ENCOUNTER sits on Ralston Street in Ventura, California, where it has been a steady gospel presence since 1953. What began as Bible Fellowship Church in a living room has grown into a multi-generational congregation with two Sunday services, an on-site preschool, a children's wing, a student ministry, a network of small groups, recovery programs, and mission partners spanning six continents. The church calls itself gospel-centered and intergenerational, and the rhythm of its week, from Sunday worship to Celebrate Recovery on Thursday nights, is built around the conviction that transformation, hope, and healing are found in Christ.
From a Living Room to a Ventura Campus
ENCOUNTER was founded in 1953 under the name Bible Fellowship Church. In the early days the congregation met in a living room; over the decades it moved to the campus on Ralston Street that still serves as the home of the church. The current name, ENCOUNTER, was adopted in 2017, and the preschool that had run under the BFC name for forty-four years followed suit as ENCOUNTER Preschool.
The mission is stated simply: "Transforming LIVES with hope and healing through Christ." That sentence is broken into an acronym that the leadership calls the core values - Locked in on Jesus, Ignited by Scripture, Victorious through Grace, Engaged in our Community and World, Shaped by the Spirit. A longtime summary of the church's identity still rings true: a gospel-centered, intergenerational community made up of people who come from all kinds of experiences, stories, and brokenness but have embraced the hope and healing of Jesus Christ.
Sundays at 9 and 10:45 AM
Two Sunday morning services are held in the main Auditorium at 6950 Ralston Street. The first service begins at 9:00 AM and the second at 10:45 AM. Both services include worship and a teaching message, and both are designed for the whole household to attend together. ENCOUNTER Kids is available at both services for children from nursery through preteen. Middle school and high school students meet under the youth tent at 10:30 AM for donuts and check-in before moving into the service together as a group. ASL interpretation is provided at the 9 AM service for deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees.
Services are also livestreamed, and a set of printed notes accompanies each week's message so that anyone can follow along at home or revisit the teaching later. Visitors are welcome at either service, and newcomers are invited to a Welcome Party that meets after each Sunday service under the big canopy on the patio, a casual time to meet the pastoral staff and learn about the church's ministries.
ENCOUNTER Kids: Nursery Through Preteen
ENCOUNTER Kids runs a full weekend program for children from infancy through sixth grade, with classrooms located in the 400 Building just off the main patio. Each age level uses curriculum designed for its stage of development:
- Nursery - Infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds are cared for during both services by a screened and trained team. The nursery uses the First Look curriculum, built around three simple truths: God made me, God loves me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
- Early Childhood - Three-, four-, and five-year-olds (through Kindergarten) gather in age-appropriate classrooms at both services and continue with First Look materials.
- Elementary - First through third graders use the 252 KIDS curriculum, which combines interactive activity stations, large-group worship, Bible storytelling, drama, and small group time. Children are placed in a small group with the same leader each week so they can build friendships.
- Lightforce (Preteen) - Fourth through sixth graders meet at 10:45 AM in the upstairs 400 Building for a worship environment tailored to their transition out of elementary school, complete with live music, games, small group discussion, and guest speakers.
Every staff member and volunteer working with children has been through a reference check, background check, and personal interview. Parents check children in at a designated station and receive a matching security tag at pickup. For parents who prefer to stay with an infant, a New Parent Room is located outside the entrance to the Auditorium, and a Nursing Mother's Room sits near the women's restroom.
Child Dedication classes are held twice a year, in the fall and spring, for parents who want to make a public commitment to raise their child to know God and live for His glory. Dedications take place during regular weekend services and are not the same as baptism. Water baptism for kids in first through sixth grade is offered twice a year with a preparation class led by Gloria Needham, Director of ENCOUNTER Kids.
Students: Middle School and High School
ENCOUNTER Youth describes itself as the church's "town square," a place where teens find belonging while exploring what it means to follow Jesus. The ministry is led by Austin Gray, Pastor of Student Ministries, and reaches both middle schoolers (grades 7-8) and high schoolers (grades 9-12).
On Sundays, students meet at 10:30 AM under the youth tent on the patio for donuts and check-in, then move into the 10:45 AM service as a group. High schoolers sit together in a reserved section during worship and the message. Middle schoolers head to The PLEX Lounge for table discussions led by adult leaders around the Bible and everyday faith questions.
On Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM, both middle and high school students gather at The PLEX Entrance for creative worship, teaching, and intentional community. Pickup is at 8:30 PM. The annual Moose Mountain fall retreat takes middle and high school students to Forest Home in Ojai for a weekend of worship, teaching, and recreation.
Real Talk is a monthly drop-in space for middle and high schoolers who want to process the intersection of mental health, faith, and real-life challenges. It meets the first Wednesday of the month from 5:00 to 6:30 PM with Sophia Bohman, Director of Care and Groups. Ground rules keep the space confidential, judgment-free, and free of unsolicited advice.
Adults: WOW, MomCo, and Men's Ministry
Adult life at ENCOUNTER revolves around three rhythms: studying Scripture, building friendships, and serving together.
Women's Ministry. WOW (Women of the Word) is a large-group Bible study with subgroups where women study Scripture, encourage one another, and look for ways to follow God's call to serve. Carrie Yost coordinates the ministry, which also runs MomCo - a community for mothers of children from newborn through school age that meets on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings in The PLEX. MomCo is a renamed and refreshed continuation of MOPS and welcomes moms, grandmothers, aunts, and caregivers.
Men's Ministry. The men's ministry organizes free, church-wide gatherings throughout the year, including NERF Golf on the church campus in October, a Catapult Competition in November, and a Men's Hike each January. Smaller Bible study and interest groups for men meet year-round and include groups for those who enjoy motorcycles, camping, gaming, and golf.
Praying Couples Workshop is offered each November for husbands and wives who want to grow together in prayer.
ENCOUNTER Preschool: Christian Early Learning Since 1973
ENCOUNTER Preschool has been a ministry of the church since 1973, when Bible Fellowship Preschool opened with one teacher serving fifteen children. The program has grown into a staff of about 25 teachers serving more than 230 families across a range of enrichment options for children ages 2 through Pre-K. Director Alex Link took the helm in 2024.
The preschool operates Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on the church campus. Half-day programs run 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in two-, three-, or five-day options for toddlers and preschoolers. A full-day program is available for preschoolers who are three by September 1 and fully potty trained. Add-on options include Early Bird drop-off at 8:00 AM and Stay & Play until 3:00 PM. Tuition is published by program and schedule, with a sibling discount of 15 percent and online account access for payments. Priority enrollment for current students, siblings, and ENCOUNTER members runs in early February, with open enrollment beginning in mid-February.
The preschool is guided by both the church's Board of Elders and a Preschool Board. Its philosophy is to give children a solid foundation of Christ's love while cultivating their eagerness to learn. Tours can be arranged by calling the preschool office at (805) 644-7607.
Small Groups: Connect, Learn, Grow
ENCOUNTER's small group ministry is organized around three pathways. Connect Groups are built around shared interests or ministry focus and are designed to help people build meaningful relationships. Learn Groups gather around Bible study with a focus on understanding and applying Scripture. Grow Groups are intentional, discipleship-oriented groups designed for spiritual formation and practices that help believers become more like Jesus. Fall small group listings are released in PDF form each year.
Rooted is a 10-week, church-wide small group experience for anyone wanting to connect with God and others, whether new to faith or a long-time believer. Groups meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and include daily reading, prayer, and a service opportunity, ending with a celebration dinner. Childcare is available with pre-registration.
Early Steps with Jesus is another on-ramp for those just beginning to follow Christ, and baptism preparation classes are held throughout the year for adults, teens, and children in first through sixth grade.
Care and Support: Walking Through Hard Seasons
The Care and Support ministry, directed by Sophia Bohman, exists to come alongside people during illness, financial stress, broken relationships, loss, or grief. The team believes that even in difficult seasons, God is at work, shaping His people and drawing them closer to His heart.
- Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday at 6:30 PM in The PLEX. It is a Christ-centered, biblically based program that works through eight recovery principles and twelve Christ-centered steps to help people find freedom from hurts, habits, and hang-ups including addiction, codependency, anger, eating issues, gambling, control issues, abuse, and sexual struggles. Separate contact people serve men and women, and childcare is available with registration.
- GriefShare is a 14-week support group for those who have lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend. Sessions meet Monday evenings in Room 301 and include a workbook and materials. One-on-one grief coaching with Debi Dixon is also available.
- Surviving the Holidays is a one-session companion to GriefShare, offered in November for those facing the holiday season after loss.
- Encourager Ministry pairs caring volunteers with people who would benefit from prayer, a visit, or a card of encouragement.
- Widows Ministry reaches out to widows in the church and surrounding community with visits and ongoing connection.
