The Emmaus Correspondence School is a ministry founded in Canada in 1942 by Mr Robert E. Harlow to help people learn the basics of the Christian faith. In 1946, the Correspondence School commenced in Chicago, USA. In 1949, a missionary in the Philippines began using the courses as follow-up to a Gospel broadcast. The response was immediate, and many wanted to study the Bible. Other missionaries became interested in the possibility of reaching people in remote areas through mail-based Bible study. This launched the use of Emmaus courses overseas. From these small beginnings, the Emmaus Correspondence School has grown to over 1200 distribution centres in more than 100 countries, in more than 80 languages, and now distributes over 1.8 million courses each year.
The work began in Queensland, Australia, in 1951 under the leadership of Mr Ian Irvine, who used the courses to follow up with contacts from the Sacred Half Hour radio programme. From the beginning, the Correspondence School was an outstanding success. Growth continued over the years, with Mr Lance Foley involved in the work during the 1970’s and early 1980’s.
Mr Noel & Mrs Eleanor Sheen took up the reins in 1987. At this time, Noel approached senior staff in the Queensland Department of Corrective Services, who agreed to allow the courses to be used in every Queensland jail. Courses were channelled through the Education Officer in each Centre, ensuring official recognition by the Department. Initially, Noel’s personal visits led to the distribution of all courses, and he and his wife, Eleanor, marked the large number of courses that continued to expand over the next 15 years. These visits, along with course promotion by the Prison Chaplains themselves, drove the work’s growth. In September 2012, after suffering a period of ill health as a result of cancer, Noel was promoted to Glory to receive his “Well done, good and faithful servant”.
Mr John & Mrs Ethel Orr entered the Emmaus Ministry in 2001 and began marking and processing courses. Over the following years, the work expanded steadily. They also saw the need to develop the ministry. When they first began, the main way to reach students in the community was by word of mouth, and within the prison system, through the Prison Chaplains. Over the years, that continued, but they saw the need to develop the ministry in other ways. They felt the need to produce promotional brochures and reply-paid cards that chaplains could make available to pass on to any potential student within the Correctional Centres.
They also produced brochures to promote the courses in the community, along with a brochure to promote the Prison Ministry. They also produced a full-colour course catalogue containing over 120 courses, and established a website with the kind help of volunteers. The other area of development was the Emmaus Bible Gems Calendar ministry. It originated in New Zealand and, after the Director General of Corrective Services approved it in 2004, the calendar ministry has grown over the years to become the major tool for obtaining students each year.
In more recent years, they saw the expansion of the ministry into the Northern Territory, particularly with the provision of the Emmaus Bible Gems Calendar and the correspondence courses. John & Ethel retired from full-time involvement in the ministry at the end of 2015 but continue to help out were and when needed.
In 2016, Mr Bryson Thomas entered the ministry as Queensland Registrar and, along with his wife Ruth, became involved in the marking, processing and despatching of courses undertaken by those who had gone before. Bryson and Ruth have been in active and full-time Christian ministry since 2004, both in a local church capacity, and as the Australian Representatives with an International church planting ministry. They are excited to enter this next phase of ministry, and value the partnerships of God’s people as they seek to continue a good work that is bringing much fruit to God’s Glory.
