encounter ministries - catholic

What encounter ministries - catholic does

Encounter Ministries Catholic is a private, non-profit Catholic charismatic renewal ministry founded in 2016 by Fr. Mathias Thelen and Patrick Reis and headquartered in Brighton, Michigan. The organization trains, equips, and activates lay Catholics, clergy, and religious to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit, operating under formal episcopal approval in every diocese where it maintains a presence and subject to theological review by faithful Catholic theologians. Its mission is framed around bridging the traditional–charismatic divide within Catholicism, and it explicitly draws on Sacred Scripture, Catholic Church teaching, and the witness of the early Church Fathers.

The core product is the Encounter School of Ministry, a multi-year formation program with a main campus in Michigan and satellite campuses globally, covering identity, healing, prophecy, divine intimacy, and inner healing. Around the school, the ministry has assembled a modular ecosystem of paid products: the Annual Encounter Conference in Michigan (drawing thousands in-person and online), Regional Conferences hosted by invitation across the US and internationally, 2-day Weekend Schools (School of Healing, School of Identity, School of Prophetic Ministry, School of Divine Intimacy), Transformation Nights, Healing Services, Summer Intensive, and Encounter Worship music. Distribution leverages free lead-generation assets — the Fearless (2017) and Revive (2020) documentaries, the Demonstrating God video series, and free Inner Healing sessions — to convert audiences into Partner Membership subscribers at $10+/month or paid event attendees. Sub-brands include Encounter School of Ministry, Encounter Worship, Inner Healing & Freedom, and Encounter Missions.

The revenue model is a hybrid of recurring Partner Membership subscriptions, event registration fees (100–250 participants per weekend school, thousands at the annual conference), tax-deductible donations through the 'Expand the Kingdom Campaign,' and merchandise sales including books authored by the founders. Distribution occurs through partnering Catholic parishes, dioceses, and apostolates that provide venues, meals, and local promotion — a host-funded model that inverts the typical event cost structure. The ministry claims reach across 40+ countries, no disclosed headcount, no parent company, no institutional funding, and no AI or software platform; its primary 'technology' is its reviewed curriculum and its bishop-approved, parish-embedded distribution network.

Name

encounter ministries - catholic

Legal name

Encounter Ministries

Website

https://encounterministries.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Encounter Ministries Catholic is a private non-profit founded in 2016 that trains and equips lay Catholics, clergy, and religious through the Encounter School of Ministry, conferences, and media, operating under formal episcopal approval across 40+ countries from its Brighton, Michigan headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catholic Charismatic Ministry and Spiritual Formation

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH)

Keywords

• Catholic charismatic ministry
• Religious formation programs
• Spiritual healing services
• Catholic renewal conferences
• Faith-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Partner Membership: Monthly subscription membership at $10+ per month providing exclusive content from events, conferences, and school. Partners receive access to premium media, Transformation Nights, worship sessions, and conference audio/video content.
2. Event Registration Fees: Registration fees for Weekend Schools (School of Healing, School of Prophetic Ministry, School of Identity) and conference attendance. Pricing varies by region, with attendance ranging from 100-250 participants per event.
3. Donations: Donations supporting the mission and the 'Expand the Kingdom Campaign' for funding ministry operations, events, and global expansion.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise through checkoutstores.com including books authored by founders (Biblical Foundations for the Role of Healing in Evangelization, Supernatural Saints, The Lost Keys of St. Peter).
5. Free Content/Lead Generation: Free documentaries (Fearless, Revive), Demonstrating God video series, and free inner healing sessions serve as lead generation for paid partner membership and event registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Encounter Ministries Catholic trains and equips Catholics through the Encounter School of Ministry (a multi-year formation program), flagship Annual and Regional Conferences, intensive 2-day Weekend Schools (Healing, Identity, Prophetic Ministry, Divine Intimacy), Transformation Nights, Healing Services, Inner Healing & Freedom sessions, Encounter Worship music, and documentary media. The ministry also operates a $10/month Partner membership program that delivers exclusive event content and supports its global mission across 40+ countries.

