about the encounter school of ministry
Teaching, equipping and activating disciples to demonstrate the love of God in their spheres of influence.
founders & leaders
esm staff
our mission
satellite directors
primary instructors
online facilitators
founders & leaders
esm staff
instructors
our mission
satellite directors
online facilitators
mission statement
Drawing from the richness of our Catholic heritage, we seek to teach, equip, and activate disciples to demonstrate the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit in their spheres of influence.
Most people don’t experience supernatural moments in their everyday lives. There is a big disconnect between their own experiences and those in stories of scripture or the lives of saints. If deep down you know Jesus Christ did not die for a powerless church, then you may be looking for the more that is promised by God. The Encounter School of Ministry can radically renew your mind and transform your life.
fr. Mathias thelen
Co-founder & President
Father Mathias was ordained in 2010 and serves as pastor of St. Patrick Church in Brighton, MI. He holds bachelor degrees in both Philosophy and Catholic Studies. He served in several parishes for four years before joining the faculty of Sacred Heart Major Seminary as a spiritual director and assistant professor of theology. In 2016, Fr. Thelen earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum in Rome. Being passionate for preaching and teaching the Gospel, his ministry has not only been accompanied by incredible verified healings, but he has also garnered a reputation of leading people into the loving arms of the Father. Father Mathias was selected as a Eucharistic Preacher for the National Eucharistic Revival and a speaker for the National Eucharistic Congress. He is the author of the book, Biblical Foundations for the Role of Healing in Evangelization (Wipf and Stock, 2017) and has appeared in documentaries Fearless (2017) and Revive (2020).
patrick reis
Co-founder & Executive Director
Patrick Reis is the co-founder and Executive Director of Encounter Ministries. He is the author of the best-selling book Supernatural Saints: A School of Ministry from the Saints. Patrick ministers and speaks at conferences internationally and was featured in the groundbreaking Fearless (2017) and Revive (2020) documentaries.
dr. mary healy
Theological Curriculum Advisor
Dr. Mary Healy is professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and a bestselling author and international speaker. She is a general editor of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture and author of two of its volumes, The Gospel of Mark and Hebrews. Her other books include The Spiritual Gifts Handbook and Healing. Dr. Healy serves the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian unity as a member of the Pentecostal-Catholic International Dialogue. She is one of the first three women ever to serve on the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and is a consultor to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Rachel Grech
Director of Operations & Instructor
Class of 2020
Jacob Wenzel
Director of the Online Campus & Member of Encounter Worship
Class of 2021
Jay Jong
Director of Worship
Class of 2020
Kevin Tabone
Director of Administration
Class of 2028
Meagan Kline
Director of Satellite Campuses
Class of 2023
Maxime Meyer
Director of Foreign Technical Operations
Class of 2022
Cindy Anderson
Associate Director of Administration
Jordan Kelly
Associate Director of the Online Campus
Class of 2022
Noelle O’Kane
Assistant to the Director of Operations
Class of 2028
Paulina Milano
Administrative Assistant
Class of 2026
Karla Cebreros
ESMO Year 1 Overseer
Class of 2023
Kathie Hammell
ESMO Year 2 Overseer
Class of 2022
Magalí Valetto Claps
Spanish Online Coordinator
Class of 2024
Julia Phoenix
French Online Coordinator
Class of 2024
Dr. Alexandra Michal
German Online Coordinator & Facilitator
Ricardo Barroso
Spanish Leadership Coordinator
Class of 2023
Xandi Wanker
Director of the Vienna Campus & German Leadership Coordinator
Class of 2025
instructors
Below are the Main Campus & Online Campus primary instructors.
Guest instructors may be included each year.
Satellite Campuses are instructed by their campus directors and local team members.
satellite directors
Directors also serve as primary instructors for their satellite campus.
online campus facilitators
Our facilitators leading the dynamic Zoom sessions for our Online Campus students.
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faq page
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