About Us | encounter-church.com

Encounter Church started out strong in its very first service on November 7, 2004, with a near capacity crowd. Senior Leaders and founders Pastor Joey and Denise Turner immediately set in motion plans to offer two Sunday services, which began 2 months later.
In 2009, we moved into our current sanctuary, which seats over 800. In 2014, our Barbara Bigelow Life Center was dedicated, offering ample space for church-wide meals, activities and recreation. The Life Center is named after beloved Church secretary and mother of the house Barbara Bigelow, who went to be with the Lord on December 5, 2010. Until 2014, we were known as Restoration Church International, at which time Pastor Joey was in a season of fasting and the Lord spoke strongly to him about changing the name to Encounter Church.
Encounter Church is a multi-racial congregation that is “Encountering God, Empowering People, and Evangelizing the World”. Encounter is not only impacting Gaffney and the surrounding communities in North and South Carolina with the Gospel, but also many nations around the world.

Our Story

Our Beliefs

The Bible

We believe the Bible in its entirety to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and conduct. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy.

Psalm 19:7-11 Proverbs 30:5 2 Timothy 3:16

Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is God the Son. On earth, He was fully God and fully man. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His atoning death on the cross, and His bodily resurrection. He ascended to Heaven and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah 9:6 Luke 1:26-35 John 1:1-5, 14 Philippians 2:5-12 1 Timothy 2:5 1 Timothy 3:16

Human Beings

We believe in the creation, test, and fall of man as recorded in Genesis. In his natural state man is a sinner, lost, without hope, and unable to obtain righteousness.

Rom. 3:19-23; 5:12, 18; Eph. 2:1-3, 12

God

We believe in one God who is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He eternally exists in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:26 Matthew 3:16-17 Matthew 28:19

Holy Spirit

We believe the present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict people of sin, save and indwell the repentant believer, guide true believers in all truth and give spiritual gifts. We believe that the operation of spiritual gifts and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers as promised. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to build and sanctify the Church and confirm the power of the Gospel.
Matthew 3:11 Luke 11:13 John 7:37-39; 14:16-17; 16:7-14; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:38, 44-47; 19:1-6; Rm 1:11, 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31 and 14:1-40

Salvation

We believe salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it by faith. First there must be repentance from sin and then faith towards Jesus Christ. Righteousness results from our faith in the blood of Jesus that was shed for us and is totally separate from our works.

John 14:6; Acts 3:19; 4:12 Rom. 3:23; 5:1-21; 6:23; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph. 2:8-9

Divine Healing

We believe in divine healing through faith and that healing is included in the atonement. Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus and included in Jesus’ commission to His disciples.

Ps. 103:2-3; Is. 53:5; Matt. 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; 1 Cor. 12:9, 28; James 5:14-15; 1 Pet. 2:24

Ordinances

We believe in water baptism by immersion in name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- who is the Lord Jesus Christ. This was commanded by Jesus for all who believe in Him.
Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 19:5’ Rom 6:3-7; Col. 3:11-15

We believe in observing the Lord’s Supper as a memorial to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and second coming.
Luke 22:13-22; 1 Cor. 11:23-32

MARRIAGE

We believe in the sanctity of marriage which is between one man and one woman. That sex is prescribed only between a married couple (one male & one female) and any other sexual activity (such as fornication, adultery, homosexuality) is sin in the eyes of God.

Genesis 1:27, 2:23-24; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 6:9-20, Hebrews 13:4; Romans 1:18-32

Second Coming

We believe in the bodily return of Jesus to rapture His church, in the resurrection of the dead, the eternal life of the saved and the eternal punishment of Satan, his angels and the lost. Heaven is the eternal dwelling place of all believers. Hell is the place where all who reject Jesus will be eternally, consciously, tormented with the devil and the fallen angels.

Matt. 24:30-31; 25:41; John 5:24; 1 Cor. 15:42-44; 15:30-58; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Thes. 1:7-10; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:4-6, 11-15; 21:8

OUR VISION & PROCESS

"Encountering God, Empowering People, Evangelizing The World"

Encountering God

Attend Worship Service
Encounter the Life-Changing Presence of God
Experience Salvation, Deliverance and Healing

Empowering People

Involve yourself with one of our many Life Groups
Become involved in a Ministry area of Encounter Church

EVANGELIZING THE WORLD

Attend Pastors Luncheon and discover your personal profile.
Be Water Baptized and attend Life Coach ministry, if you are a new believer.