Product overview

Encounter Ministries Catholic is a Catholic charismatic renewal ministry offering a comprehensive ecosystem of spiritual formation and event products. The core offering is the Encounter School of Ministry, a structured program providing curriculum on identity, healing, prophecy, and ministry activation. This is complemented by flagship events including the Annual Encounter Conference (drawing thousands to Michigan) and Regional Conferences worldwide. Weekend schools (School of Healing, School of Identity, School of Prophetic Ministry) provide intensive 2-day training modules. Additional products include Transformation Nights, Healing Services, Inner Healing & Freedom sessions, and Encounter Worship music. The ministry distributes documentary content (Fearless, Revive) and a video series (Demonstrating God) through its media platform. A Partner/Membership program provides exclusive content access to supporters. The products work together to fulfill the ministry's mission of unleashing the transforming power of the Holy Spirit through teaching, equipping, and activating disciples.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Encounter School of Ministry: A comprehensive school of ministry providing formation in Catholic charismatic spirituality, healing, prophecy, and identity in Christ.
• Encounter Worship
• Inner Healing & Freedom
• School of Healing
• School of Identity
• School of Prophetic Ministry
• School of Divine Intimacy
• Transformation Nights

Products and services

• Encounter School of Ministry A multi-year Catholic charismatic formation program with main and satellite campuses that trains and equips disciples to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit; curriculum covers identity, healing, prophecy, divine intimacy, and inner healing.
• Annual Encounter Conference Flagship annual conference held near headquarters in Brighton, Michigan, drawing thousands of families, clergy, religious, apostolates, and students for worship, teaching, healing services, and ministry impartation; available in-person and online.
• Regional Conferences Annual conferences hosted globally at locations including Los Angeles, NYC, Kansas City, Dallas, Boise, and Vienna, by invitation from partnering ministries, bishops, students, or satellite campus leaders.
• School of Identity A 2-day weekend school helping participants grow in their identity as sons and daughters of God, focusing on renewal of mind, intimacy with the Father, and living the supernatural life.
• School of Prophetic Ministry A 2-day weekend program providing foundations for hearing God's voice more clearly through training and activation of the prophetic gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• School of Healing A 2-day weekend school teaching, activating, and deploying Catholics to participate in the healing ministry of Jesus, including sessions on Baptism of the Holy Spirit, theology of healing, and prayer models.
• Summer Intensive An intensive summer formation program offered through the Encounter School of Ministry, covering Encounter School curriculum in a concentrated format.
• Transformation Nights Evening events featuring teaching, worship, and opportunities for spiritual encounter, renewal, and transformation.
• Healing Services Livestreamed and in-person healing services where trained ministry teams pray for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
• Inner Healing & Freedom Sessions Free online sessions providing inner healing prayer and freedom ministry for participants seeking emotional and spiritual freedom.
• Partner Membership Program Monthly subscription membership at $10 or more per month offering exclusive content from events, conferences, school materials, Transformation Nights, worship sessions, and conference recordings for supporters of the mission.
• Fearless Documentary Documentary featuring stories of healing and miraculous experiences, available to watch free via newsletter signup as lead-generation content for the ministry.
• Revive Documentary Documentary exploring the work of the Holy Spirit in Catholic evangelization, available to watch free as lead-generation content for the ministry.
• Demonstrating God Video Series Free video series available through newsletter signup exploring demonstrations of God's power through Catholic charismatic teaching.
• Missions International mission opportunities and outreach programs extending Encounter Ministries' Catholic charismatic formation and evangelization globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 countries reached through School of Ministry and events
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Dioceses and Bishops (Various)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEncounter Ministries receives formal approval to operate from Bishops in every diocese where they maintain a presence. This episcopal approval is a core requirement for their operations, ensuring theological orthodoxy and canonical compliance within the Catholic Church structure.
• Partnering Parishes and MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal parishes and Catholic ministries partner to host Weekend Schools, Regional Conferences, Healing Services, and Transformation Nights. These hosts provide venues, promote events, and facilitate local community engagement.
