We've seen God move in incredible ways in 2022! Check out our Annual Report to be encouraged by all of the stories of changed lives through people taking courageous next steps of faith!

1. ANNUAL
REPORT
2 0 2 2

2. A NOTE
FROM THE
LEAD PASTOR
Dear Friends of Encounter:
Last year, we set a lofty goal for our church
of taking 1,000 Courageous Next Steps of
Faith. We didn’t want to simply see people
return to church; we wanted to see each
other take courageous steps toward
becoming more like Jesus! Through God’s
grace and power, we saw exactly that! 11
people courageously showed the world
they’ve been raised with Christ at our fall
baptism weekend, 96 households
sacrificially gave to Encounter for the first
time, and hundreds attended worship for
the first time—far surpassing our goal of
1,000. Behind each number is a name… and
a story! Here’s the story that Joie shared at
her baptism this fall:
"I never grew up with Jesus in my life. So
many layers of childhood trauma and
dysfunctional family dynamics were
gripping me from an abundant life. It was
intrusive thoughts and Satan whispering
in my ear and dimming the light inside of
me. I have thought about baptism for
years - but it was a major breakdown, or I
like to call it now a breakTHROUGH, that
led me to completely surrender to God’s
plan. Thank you, ENCOUNTER CHURCH.
YOU HAVE IGNITED ME!!!!"
Every life-changing milestone came as a
result of a courageous step of faith. My
hope is that you will join me in celebrating
these stories with gratitude to Jesus for all
he has accomplished in and through
Encounter Church this year.
On Mission Together,
Dirk
DIRK VANEYK
LEAD PASTOR

4. W O R S H I P E D F O R
T H E F I R S T T I M E
7 0 0 +
J O I N E D A
S E R V I N G T E A M
6 1
J O I N E D A S M A L L
G R O U P
5 2
G A V E F O R T H E
F I R S T T I M E
9 6
B E C A M E A
R E C U R R I N G G I V E R
9 0
W E R E B A P T I Z E D
3 1
1,000+ COURAGEOUS
NEXT STEPS
OF FAITH

5. "I love Encounter's heart and
the challenging, encouraging
teaching. The worship
environment is well done
and moving."
"I love the meaningful worship
and powerful preaching
brought with conviction."
-Encounter Survey Feedback
WORSHIP
"WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE
OF ENCOUNTER WORSHIP, I GET SO
EXCITED ABOUT RAISING UP NEW
LEADERS WHO ALREADY ATTEND
AND LEADERS WHO AREN'T YET A
PART OF ENCOUNTER. SEEING
VOLUNTEER ROLES FILLED BY THE
TALENTED PEOPLE GOD BRINGS IS
SUCH A JOY, AND WITNESSING
PEOPLE GROW IN THEIR
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS FROM
CASUAL TO PASSIONATE FOLLOWERS
IS AMAZING!" - ZACH
ZACH JOHNSON
WORSHIP DIRECTOR
65
P E O P L E S E R V E D
W I T H E N C O U N T E R
W O R S H I P T H I S Y E A R
H E A D T O S P O T I F Y
A N D S E A R C H F O R
E N C O U N T E R _ W O R S H I P
T O L I S T E N T O O U R
T O P 3 0 S O N G S !
H O U R S O F W O R S H I P
R E H E A R S A L B E T W E E N
B O T H L O C A T I O N S
251

6. Did you know
everyone can
serve with
Encounter's
Guest Experience
Teams? Take your
next step today!
Scan this QR
code to learn
more.
JESSICA HARPER
GUEST EXPERIENCE COORD.
SERVING
"OUR VISION (BASED ON LUKE 14: 7-14) IS THAT THE LAST
SHALL BE FIRST - TAKE THE LOWEST SEAT AND SERVE
YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THE BEST SEAT. ALL ARE
WELCOMED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. IN THE SAME
WAY THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE SERVED, EVERYONE
CAN SERVE!" - JESSICA
155
P E O P L E S E R V E D O N A
G U E S T E X P E R I E N C E
T E A M T H I S Y E A R
"I love helping others as Jesus did. It also helps take the focus
off what is going on in my world and lets me pray and focus on
others. Taking this step is enriching my Encounter experience
and allows church to feel more personal - it makes me
feel at home." - Sara, Courageous Next Step Story
4,680
B A G E L S W E R E
S E R V E D B Y T H E
H O S P I T A L I T Y T E A M

8. GROUPS
"IT WAS IMPACTFUL TO SEE
HOW GOD MOVED THROUGH
OUR LEADER MEETING THIS
FALL! GATHERING TOGETHER
WE WERE ENCOURAGED AND
COMFORTED BY HEARING FROM
EACH OTHER ABOUT OUR
SIMILAR JOYS, CHALLENGES,
LONGINGS, AND HOPES FOR
OUR GROUPS. I CANNOT WAIT
TO SEE HOW GOD BRINGS NEW
LIFE THROUGH GROUPS
MINISTRY IN 2023!" - ROBIN
"When I first considered joining a
group, I was concerned that it
would be an “obligation” &
perhaps uncomfortable at times. I
wasn't sure I wanted the weekly
commitment. I soon learned that
the sharing of each other’s
viewpoints concerning Jesus &
His Word led me to a deeper
understanding of my need for a
closer relationship with Jesus. I
love seeing my friends at church!
Sharing our struggles - personal &
spiritual - has developed incredible
mutual trust & support that
created some amazing friendships!"
-Paul, Courageous Next Step Story
ROBIN BUPP
GROUPS COORD.
135
P E O P L E
P A R T I C I P A T E D
I N A G R O U P
P E O P L E S E R V E D
A S G R O U P
L E A D E R S
22

