When Saints SHINE-Caleb & Bri Ruthven

Encounter Church was birthed in Pastor Hunter Howard’s heart in 2008 when, in a dream, Jesus told him that his main purpose in ministry was to “help people encounter Him.” 

After spending eight years as a missionary in Chihuahua, Mexico, Hunter married Liz, and they served together on the pastoral team and in missions at Heart for the World Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. There they trained up young people to be leaders in the ministry.

Encounter Church started in 2014 when Hunter and Liz Howard, plus a team of about 20 young people, moved across the country from Las Cruces to the Atlanta area, to plant a brand new church from scratch. They settled in Cobb County and quickly realized that God was calling them to reach the campus of Kennesaw State University. They started meeting in the Howards’ basement in May 2014, and in September, they officially opened services in a small building in Kennesaw. The church grew and had to relocate several times before purchasing a permanent home in 2020 - 3021 Rutledge Rd, in Kennesaw. 

Today Encounter Church hosts weekly services, prayer meetings, kids ministry, youth and college groups, community outreaches, a strong international missions ministry, a discipleship school, and a network of small Discipleship Groups, that meet in homes, on the KSU campus, and other places.

Religion & Spirituality

Encounter Church was birthed in Pastor Hunter Howard’s heart in 2008 when, in a dream, Jesus told him that his main purpose in ministry was to “help people encounter Him.” After spending eight years as a missionary in Chihuahua, Mexico, Hunter married Liz, and they served together on the pastoral team and in missions at Heart for the World Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. There they trained up young people to be leaders in the ministry. Encounter Church started in 2014 when Hunter and Liz Howard, plus a team of about 20 young people, moved across the country from Las Cruces to the Atlanta area, to plant a brand new church from scratch. They settled in Cobb County and quickly realized that God was calling them to reach the campus of Kennesaw State University. They started meeting in the Howards’ basement in May 2014, and in September, they officially opened services in a small building in Kennesaw. The church grew and had to relocate several times before purchasing a permanent home in 2020 - 3021 Rutledge Rd, in Kennesaw. Today Encounter Church hosts weekly services, prayer meetings, kids ministry, youth and college groups, community outreaches, a strong international missions ministry, a discipleship school, and a network of small Discipleship Groups, that meet in homes, on the KSU campus, and other places.

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When Saints SHINE-Caleb & Bri Ruthven

When Saints SHINE-Caleb & Bri Ruthven