Encounter School of Ministry Core Values

1. Positioned in Love

We pursue the ministry of Jesus from a position of love for God and others; we desire to

minister the authentic good for others without any concern for self and personal ambition.

“And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Cor 13:2

2. Awareness of God’s Presence

Our goal is to cultivate a ‘presence-driven ministry’ born out of increased awareness of the

presence of God in our ministry.

“I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of GOD. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of centre of my soul as much as I can; and while I am so with Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable.”

- Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

3. Intimacy with God

We acknowledge that all ministry should flow from a place of intimacy with God; all

missionary efforts need to be rooted in personal holiness. We believe that the authentic

growth of our ministry comes from our growing intimacy with Him.

“If God should desire to raise us to the position of one who is an intimate and shares his secrets, we ought to accept this gladly.”

- St Teresa of Avila, Opusc. De Libro vitae

4. Risk-Taking

We encourage and celebrate students taking risks in their pursuit of greater obedience to

the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We seek to cultivate a lifestyle of fearless evangelization.

“To be ‘Spirit-filled evangelisers’ means to be evangelisers who are ‘fearlessly open to the working of the Holy Spirit’”

- Pope Francis, EG, §259

5. Patience in the Process

We are intentionally patient with ourselves and with others as we develop our ministry

gifts and acknowledge that because everyone is in a process of maturity that patience is

the necessary for growth. We are also committed to giving and receiving feedback to help

one another mature.

“Beware of becoming vexed or impatient at the faults of others; for it would be folly, when you see a man falling into a ditch, to throw yourself into another for no purpose.” –Saint Bonaventure

6. Perseverance for Breakthrough

We acknowledge that authentic growth comes through overcoming disappointment and

that only through a lifestyle of perseverance will we breakthrough into the greatness that

God has called for us in ministry.

“Perseverance is the most desirable gift we can hope for in this life. It is in our power to persevere. Of course, I do not mean that our perseverance takes its origin from our power. On the contrary, I know that it springs from God’s mercy, whose most precious gift it is.” –Saint Francis de Sales

7. Culture of Honor

We intentionally seek to cultivate a culture of honor where we choose to treat one another

with the highest regard because they bear the image of God and we celebrate his work in

one another’s lives. We acknowledge that we can only properly receive from the gifts of

others when we honor them.

“Love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.”

- Romans 12:10

8. Christian Unity

We carry the Lord’s heart for unity among all who believe (cf Jn 17:21), and work with the

Holy Spirit to build bridges with Christians of all denominations. On occasion, we will

welcome those Christian leaders from whom our leaders are in relationship with to present

to our students.

“Cooperation among all Christians vividly expresses that bond which already unites them, and it sets in clearer relief the features of Christ the Servant”

- Vatican Council II, Decree on Ecumenism, 4

This cooperation based on our common faith is not only filled with fraternal communion, but is a manifestation of Christ himself...Moreover, ecumenical cooperation is a true school of ecumenism, a dynamic road to unity. Unity of action leads to the full unity of faith: “Through such cooperation, all believers in Christ are able to learn easily how they can understand each other better and esteem each other more, and how the road to the unity of Christians may be made smooth.”

- Pope Saint John Paul II, On Commitment to Ecumenism (Ut Unum Sint), 12).