9. BAPTISM
19
I N F A N T
B A P T I S M S
"God has been teaching me
so much, and it’s amazing
to see how He is able to
redeem and restore the
broken parts in me, even
though I turned away
from Him and I don’t
deserve His mercy and
grace. He's been teaching
me to put my identity in
Him, and if I seek first the
kingdom, everything else
will fall into place. It is a
joyous relief to let go and
trust Him!" - Emily,
Baptism Faith Story
12
A D U L T
B A P T I S M S

10. 324
B I R T H - 5 T H G R D S
A T T E N D E D K I D S !
T H I S Y E A R
KIDS!
MEGAN SAGER
KIDS! DIRECTOR
"THE BEST PART OF KIDS! IS THE HONOR
OF INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO THE
GOSPEL & SEEING KIDDOS DRAG THEIR
PARENTS TO ENCOUNTER BECAUSE THEY
LOVE IT SO MUCH!" - MEGAN
P E O P L E
R E G U L A R L Y S E R V E
W I T H K I D S !
61
O F T H E K I D S !
T E A M A R E
3 R D - 1 2 T H G R D
S T U D E N T S
12%
"I am so thankful that the
next generation is looking
to God for leadership.
Jesus was a servant to
people, and I feel like he is
giving me the opportunity
to model his example. I
have grandchildren in the
nursery and feel that I can
give the gift of worship to
young families."
- Kristi, Courageous
Next Step Story

11. YOUTH
KYLE MCRILL
YOUTH DIRECTOR
"YOUTH PROVIDES A SPACE FOR
STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THEIR FAITH,
LEARN ABOUT JESUS, AND ASK HARD
QUESTIONS, ALL WHILE RECEIVING CARE
AND MENTORSHIP FROM THEIR SMALL
GROUP LEADER! IT PUTS A SMILE ON MY
FACE EVERY TIME I SEE A STUDENT OWN
THEIR FAITH, IDENTIFY THEIR CALLING,
WALK IN THAT CALLING, AND IMPACT
THOSE AROUND THEM TO DO THE SAME! I
KEEP ASKING JESUS THAT HE WOULD DO
IT AGAIN FOR ONE MORE STUDENT… AND
THEN ANOTHER, AND ANOTHER - AND I
WON'T STOP ASKING!" - KYLE
“God changed my life
through Never The Same
(NTS) Camp by giving me
a reminder as to why I am
a Christian. I also got a lot
closer to my youth group &
leaders. And I learned a
lot about my worth.”
"I am feeling a calling
from God. I am not
entirely sure what for yet.
I have gotten so much
closer to God in these 5
days. I was moved to tears
every day as I was
overwhelmed by the feeling
of God there with us…”
-YOUTH students
reflecting on NTS Camp
59
6 T H - 1 2 T H
G R A D E R S
A T T E N D E D Y O U T H
T H I S Y E A R
I N C R E A S E I N
S T U D E N T
A T T E N D A N C E
S I N C E J A N U A R Y
145%

12. GIVING
GIVING IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP WHERE WE DECLARE THAT GOD IS GENEROUS &
COMMIT TO LIVING AN OPEN-HANDED LIFE. WE TRUST IN HIM & HIS PROVISION
INSTEAD OF OUR PERCEIVED SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WE GIVE FAITHFULLY & GENEROUSLY.
96
F I R S T - T I M E
G I V I N G
H O U S E H O L D S
"Being in and out of college and not having a career, it has often
seemed scary to give to a church, but God has always shown Himself
faithful, and I have never gone without the provision I need! By
giving what God has supplied to me, I find myself feeling more a
part of what God is doing in the community, and it makes me want
to invest more in other areas of the church because this is a place
I believe God is doing great things in! As I invest, it makes the
community feel more like home." - John, Courageous Next Step Story
90
H O U S E H O L D S
S E T U P
R E C U R R I N G G I F T S
28%
I N C R E A S E I N A V G .
M O N T H L Y R E C U R R I N G
G I V I N G H O U S E H O L D S

13. W E K E E P J E S U S
A T T H E C E N T E R
W E E X P E R I E N C E
G O D D A I L Y
W E D O L I F E
T O G E T H E R
W E P R A C T I C E
T R U T H
W E L O V E
W H E R E W E L I V E
W E M U L T I P L Y
L O C A L L Y &
G L O B A L L Y
VALUES
1
3
8
3+
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14. CONSIDER A
YEAR-END GIFT
TODAY!
WHEN YOU MAKE A GIFT TO
ENCOUNTER, YOU’RE MAKING A
MAJOR KINGDOM IMPACT IN
HUNDREDS OF LIVES! SCAN THE
QR CODE TO HELP US FINISH THE
YEAR STRONG, AS WE CONTINUE
SHARING THE LIFE-CHANGING
LOVE OF JESUS.
We are so encouraged by the stories of changed lives through people
taking courageous next steps of faith in 2022! Thank you for your
continued prayers & financial support as together we work to
bring people far from God to new life in Christ.