Encounter Young Adults

Encounter is one of the most powerful ministries we have here at The River. The name is truly descriptive of what goes on. We’re not content to just talk about Jesus. We want to meet with Him, and so that’s our driving focus and pursuit. We’re not a singles group for people looking to find a date. We’re also not just a social hangout. We’re here for the express purpose of encountering Jesus. And week after week, He comes and meets with us.

There’s no such thing as a “normal” meeting for us. But we can tell you what we burn for. We’re passionate about worshiping Jesus. It gets rowdy, and it gets intense. We’re passionate about hearing God’s voice, so we take time to listen for it. We’re passionate about obedience, so we will adjust our plans for any gathering to try to follow what He shows us. And we’re passionate about diving into the scriptures so that we can learn God’s ways.

We’re not a group that’s all about fun and games. But we always have ridiculous amounts of laughter as we experience the joy of the Lord. There is freedom in His Presence. And we intend to love each other in a way that looks past faults and flaws.

Encounter is led by Pastor John Gabriel Arends, his wife Unisha, and other radical young adults from The River.

Our vision is three-fold:

  • To be a place where young adults know they can find, meet, and experience the living God.

  • To be a group of young people that is whole-heartedly ready to respond in obedience to God when He comes.

  • To be so transformed by our encounters with God that we become an encounter for others to meet God through us everywhere we go.

Encounter FAQs:

  • When is Encounter?

    We gather every Thursday at 7:00 P.M. (If it’s a holiday and you’re not sure if we’re meeting, you can contact our office.)

  • Where is Encounter?

    We meet at The River in Theater 4. If you’re not sure where you’re going, you can ask one of the baristas at the coffee shop and they’d be happy to point you in the right direction. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a Google map.)

  • What age is encounter for?

    Encounter is a ministry meant for young adults. There’s two parts to that phrase: young and adult. To be a part of this, you need to be over 18. (If you’re under 18, be sure to check out Deeper, our youth ministry.) Second, you need to be a young adult. That means if you’re 38 or already have 5 kids, this is not the right setting for you.

  • Is it only for singles?

    No, there are young married couples who attend Encounter as well. While most of the group is made up of singles, that has nothing to do with our vision. We don’t aim our content toward “singles” or “couples” issues. We’re all about Encountering Jesus, hearing His voice, and learning to walk with Him.

  • Is there food?

    Yeah, there is pretty much always food. And you can hit up the coffee shop on your way in and hang out there when we’re done.

  • Do I have to be a Christian to come?

    No, you don’t. We wouldn’t want you to believe in a God that you couldn’t experience for yourself. We are passionate about Jesus because we have met Him and we’re absolutely in awe of who He is. So if you’re not sure about what you believe, we invite you to come hang out with us. But there’s no strings attached. We’re not going to push you to “convert or else.” We’re confident that Jesus is convincing enough when He shows Himself, and we think you’ll be just as excited about Him as we are once you’ve been with Him and seen what He does.