small groups

Better together.

Don't do life alone! We were created to live in community and not in isolation. We may physically live in a community, but spiritually, socially, and relationally we often live our lives in isolation. We find ourselves with no one to turn to when a major issue surfaces in our lives.

Being part of a Small Group helps us to more wholly experience God through close relationships as we play and pray together, as we encourage and help one another, and as we study and live out God’s Word together.

Find a place to belong! With 3 Small Group semesters, you can jump in any time of the year. (12-week semesters in SPRING and FALL; 6-week semester in the SUMMER).

For more details, contact Cathy Clifford, our Spiritual Development Leader.

FALL SMALL GROUPS

join a group and find your family!

The Fall semester is kicking off on September 3 with a wide range of groups to choose from. There are groups for women, men and couples -- there's even a pickleball group! Groups meet all around our area and on different days (or evenings), so there's sure to be one that fits your schedule.

Check out the list below and register for the group(s) you'd like to be a part of. The Group host will contact you with all the details .

Don't do life alone ... join a group and find your family!

MARRIAGE & FAMILY

Hosts: Alan & Ann Pimlott
Location: Encounter Classroom
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 6-7:30 pm

All couples need a safe place to explore their relationship among supportive peers where everyone is there for the same purpose: to strengthen and grow their relationship. Learning from and sharing with other couples is a positive and relationship affirming experience. Join us as we come together to learn what the Bible says about marriage and how we can learn from others as well who are going through the same stage of life.

REGISTER HERE
Hosts: Arnold & Dee Howard
Location: Encounter Dream Team Room
Day: Wednesdays from 9/27 - 10/25
Time: 6-7:30 pm
Cost: Assessment $35 (Must be completed by 9/10/23 to participate)

Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS for short) has become the gold standard for helping today's engaged and newlywed couples enjoy lifelong love. If you’re engaged, this is where you start. SYMBIS is the prerequisite for those planning to marry at Encounter Church. Preparing for a strong and passionate marriage is one of the most important things you’ll ever do. If you’ve already started your marriage, give it a boost by renewing the joys that brought you together. Topics to be covered: 1) Uncover the misbeliefs of marriage; 2) Learn to communicate with instant understanding; 3) Discover the secret to resolving conflict; as well as other various topics that will help prepare for life-long love.

REGISTER HERE
Hosts: Ps. Philip & Kelly Pimlott
Location: Livingston
Day: Tuesdays (bi-weekly)
Time: 6-8 pm

Join us for “Couple’s Talk” where we'll address subjects and topics relevant to all our lives. There is such power in coming together and realizing some of the struggles and problems we are facing are the same ones others are going through too. You are NOT alone, and you need to know that!

Meetings are bi-weekly at the Pimlott home in Livingston. Come hang out together to learn, grow, and build marriages that will last a lifetime!

REGISTER HERE

MEN'S GROUPS

Host: Billy Mercer
Location: Mercer Home
Day: Thursdays
Time: 7:30-8:30 pm

Come fellowship and PRAISE THE LORD over a meal. We will be discussing the Bible and how it is changing your life from your past to your future. Brothers, come enjoy the joy of JESUS CHRIST, each other’s presence, and support one another in the way HE intended.
Can’t wait to see you there!

REGISTER HERE
Host: Ps. Blake Melancon
Location: Zoom meeting
Day: Saturdays
Time: 8-9 am

“Man Stuff” small groups will help you grow in faith, build camaraderie with like-minded men and find significance. Join us Saturday mornings for a great time of encouragement and support. We need to stay ‘connected’ with other men and be able to have an avenue where we can share and grow together. Our mission is Equipping, Empowering, Engaging Men ... Join us!

REGISTER HERE
Host: Arnold Howard
Location: Zoom meeting
Day: Thursdays
Time: 7:30-8:30 pm

“Man Stuff” small groups will help you grow in faith, build camaraderie with like-minded men and find significance. Join us Saturday mornings for a great time of encouragement and support. We need to stay ‘connected’ with other men and be able to have an avenue where we can share and grow together. Our mission is Equipping, Empowering, Engaging Men ... Join us!

