeting (Robert's Rules of Order)

Guests are welcome to observe
Hoosier Hills Emmaus board meetings.

These guidelines explain what to expect and how participation works under Robert's Rules of Order, so your visit is comfortable for you and orderly for the board.

1. Your Role as a Guest
• Observer status. Under Robert's Rules, only board members hold the floor, make motions, second motions, or vote. As a guest, you are present to observe unless the board specifically extends you the privilege of the floor.
• No expectation to participate. You are not required to speak, and silence carries no negative meaning — many guests attend simply to stay informed.

2. When Guests May Speak
There are four situations in which a guest may address the board:
• Invited agenda item. If you are attending to give a report or answer questions (for example, as a Walk Lay or Spiritual Director), you will be recognized by the chair when that agenda item is reached.
• Designated public comment period. If the agenda includes an open comment segment, you may speak during that window only, subject to any sign-up process or time limit the chair announces.
• Granted privilege of the floor. A member may move (or the board may agree by unanimous consent) to grant you the floor on a specific matter. This is the board's decision, not the guest's request.
• Chair's discretion. The presiding officer may invite a brief comment or answer from you as a courtesy. This can be limited or ended at the chair's discretion.

3. Guidelines While Attending
• Wait to be recognized by the chair before speaking — do not interject during member discussion or debate.
• Do not make or second motions, and do not vote; these actions are reserved for board members.
• If invited to speak, address your remarks through the chair and keep them focused on the topic or question at hand.
• Keep remarks brief and on-topic, especially during a public comment period with a time limit.
• Maintain respectful decorum — no side conversations, and extend the same grace and courtesy that reflects Emmaus values of agape love.
• If you are unsure whether it's appropriate to speak, a quiet word to the chair or Community Lay Director before the meeting is always welcome.

4. A Note on Spirit
These procedures exist to keep board business orderly and fair to everyone present — not to make guests feel unwelcome. Hoosier Hills Emmaus values transparency and open community life, and guests are a valued part of that. Robert's Rules simply gives structure to how and when voices are heard.

08/03/2026

Hello Emmaus Community,

Important Dates to remember:
Community Gathering
Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
Where: Orleans Wesleyan Camp, 1617 S
Maple St, Orleans, IN 47452
Time: 6:00 PM

Meat will be provided
This gathering will include a love offering to the camp, given that we had to cancel the Fall Walks. We're grateful for your support - our goal is $500 minimum.

08/01/2026

Greetings Emmaus Community,

I hope you’ve all been enjoying your summer. As I write this, we’re closing out the last days of July, and it’s been a busy month for the board. I’d like to share some key updates.

As a board, we made the difficult decision to cancel the Fall 2026 Walks. We can’t overstate how hard this decision was, but we felt that in order to be successful going forward, we needed to first address the basics. In the months ahead, you’ll see our focus turn toward rebuilding our board team and renewing our training and development in several key areas. We continue to pray for your support and for God’s guidance as we strive to be the hands and feet of Jesusand move forward.

Board and Team Updates:
New Trainer. The board has identified a new trainer candidate. The process involves the candidate submitting an application to the Upper Room, following a letter of endorsement from our board. From there, training begins, culminating in a certification test.

New Board Members. The board has approved two new members — please help me welcome Jennifer Irwin and Randy Garcia! We’re excited for them to join, and grateful for the experience and commitment they bring to our community.

Registrar Transition. Bonita Page has decided to pass the torch, and Rynn Strange and Kristi O’Dell have taken over the Registrar role. We’re deeply grateful for all Bonita has given over the years — she will be missed. Stay tuned for more from Rynn and Kristi as we get closer to the 2027 Spring Walks.

New Treasurer. We’re pleased to announce that Phil Sell will be taking over as Treasurer. As we transition from Nina to Phil, please give him time to get his bearings. A special thanks to Nina for all she has done for our community as treasurer.

Recruitment & Team Selection. Finally, and importantly, Amanda Wease and Larry Gehl will serve as co-heads of recruitment and team selection. They’ll manage the pipeline of those tracking toward Lay Director and support team selection for our Walks. They are looking for folks interested in serving on a team. We’ll continue to follow the “one-third” rule:
one-third who have never servers on a walk
one-third who have served on a walk 1-3 times, limited experience.
one-third who have served on multiple walks.

Important Dates:
Community Gathering
Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
Where: Orleans Wesleyan Camp, 1617 S Maple St, Orleans, IN 47452
Time: 6:00 PM
Meat will be provided

This gathering will include a love offering to the camp, given that we had to cancel the Fall Walks. We’re grateful for your support — our goal is $500 minimum.

