An Encounter is a dramatic experience that completely changes the course of our lives. All of us have already experienced many important milestones, or encounters, in our lives: falling in love and getting married, being accepted into a university, obtaining a job, etc., but of all the encounters we could have, the most important one is an encounter with the Living God! Matthew 16:26 says, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”
An Encounter Retreat presents a series of experiences and personal teachings that result in visible, manifested change in the lives of all who participate. It offers people an environment and opportunity that allows them to discover how to establish their relationship with God, how to have direct fellowship with Him, and how to commit to His Lordship in their lives.
Participants are given the opportunity to know and accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and to receive assurance of that fact. They are taught the claims of the Gospel and experience forgiveness of sin, deliverance from bondage, emotional and physical healing, and restoration of worth and value. They also learn how to walk in the blessings of a covenant relationship with God and His family.
Being a Christian means to live by God’s Word-learning it, personally experiencing it, and obeying it. The Bible gives us many examples of people who did just that and were radically transformed by their personal encounters with the Lord Jesus. Remember the stories of the Samaritan woman (John 4:5-29), Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), the Gadarene demoniac (Matt.8:28-34), and all the Disciples of Christ.
After these people had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, they were never the same again. Consequently, we can be assured that when we too, have an encounter with Him
We will never be the same.
It is our desire and prayer that every person who attends this one day retreat will seize the opportunity to experience God. The results will be manifested in transformed lives-lives that are saved, forgiven of sin, set free, and healed by the Power of the Living God, Jesus Christ the Lord!
Encounter Staff
What is an Encounter?
Pastors Juan and Ofelia Salinas
The vision of the Encounter is no small task. Pastors Juan and Ofelia do an excelllent job of leading the Encounters and their faithful volunteer staff.
Encounter with the Cross
Dear Pastors Juan and Ofelia,
Thank you all so much for the incredible Encounter! What servants you were, laying down your lives for Jesus. What a blessing, such heartfelt compassion expressing the love of the Father. You allowed the Holy Spirit to do a mighty work in each and everyone of us! Truly this was over-the-top in being treated as royalty and ministering to us as the Body of Christ-Thank God for His new breed of servants, arising and allowing the Holy Spirit to take center stage!Thank you againblessings to all,Jane Hovest