REGISTER HERE
Host: David Stott
Location: Zoom meeting
Day: Saturdays
Time: 8-9 am

“Man Stuff” small groups will help you grow in faith, build camaraderie with like-minded men and find significance. Join us Saturday mornings for a great time of encouragement and support. We need to stay ‘connected’ with other men and be able to have an avenue where we can share and grow together. Our mission is Equipping, Empowering, Engaging Men ... Join us!

REGISTER HERE
Host: Norman Thompson
Location: Encounter Church Dream Team Room
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 6 pm-7:30 pm

Many today preach a gospel that makes converts, but not disciples. This is the result of “non-discipleship gospels,” which exclude the necessity to follow JESUS from their message. The Discipleship Gospel challenges the church today with a fresh reading of Jesus’ gospel—one that we must learn to preach again.

The gospel you preach determines the disciples you make. Hope you'll join us for this fabulous journey!

REGISTER HERE

MEN & WOMEN GROUPS

Hosts: Ps. Alan & Ann Pimlott
Location: Encounter Classroom
Day: Thursday, September 7 (once-a-month)
Time: 6-7:30pm

If you're a 50+ youngster, we invite you to join us September 7^th for a great time together. There will always be plenty of food (bring a casserole if you’d like), fun and fellowship. We meet once-a-month where guest speakers, door prizes and a time of singing together await you. Invite friends and bring them along ... they’ll thank you for sure! We are family and can't wait to have you join us!

REGISTER HERE
Hosts: Ps. Blake & Cris Melancon
Location: Various Restaurants in EBR, Livingston & Ascension area
Day: Thursdays (Bi-weekly)
Time: 6-8 pm

Join us for good food, good fellowship and faith-focused discussions. We’ll meet at different restaurants bi-weekly around our area to enjoy a nice meal with good friends. Then we’ll dive a little deeper into Sunday’s message for morsels of wisdom and life applications. This is a great way to expand your palate, explore our area, and increase your circle of friends.

REGISTER HERE
Host: Cathy Clifford
Location: Clifford Home & Zoom
Day: Mondays
Time: 6:30-8 pm

Are you weary from your challenges, wounded by your battles, or worried your world is spinning out of control? Have the struggles pilfered the zeal out of your life? If so, the Book of Esther brings welcome news that God has not forgotten you! You don’t need to become undone by tough times. You can become unleashed by our triumphant God! You, friend, were made for such a time as this! Don’t miss it!

REGISTER HERE
Hosts: Freedom Team
Location: Encounter Classroom
Day: Sundays
Time: 8:45-9:45 am
Cost: $10 workbook

Freedom provides the path for a successful journey. No matter where you are in your faith journey, this course will challenge you to take a step toward truth — about God, faith, and yourself. It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Paul wrote that in Galatians 5:1 and Jesus Himself said that He came to the earth so that we may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). Just imagine that: Life abundant. Not barely surviving, but truly living. It means days filled with hope, joy and purpose. This is the life God always intended for you to have.

Your pursuit of Freedom begins today!

REGISTER HERE
Hosts: Ray & Nina Goodrich
Location: Encounter Church Dream Team Room
Day: Sundays from 9/3/2023 - 12/3/2023
Time: 12-2 pm

Griefshare is a Bible based program established for people grieving the death of a loved one. It points one to God’s Word and healing for times of grief. Our GriefShare group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way. GriefShare is for everyone who is grieving the death of a loved one—whether you’ve experienced the loss of a spouse, parent, child (infant, young child, teen, adult, unborn), friend, sibling, coworker, or other relative. Each week we’ll view a 30-minute video on a grief-related topic, featuring valuable insights from counselors, pastors, and others who’ve lost a loved one. Then our group will discuss the video and how it applies to your lives. You’ll also receive a book with helpful tips and exercises for personal support throughout the week.

REGISTER HERE
Hosts: Arnold & Dee Howard
Location: Encounter Classroom
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 10:30am-12 pm

What are Parables? Jesus had the wisdom to simplify the profound spiritual truths He needed to share with us in the form of parables (relatable stories) that are easy to understand. They are usually a tale about a simple, common subject which illustrates a valuable moral lesson. Journey with us as we identify parables that relate to our everyday walk with God.