• Satellite Campus LeaderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent and alumni leaders who establish and manage satellite campuses for the Encounter School of Ministry in regions around the world, extending the ministry's global reach.
• Cardinal Timothy DolanmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardinal Timothy Dolan (Archdiocese of New York) has contributed to Encounter Ministries through speaking engagements at regional events, including audio presentations on 'The Role of the Holy Spirit in the New Evangelization' at the 2025 Regional Conference: NYC.
• Bishop Joseph EspaillatmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuxiliary Bishop of New York City has participated in Encounter Ministries events, speaking on renewal in the Church in the United States and conducting Baptism of the Holy Spirit sessions at the 2024 Encounter Conference in Toledo, OH.
• Bishop David O'ConnellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBishop David O'Connell participated in the 2021 Regional Conference in Pasadena, CA as a speaker, contributing to the Southern California Encounter Conference.
• Theological Review TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA team of faithful Catholic theologians provides ongoing theological review of Encounter Ministries programs to ensure freedom from moral and doctrinal error and alignment with Church teaching.
• Dr. Mary HealymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Catholic theologian and author who speaks at Encounter Conferences, contributing sessions on topics such as 'The Power of the Cross' at the 2024 Encounter Conference.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Renewal Ministries: Founded by Ralph Martin, Renewal Ministries is a Catholic charismatic evangelization and formation organization offering conferences, missionary training, and media — directly comparable to Encounter Ministries in mission, audience (Catholic laity and clergy), and delivery model.
• Ascension Press: Ascension Press produces Catholic Bible studies, sacramental prep, and formation curricula distributed through parishes — comparable to Encounter in delivering structured Catholic formation content via parish channels and serving the same laity-and-clergy audience.
• Catholic Answers: Catholic Answers is a Catholic apologetics and evangelization media organization producing content, courses, and events — comparable to Encounter Ministries in combining orthodox Catholic content production with audience-building for the broader Catholic public.
• Dynamic Catholic: Matthew Kelly's Dynamic Catholic offers Catholic formation programs, books, and parish-based events designed to transform Catholics' spiritual lives — directly comparable in mission (lay Catholic formation), delivery (parish partnerships, events), and audience.
• Word on Fire Catholic Ministries: Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire is a Catholic evangelization ministry producing multimedia content, formation programs, and events aimed at renewing the Church — comparable to Encounter in combining bishop-approved credibility with media-driven outreach to Catholic audiences.
• Cursillo Movement (National Catholic Offices): Cursillo is an established Catholic lay renewal movement offering weekend formation retreats and follow-up small groups within dioceses worldwide — directly comparable to Encounter's Weekend Schools in format and in targeting Catholic laity seeking structured spiritual formation experiences.

Broad incumbents

• Franciscan University of Steubenville: Franciscan University is a Catholic university with strong charismatic renewal culture offering conferences (e.g., SEEK Conference), online formation, and catechetical resources — comparable as a Catholic formation provider reaching large lay and student audiences, though anchored in a formal university structure.
• EWTN Global Catholic Network: EWTN is the largest Catholic media network globally, offering TV, radio, and digital content covering catechesis, spiritual formation, and Church teaching — a broader incumbent that overlaps with Encounter's media/formation offerings but operates at much greater scale across multiple content formats.

Regional players

• Catholic Christian Outreach (Canada): CCO is a Canadian Catholic missionary and formation movement training students and young adults for evangelization on university campuses — comparable to Encounter's Encounter Missions and School of Ministry in forming lay missionaries, though primarily North American/Canadian in focus.

Emerging players

• Theology of the Body Institute: The Theology of the Body Institute offers Catholic formation programs, online courses, and events on St. John Paul II's theology of the body — comparable to Encounter in offering structured Catholic formation with parish/event distribution, though narrower in topical focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EncounterMinistries
• Facebookfacebook.com/encounterministriescatholic
• Instagraminstagram.com/encounterministriescatholic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/encounter-ministries-catholic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about encounter ministries - catholic