Encounter Community

In an era where traditional church outreach strategies face increasing challenges, a new paradigm for evangelism is critically needed.  Many individuals no longer trust the church enough to engage directly, and so the church must reach out to people where they are, rather than simply hoping people will come to us.  This is the premise behind Encounter Community, and the programs we offer in areas of sport, parenting support and homeschooling.

Encounter Homeschoolers is a homeschool co-op program that operates once a week throughout the traditional school year, giving kids a place to learn and experience together in relational and spiritual community. Families that choose to take part in EH come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but all have found a caring and purposeful connection here, which has opened doors to conversations about faith and life, and many of these conversation have led to some homeschool families becoming part of the greater church family. 

Encounter Parents seeks to provide resources, workshops and referrals to support parents regardless of faith background or interest, which builds credibility and relationship through which we can enter into spiritual conversations whenever possible.  While the books, seminars and other resources we provide are not necessarily overtly Christian, they teach and encourage parenting principles and approaches that are based in the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, and provide a foundation on which deeper spiritual conversations can take place.  

Encounter Sports offers year-round camp, training and service opportunities in hockey and basketball, and a full lineup of summer camps for hockey, basketball, volleyball and flag football. The emphasis in Encounter Sports is to teach biblically-based life lessons through athletics – such as resilience, teamwork, character development and more.  Skill development, team competition and national/international mission opportunities provide the gateway for us to engage kids and youth in the sports world, while reflecting the love and values of Jesus, and creating a compelling witness without the immediate pressure of church attendance.

Rather than focusing solely on attracting people to church services, these ministries prioritize meeting people where they are, addressing real needs, and building trust through sustained relationships.  This approach sets the stage for deeper spiritual conversations and invitations to explore faith within a church context, as families experience our love for them and watch our lives and conduct closely.
 
And at Heartland, we believe that this approach is the most relevant and effective way to accomplish Jesus’ Great Commission to us, when He said, “Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).  The ultimate goal of Encounter Community is to help others encounter Jesus, the hope of the world.