Encounter

Joey and Denise Turner were married on Oct. 25, 1980 and have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. They started in Pastoral Ministry on April 19th. 1990 and are currently Sr. Pastors & Founders of Encounter Church formally Restoration Church International, a multi-racial congregation over 750 members in Gaffney, SC. They are also founders of Legacy Network where he Shepherds and provides spiritual covering to churches and ministries. They have strong evangelistic hearts with passion for winning souls and are speakers in various conferences locally and internationally. Joey and Denise’s fire and flow of the Spirit and word will refresh, challenge and bless you!

Larry and Cathy Lawrence, along with a great Team of volunteers, oversee the HUGS Ministry here at Encounter Church. They have been have been in full-time ministry for 33 years, and met in Fort Worth, TX, where they both graduated from Southwestern Baptist Seminary, and led Bible Clubs and activities for children. They live in Boiling Springs, SC and have two sons, Jordan and Christopher.

Mike Jones recently joined the Encounter Church leadership to serve as the Praise and Worship Director. WI. Mike Jones oversees all aspects involved in the music and sound production for all Encounter Church services.
Mike Jones was raised in a household of faith by my parents and embrace the opportunity to be a beacon for God’s message. He is a husband, father, son, brother, friend, coach, musician, and speaker, in love with God and life. With over 30+ years of experience, He has a deep-rooted history with music, singing, and performing.

Andy and Amy Painter are the Children’s Pastors here at Encounter Church ; they oversee all ministries and activities for our children from birth through sixth grade. They first started serving together ,as a team , in children’s ministry while engaged. They were married in May of 2009. They have three children of their own ,two of which are still in the household being homeschooled. Andy and Amy are both graduates of the International School of Ministry with an associates in Biblical Studies . They, along with an amazing team of volunteers strive not only to educate our children in biblical truths but to lead them into a devoted loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pastors Adrian and Michelle Ramirez met at Encounter Church in 2014, they got married in December 2015. They have two sons and a daughter. Riley, Zane, and Naomi. Adrian became the media director at Encounter Church in 2014 and still holds that position.

Together Adrian and Michelle became the youth Pastors at Encounter Church in early 2017. Pastor Adrian studied 4 years of Theology and Biblical Studies at the Southeastern Spanish Theological Institute of the Assemblies of God. He is also currently employed at Fairforest Middle School as an ESOL Support Instructor. Pastors Adrian and Michelle enjoy spending time together, with their sons, families and friends.

They feel honored to be able to work with our youth and be a part of helping them strengthen their relationship with God. By helping them discover their purpose that God has on their lives and by giving them the spiritual tools to grow in their church, community, school, and family.