"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Cor 5:17

The Purchase Area 4th Day Community traces its roots back to the mid 1980's when a group of folks had a dream to bring the Emmaus movement to what is known as the "Purchase Area" of Kentucky. The "Purchase Area" is generally referred to as the counties west of the lakes area.  The Purchase Area 4th Day Community refers to the Purchase Area Emmaus and Chrysalis communities collectively.

Prior to the formation of the Purchase Area 4th Day Community, people from this area had been attending Emmaus walks at Madisonville Kentucky, Nashville Tennessee, and other cities.  A small group of people who had been on the Madisonville walks began meeting together for fellowship.  This group was lead by William (Bill) & Susan Roberts and Gayle & Adeline Perry.  They sang songs, celebrated Communion, wrote Agape letters, prayed, and began dreaming of the day when, with God's help, they would begin Emmaus walks here.  

Within a few years, the group's size had grown significantly and they began to form committees to organize their first Emmaus walk.  Because of the unending efforts, sacrifices, and prayers of this original group, the first Purchase Area Walk To Emmaus was held in the fall of 1987.  This first walk was held at the B.A.S.I.C. (map) facility in Hardin, Kentucky.  Emmaus walks in the Purchase Area are still held at B.A.S.I.C. today.

The community has grown steadily since that first Emmaus walk.  Initially the community generally held 4 walks (2 men's and 2 women's) each year with 2 being held in the spring and 2 in the fall.  In recent years, the community has held 5 walks per year.  The Purchase Area 4th Day Community began to hold Chrysalis flights in the winter of 1994 at Broadway United Methodist Church (web  map) in Paducah, where they are still being held to this day.  Chrysalis flights are held twice per year.

The Purchase Area 4th Day Community has grown quite large in number over the years.  Many of this number have answered God's call to continue the Emmaus and Chrysalis movements in the area.  It is for this reason, combined with prayer and tremendous blessings from God, that the Purchase Area Walk To Emmaus and Purchase Area Chrysalis movements are where they are today.