How it all started...
Jeff and Sheila Brawley wed in 1986. Within 15 years they had three children, a welding business and were plugged in and serving at the same church Jeff grew up attending. Jeff and Sheila always knew God had something more in store for them. The tragedy of 9/11 was the catalyst for Jeff and Sheila to eagerly seek the Lord in the race they were called to run for the good of the Kingdom.
God gave Jeff a dream. He saw a large white tent in a field where men would be drawn to God. He took this vision to his pastor and in 2005, Men's Awakening was born. Men's Awakening was held as a multi-day event once a year for the next four years. While men came and had a life-changing experience, that lack of continual discipleship was evident.
God gave Jeff a dream. He saw a large white tent in a field where men would be drawn to God. He took this vision to his pastor and in 2005, Men's Awakening was born. Men's Awakening was held as a multi-day event once a year for the next four years. While men came and had a life-changing experience, that lack of continual discipleship was evident.
The Road To Encounter Minstry
In 2009, a man walked into Jeff's welding shop for a part and invited Jeff to a weekend men's event. He attended the event in August 2009 and knew immediately that this was the plan God had for his life. Jeff led the first Men's Encounter in June 2010 with 97 men in attendance. Launched the following week, Post Encounter is the follow-up weekly discipleship gathering designed to keep men plugged in and growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
Men's lives were being changed at a rapid pace and the need for a women's ministry became evident. A year and a half after the first Men's Encounter, Ashes to Beauty held their first weekend with 100 women attending. With the formation of Ashes to Beauty and the existing Men's Encounter, Encounter Ministry (EM) was formed with the goal of full transformations reaching into families, circles of influence and ultimately, generations.
Men's lives were being changed at a rapid pace and the need for a women's ministry became evident. A year and a half after the first Men's Encounter, Ashes to Beauty held their first weekend with 100 women attending. With the formation of Ashes to Beauty and the existing Men's Encounter, Encounter Ministry (EM) was formed with the goal of full transformations reaching into families, circles of influence and ultimately, generations.
Expanding the vision...
While Encounter Ministry has never been or will ever be about the "numbers" in order to boast, we are about the "one" who needs to encounter JESUS and always push to take every one possible. Throughout 2019, it became evident that we were bursting at the seams at the camp that had been home to EM weekend events for the past nine years.
God opened the door for a move to a new campground which allowed us to take more of the "ones" who needed to encounter JESUS. We made the decision to leave the previous camp the following year and make our new home at a camp on Lake Ozark, in Roach, Missouri. Our first Encounter at this camp has held in June of 2020 and the word we all felt was HOME. While we were at the camp that was brand new to us we felt though we had never been anywhere else.
GOD is so GOOD!
God opened the door for a move to a new campground which allowed us to take more of the "ones" who needed to encounter JESUS. We made the decision to leave the previous camp the following year and make our new home at a camp on Lake Ozark, in Roach, Missouri. Our first Encounter at this camp has held in June of 2020 and the word we all felt was HOME. While we were at the camp that was brand new to us we felt though we had never been anywhere else.
GOD is so GOOD!
Encounter Ministry Today...
Encounter Ministry holds 11 events a year; five Men's Encounters, four Ashes to Beauty weekends; two marriage events and Branson Encounter Celebration (BEC). In 2021, approximately 7000 men and women attended the nine weekend events. In November of 2021, nearly 900 couples attended I Still Do marriage weekend. BEC reaches approximately 1400 men, women and children at our yearly family Encounter event. Encounter Ministry has always had the vision to reach the entire family and in 2018 Encounter Kids was born. Encounter Kids is designed especially for kids and meets during the weekly adult Post Encounter.
By the end of 2021, approximately 25,000 first time men and women will have attended an EM weekend. From these men and women we have seen thousands of salvations, re-dedications, restored marriages, families reconnected, addictions abandoned, dope dealers turned to hope dealers and many who are walking according to their Designer's call and purpose. One post location has multiplied to 34 post locations, with the number continuing to grow. Post locations span across 8 states, with approximately 2000 men, women and children attending each week.
By the end of 2021, approximately 25,000 first time men and women will have attended an EM weekend. From these men and women we have seen thousands of salvations, re-dedications, restored marriages, families reconnected, addictions abandoned, dope dealers turned to hope dealers and many who are walking according to their Designer's call and purpose. One post location has multiplied to 34 post locations, with the number continuing to grow. Post locations span across 8 states, with approximately 2000 men, women and children attending each week.
Where we are headed...
EM is continually in prayer for revealing and anticipation of the plans God has designed for us. Over the past decade, God has set the vision and done exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ever have thought, asked or imagined. God has put a desire in EM to see the lost come to know Him, the saved walk in the freedom Christ died for, and to share the Good News...
