A Brief History
Why Start Encounter?
We believe that everyone belongs connected to God and a life giving community. That's why Encounter Church seeks to create and connect communities to Christ - beginning in Elkhart. We want to create community for those who don't have it and connect communities that already exist to God.
Why Elkhart?
After driving through Elkhart with a local principal, Jared (the founding pastor of Encounter) and his wife Leah were wrecked by the realization there were so many people who were desperately looking for a community to belong to. It was on that drive that the principal shared with Jared how so many of the community's kids and families would subject themselves to all kinds of perverse, demoralizing, and corrupt acts, all so they could "belong." He pointed out home after home that was affected because of loved ones in jail.
"It doesn't have to be that way; it shouldn't be that way!"
After that drive, Jared and Leah learned that only 1 in 5 people are associated with a church of any kind in Elkhart County. That means over 157,000 people are not connected to God and a life giving community. They learned that Elkhart ranks as the 4th highest County in Indiana regarding teen pregnancies. It broke their hearts to learn that the largest building project in Elkhart history was the jail, costing over $28 million just through phase two. There are still 3 more phases to go!
"It doesn't have to be that way; it shouldn't be that way!"
The more Jared and Leah spent time in Elkhart, the more they understood that there was a desperate need for a fresh Encounter with God and his people here in Elkhart.
Jared and Leah met more and more people living in Elkhart who would send kids to there schools because they didn't want their kids associated with Elkhart Community Schools. With many of the schools at over 80% free or reduced lunches, there are countless children who only eat at school. Many of these children go home to an empty home because the parents are left to working 2 or even 3 jobs just to barely make it.
"It doesn't have to be that way; it shouldn't be that way!"
Despite meeting more and more people who thought Elkhart was without hope, the Jared and Leah knew it didn't have to be that way. It shouldn't be that way. They felt compelled that if the people of Elkhart encountered the community of God (the church) that they would also encounter the God who dwells among them and that that encounter has the power to change lives, giving everyone a people and place to belong.
But it all starts with an encounter.
"It doesn't have to be that way; it shouldn't be that way!"
After that drive, Jared and Leah learned that only 1 in 5 people are associated with a church of any kind in Elkhart County. That means over 157,000 people are not connected to God and a life giving community. They learned that Elkhart ranks as the 4th highest County in Indiana regarding teen pregnancies. It broke their hearts to learn that the largest building project in Elkhart history was the jail, costing over $28 million just through phase two. There are still 3 more phases to go!
"It doesn't have to be that way; it shouldn't be that way!"
The more Jared and Leah spent time in Elkhart, the more they understood that there was a desperate need for a fresh Encounter with God and his people here in Elkhart.
Jared and Leah met more and more people living in Elkhart who would send kids to there schools because they didn't want their kids associated with Elkhart Community Schools. With many of the schools at over 80% free or reduced lunches, there are countless children who only eat at school. Many of these children go home to an empty home because the parents are left to working 2 or even 3 jobs just to barely make it.
"It doesn't have to be that way; it shouldn't be that way!"
Despite meeting more and more people who thought Elkhart was without hope, the Jared and Leah knew it didn't have to be that way. It shouldn't be that way. They felt compelled that if the people of Elkhart encountered the community of God (the church) that they would also encounter the God who dwells among them and that that encounter has the power to change lives, giving everyone a people and place to belong.
But it all starts with an encounter.
How'd You Start?
Jared and Leah weren't the only ones feeling burdened to reach Elkhart. There was a group of churches from the Missionary Church who longed to see a new church in Elkhart reaching new people who would never walk through their own doors. These seven churches partnered together to form what they called a LEAD TEAM. This group of churches believed that God's kingdom was bigger than any one church and that together they could start a new church that was reaching a new group of people. This Lead Team committed to finding a church planting couple, financially backing the church for three years, prayerfully backing the church, and sending members from their own church to help start the church. Jared and Leah Gregory were selected as the church planting couple.
Jared and Leah, having been assessed and trained, gathered a group of 22 adults and 8 kids from those seven churches to go with them to start Encounter Church. In October 2014, this group began inviting their friends and family members to worship together in a rented school on the north side of Elkhart for the first time. In March 2015, Encounter Church officially opens!
Jared and Leah, having been assessed and trained, gathered a group of 22 adults and 8 kids from those seven churches to go with them to start Encounter Church. In October 2014, this group began inviting their friends and family members to worship together in a rented school on the north side of Elkhart for the first time. In March 2015, Encounter Church officially opens!