REGISTER HERE
Hosts: Ps. Philip & Kelly Pimlott
Location: Livingston
Day: Tuesdays (Bi-weekly)
Time: 6-8 pm

Whether a pro or a novice at Pickleball, you are welcome! Ps. Philip & Kelly are hosting this their home and have 2 courts set up and all the equipment. It's so easy and so MUCH FUN! It’s a great way to get your exercise in, both physically and spiritually. We will end each night with a devotional and prayer. Even if you think you don’t have what it takes, you may surprise yourself. It’s more about the fellowship than playing pickleball…but it can get competitive at times! Come and get involved!

REGISTER HERE
Hosts: Billy & Tara Mercer
Location: Encounter Church Cafe
Day: Sundays
Time: 12-2 pm

Join us each Sunday as we fellowship over lunch to discuss how we think God wants to use Sunday's messages in our lives and the life of our awesome church. Aong with this discussion, we're adding the new "2.0 Version" to include new creative visions for church events.

This will be an exciting time as we encourage, create, support, pray and enjoy time together ... Join us!

REGISTER HERE

prayer

Host: Sherry Hale
Location: Encounter Church & Zoom
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 6:30-7:30 pm

Join with us each week for an hour of power as we take time out from our busy lives to pray. This will be in-person and through Zoom.
It’s a great opportunity to quiet your life and to hear from God. Each week we will have a short devotion on Prayer to help encourage you in your Prayer Life.

When we pray, GREAT THINGS WILL HAPPEN!

REGISTER HERE

RECOVERY

Host: Laura Simon & ER Team
Location: Encounter Church
Day: Fridays
Time: 6:30-8 pm

Join us Friday nights for the support and encouragement needed to see lives healed and restored. No matter what you are struggling with, we believe all are set free at the Cross where God’s heart can heal yours. Life altering decisions can be made, hearts changed, and lives transformed through the love of Christ. We are not a ‘program’, we promote a relationship with Jesus.

“Create in me a clean heart O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me.” - Psalm 51:10

Doors open at 6 pm, groups after service!

ER ...Where freedom is one heartbeat away!

REGISTER HERE

WOMEN

Host: Nancy Byrd
Location: Encounter Classroom
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 11 am-12:30 pm

Join us as we dig into our Bibles to study various characters in the Scriptures. Each week, one lady will share Bible facts about their favorite character. We are sure to have loads of fun and a few surprises as well! Mark your calendars, invite a few friends and join us for potluck, fun, fellowship, and study. Can’t wait to see you there!

REGISTER HERE
Host: Laura Simon
Location: Simon Home
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 6-7:30 pm

Girls with Swords is a women’s small group course based on the book written by Lisa Bevere. The attacks on your life, have much more to do with who you might be in the future, then who you have been in the past. A spiritual enemy is seeking to disarm women on every level. It's time women become the heroes God created them to be and stand—courageous, discerning, forgiving, and wise. It's time to take up your sword (God’s Word) and know how to use it. Join us on Tuesday evenings to “reforge your Sword.”

REGISTER HERE

SPECIAL EVENTS

Host: Joyce Talbert & eKids Team
Location: Encounter Church eKids Room
Day: Saturdays (beginning 9/2)
Time: 1-2 pm

Join our ekids team as we prepare for another incredible Christmas play! Last year was a big hit and we expect so much more this year as we present: The Wonderful Wisdom of God. The play is about forgiveness, faith, hope, and love!

There are many parts for people of all ages, boys, girls, men and women -- there's a spot for you! We will hand out parts and rehearse for the play premiering in December. Join us as we dive into the story of Christmas -- no acting experience is necessary.

REGISTER HERE
Host: Dee Howard & Growth Track Team
Location: Encounter Church Classroom
Day: Saturday, October 28
Time: 9 am - 2 pm

Growth Track Intensive allows you to take the entire 4-week course in one day. It's sometimes a challenge to attend Growth Track on 4 consecutive Sundays, so Intensive allows you to take the entire course in one day! If you’ve begun the course and have not been able to complete it, you only need to attend the session(s) missed.
Step One: Connecting (9:00-10:00 am)
Step Two: Relationships (10:15-11:15 am)
Step Three: Identifying your Design (11:30 am-12:30 pm)
Step Four: Joining the Team (12:45- 1:45 pm)
There will be a 15-minute break between classes and snacks will be provided. If you’d like to get it all completed in one day, Intensive is the easiest and fastest way to begin your next step of serving on a Dream Team!

REGISTER HERE

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Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

ECCLESIASTES 4:9