2027 Spring Walks
Men’s Walk — date TBA
Women’s Walk — date TBA

In closing, we are grateful for such a loving community as we work to rebuild and restore trust within our Hoosier Hills Emmaus family. Each one of you matters to the board, but more importantly, you matter to Jesus. With your continued support as we strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community, new pilgrims can continue to experience the same gift you received on your Walk. Let’s keep inviting everyone to the table, celebrating our shared commitment, friendships, and love for Christ as the ecumenical community we have always been.

De Colores,
Anjee Browning, CLD
317-750-7591

07/04/2026

Emmaus letter

To the Hoosier Hills Emmaus Community,

At last Thursday’s board meeting, the board became aware of a concern raised by our community members which required urgent attention. After a thorough investigation of the complaint brought forward — including conversations with weekend leadership minus the LD who has yet to provide a response, table leadership, and other team members — the board was not able to substantiate these allegations.

We want you to know that we take these concerns seriously. As a board we are charged with the responsibility to take such reports very seriously and when these matters arise, we are bound to investigate thoroughly on a case by case basis. Not only do we need ample time to conduct such an investigation but it important that matters are brought to the board in a timely fashion. As you can imagine, memories get distorted the more time passes. This particular situation occurred over a year ago.

Moving forward, we as a board, we are committed to strengthening our sponsorship process, so that every sponsor is trained in sponsorship and relationship management, since that is where healthy boundaries and support for our future pilgrims & community members begin.

As an ecumenical community, we hold fast to the truth that all of God’s people are welcome at the table. Jesus himself said, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37), and his life modeled that welcome again and again — with the woman at the well, with tax collectors, with those the world had cast aside. We are called to love the Lord with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30–31) — this is the greatest commandment, and it’s the standard we hold ourselves to as a community.

Your Hoosier Hills Emmaus community remains dedicated to providing a weekend experience of renewal in a safe, loving environment for everyone who walks through our doors. We ask for your continued prayers and support as we do this work.

I am a firm believer in God’s perfect timing, and I watch for “God Winks” everywhere. My fellow Christians, I have heard so many stories of renewal and redemption from valued members of this community — a marriage restored that once seemed headed for divorce, a soul pulled back from the edge of grief and suicidal despair by the belonging our community offered, a congregation’s brokenness met with friendship and healing. I have my own stories too, of friendship carrying me through seasons of deep loneliness & grief. These testimonials go on and on.

So today, what I want you to know is this: as a board, we remain committed to unity, agape love, and being the hands and feet of Jesus. We are working to strengthen our training — for our community, kitchen teams, gofers, leadership, and the board alike — so that we are all aligned in how we care for one another. As an ecumenical family, we will keep celebrating what unites us: our love for Jesus Christ.

I pray you’ll stay on this HHE Jesus train with me — loving others as He has called us to, and offering grace and mercy as His hands and feet.

DeColores,
Anjee Browning - CLD

06/06/2026

Last night's gathering was a wonderful occasion. We enjoyed great food and fellowship. The worship music and inspiring 4th day talk were outstanding. Thank you, Tiffany. To those who attended, it was lovely to see you, and to those in our community who were unable to attend, you were greatly missed. We hope to see you all at our next gathering. Please continue to pray for our community. Thank you to Warner and Tiffany for hosting at Zion's Hill.

06/04/2026

The Hoosier Hills Emmaus Board of Directors will be holding its monthly board meeting tomorrow night, June 4, 2026, 6 pm - 8 pm., at CLEAR CREEK CHRISTIAN CHURCH, located at 530 West Church Lane in Bloomington, Indiana. This is a change from the previous location.

We understand that there are a number of community members who are planning to assemble outside the venue before the meeting for a time of corporate prayer, for the community and the board. This location provides plenty of room for that to happen.
The meeting itself will be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, in order to allow the board to conduct any necessary business, as well as to allow any community guests who wish to voice any concerns in a respectful and Christ-like manner. The board will extend that same courtesy to the community. We are asking that any comments be held until the main business of the meeting is completed, at which time we can open the floor for comment.

For those who may wish to attend the meeting, but are unable to do so, we will provide an opportunity for observation virtually.

Grace to you, and peace to all.

Address

Bloomington, IN

Telephone

+18129022277

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hoosier Hills Emmaus posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Hoosier Hills Emmaus:

Shortcuts

Share

Category