It is often difficult to get connected with others in a growing church. So we have created intentional spaces where we can engage in relationships and experience God together. We believe that the intentionality and communal nature of connect groups can be beneficial for our spiritual growth.

When you sign up, the leader of your new Connect Group will contact you with the address of the Group’s meeting place, the date and time you’ll be starting on, and all the other information you’ll need to have a great experience.

Connect Groups meet once a week, and each meeting is just sixty to ninety minutes long. Groups meet for ten to twelve times over the semester. It’s a short-term commitment but the positive impact on your life will be long-term.

Look around at a Sunday service. A Connect Group is basically about fifteen or so people who attend Encounter Church on a Sunday.

Since there are a variety of groups, you’ll have the chance to share your life experiences with others who have similar ones.

nvite as many friends, co-workers, neighbors, family, etc. that aren’t connected to another church. Connect Groups are designed to get people connected to our church and to one another. The more people, the better.

A Life Group is a group of roughly 8-12 people that meets for 9 months in participants’ homes. Life Groups are comprised of people who already know and have relationships with each other (at least somewhat!)
Life Groups provide an opportunity for participants to grow in their fellowship with God and one another through intentional community over an extended period of time. The goal of Life Groups is for participants to go deeper in their spiritual journey, developing a vital and active faith in the context of a robust Christian community. Participants will engage in mutual discipleship, forging relationships marked by encouragement, accountability, and self-giving love for the good of others.

There are 3 major elements to Life Groups:

1. Bi-weekly meetings - getting together bi-weekly for study, fellowship and fun.
2. “Rule of Life” - Over the first half of the Life Group year, groups will read Ken Shigematsu’s God in My Everything and develop a personal “Rule of Life” - a set of guiding rules/goals for individuals to help them grow and experience more of God’s presence in their lives. Don’t be put off by the word “Rule”; these are life-giving practices that will be integrated naturally into daily rhythms, leading to a depth of spiritual experience and maturity we don’t often experience.
3. Activities and Challenges - Woven throughout the year (and especially in the weeks between meetings) participants will engage in a variety of activities ranging from service projects to focused times of prayer to...bowling and mini-golf! Through this, the communal life and integration of faith into daily rhythms will be strengthened.

If the concept of Life Groups intrigues you, then the next step is simple: start one! Individuals who would like to start a Life Group can pick up the Life Group Playbook at the Information Center in the church lobby, or click here to download a digital copy! Next, reach out to Pastor Ryan at [email protected] to let him know you are planning to start a Life Group; he and others will be available to coach you through the process, as needed. Finally, pray about who God would have you invite to be a part of your Life Groups and invite them. Then with the Playbook as your guide, go for it!

If you want to be a part of a Life Group, but would rather not initiate one, reach out to Pastor Ryan at [email protected], to talk more about the possibilities available.

A Discipleship Group (sometimes called a “triad” or “quad”) is a group of 3-4 people that commit to meeting together for 9-12 months. Discipleship Groups are comprised of people who already know and have relationships with each other (at least somewhat!). This is especially important because Discipleship Groups will likely get intense - participants need to be prepared to share openly and honestly about what is going on in their lives, and about their faith (and their doubts.) Participants in a Discipleship Group should be committed to growing deep in their faith, and in a relationship of accountability with each other.

Discipleship Groups will meet weekly or bi-weekly, depending on what works for participants. They can meet in homes, restaurants, bars, bowling alleys... wherever they want to! They will divide up their meeting times into 3 things:

1. Curriculum - Participants will work through the 25 lessons of Greg Ogden’s workbook Discipleship Essentials, with the goal of gaining a solid understanding of the essentials of Christian faith and life.
2. Community - Participants will spend time simply getting to know each other deeply and enjoying each other’s company.
3. Confession - Participants will challenge each other to grow spiritually through weekly “check-ins”, confessions of struggles and sin, and prayer with each other.

When their Discipleship Group year is over, participants will be strongly encouraged to start a new Discipleship Group with 2-3 other people, thereby continuing the process of multiplying disciples and growing the body of Christ.

If you want to be a part of a Discipleship Group, then the next step is simple: start one! Individuals who would like to start a Discipleship Group should purchase Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden, and downloading the “Discipleship Groups Infosheet” pdf here. Next, reach out to Pastor Ryan at [email protected] to let him know you are planning to start a Discipleship Group; he and others will be available to coach you through the process, as needed. Finally, pray about who God would have you invite to be part of your Discipleship Group, and then invite them and get started!

If you want to be a part of a Discipleship Group, but would rather not initiate one, reach out to Pastor Ryan at [email protected], to talk more about the possibilities available.