- Meals Ministry provides meals to families navigating a birth, death, illness, or injury.
- Helping Hands matches volunteers with practical needs such as household tasks during a health crisis.
- Mercy Seat is a twice-monthly prayer gathering on the first and third Wednesdays in the Auditorium, with fellowship at 12:45 PM and prayer from 1:00 to 2:00 PM.
- Prayer Team members receive confidential prayer requests online, by text to (805) 665-3455, or through the church's Facebook prayer group.
The church also assists with funeral arrangements, both on-site at ENCOUNTER and off-site, and provides a Counseling Resources PDF guide through the Care office.
Global Outreach: Missionaries Around the World
Global Outreach is a major commitment for ENCOUNTER. The church's stated priorities are to make disciples of all nations with a focus on unreached people groups, to send and equip church planters and gospel workers, to care for global partners, and to mobilize the congregation for mission. A Global Outreach Interest Form is available for anyone wanting to explore a partnership.
The church supports a long list of missionaries and families serving with organizations including Cadence International, Bridges International, Catalyst International, Global Grace Fellowship, Greater Europe Mission, Global Training Network, Latin America Assistance, and others. Mission fields represented among ENCOUNTER's partners include military communities in Europe and the United States, university campuses in California, Christian camp ministry in England, church planting in Ireland and Brazil, leadership training across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, and work among unreached Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist people groups in Central and South Asia. Several partners are former staff members or youth who grew up at the church, and the congregation prays for them on the final Sunday of each month during Prayer for the Nations, a 15-minute gathering between services in the Auditorium.
Impact Trips give congregants a chance to travel, learn, and serve alongside these partners. The church also operates an Operation Christmas Child Packing Facility each November as a community outreach project.
Praise Kids: A Christmas Performing Arts Tradition
Praise Kids is ENCOUNTER's annual performing arts program for children from age 4 through eighth grade, rehearsing Tuesday evenings through the fall and culminating in a December musical performed for the community. The 2026 production, "The Silent Knight: A Yuletide Tale of Two Kingdoms," will be performed the first weekend of December. Children in grades 2-8 may audition for special roles in drama, dance, and solo singing, while the youngest group auditions for a solo from their choir music.
Statement of Faith
ENCOUNTER's published beliefs center on the historic Christian faith. The church affirms one God, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and teaches that human beings were created in God's image but fell into sin and are therefore separated from a holy God. God's plan from the beginning has been to restore people to an eternal relationship with Himself through faith in Jesus Christ. The church believes Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is true God and true Man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, whose death on the cross paid the penalty for sin and whose bodily resurrection demonstrated His power over sin and death. The Bible is received as the inspired, authoritative, and without-error Word of God. The church looks for the personal return of Jesus Christ, the establishment of a new heaven and earth, and the eternal presence of believers with Him. As a result, those who trust in Christ are given the privilege of being His representatives and inviting others to know Him personally by faith.
Pastoral Staff and Elders
The pastoral staff is led by Lead Pastor Jon Field, who joined ENCOUNTER in August 2022 after sixteen years as Lead Pastor of Grace Church and prior ministry roles at Calvary Church in Los Gatos, a church plant in Oahu, and Western Seminary in Portland, where he earned both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology. His wife Amy is a key partner in ministry, and the couple has three adult children.
The staff team also includes Kelly Hanighen-Lynch as Executive Director, Jacob Wood as Worship Pastor, Gloria Needham as Director of ENCOUNTER Kids, Alex Link as Director of ENCOUNTER Preschool, Austin Gray as Pastor of Student Ministries, and Sophia Bohman as Director of Care and Groups.
The church is governed by a Board of Elders chaired by Tony Cortez, with David Araujo, Jeff Corsello, Steven Culbertson, Jon Field, Kenji Miyata, Tyler Moore, Joe Panushka, and Chris Patacsil serving alongside him. The elders oversee the teaching, preaching, and ministry of the congregation as keepers of the church's vision and purposes.
Visiting ENCOUNTER
ENCOUNTER is located at 6950 Ralston Street in Ventura, California. Sunday services are held at 9:00 and 10:45 AM. A Welcome Party meets after each Sunday service under the canopy on the patio for newcomers. The church office is open Monday through Thursday and can be reached at (805) 656-7766 or info@encounterlife.org; the preschool office can be reached at (805) 644-7607. Messages are available through a podcast on Apple and Spotify, with live teaching available on YouTube and Vimeo and an iOS app for ongoing connection.