Gwen Evans is the Director of the Gainesville Campus of Encounter School of Ministry. A homeschooling mom turned empty nester, Gwen began praying for God to bring Encounter to Gainesville back in 2017 when she and her family moved to Florida from Virginia. After stepping away from serving in youth ministry in 2020, she began seeking God’s purposes and felt a tug to investigate Encounter’s School of Ministry Program. By the end of her first quarter of study, she discovered that the Mercedarian Sisters at UF and Fr. David Ruchinski were praying and discerning the launching of an Encounter Campus in Gainesville!! The rest, as they say, is history…. She is passionate about Encounter School of Ministry because it equips God’s people to live out their baptismal call to be authentic disciples of Jesus and make Him known. “I am more and more convinced that our inheritance in Christ is much greater than what we typically experience. The single most powerful thing that happens in Encounter is the renewal of the mind to the riches we have in Christ. The saints understood this!! This abundance is for regular people too. God has raised up Encounter School of Ministry to bring His people alive in Him so that they can give convincing evidence that Jesus is Lord because they walk like He walked.”

Fr. David Ruchinski is the Chaplain for ESM Campus in Gainesville. Fr. David entered the major seminary of the North American College in Rome and was awarded his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Augustine on 23 June 2007 by Bishop Victor Galeone at the Cathedral Basilica. Since 2011 he has served as Pastor and Director of St. Augustine’s Parish and Catholic Student Center in Gainesville, Florida. His guidance and support have been essential to the establishing of ESM Gainesville Campus. “I’m excited to see the evangelizing power that God wants to release on the campus of the University of Florida and from there to the whole state.” Fun fact: When Fr. David is not nurturing souls, you can probably find him in his garden.

Jessica is a fourth-year college student studying Pipe Organ and English at the University of Florida with a passion for Catholic LGBT ministry and campus ministry. She loves how Encounter uses Scripture to reveal the truth of Christ’s power to work miracles through us. Fun fact: Flower crowns are a part of Jessica’s everyday apparel.

Najwa is a happily retired nurse from the University of Florida / Shands conglomerate. With Encounter School of Ministry, she is excited to grow in her discipleship to help lead others to experience the love God has for them, not only in her parish, but throughout Gainesville, Florida and all over the US.. A fun fact about Najwa is that, as a child, she locked herself in the airplane bathroom and could not get out.

Alex is an actor and a caretaker, doing his best to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord. Alex is passionate about ministry, and influencing people with the truth. His profound personal conversion has led him to reach people for Jesus in the most unlikely situations. He is excited to be part of bringing the power of God to His people and seeing lost sheep come alive in faith. Fun fact: He enjoys fermenting things.

Gwen Evans is the Director of the Gainesville Campus of Encounter School of Ministry. A homeschooling mom turned empty nester, Gwen began praying for God to bring Encounter to Gainesville back in 2017 when she and her family moved to Florida from Virginia. After stepping away from serving in youth ministry in 2020, she began seeking God’s purposes and felt a tug to investigate Encounter’s School of Ministry Program. By the end of her first quarter of study, she discovered that the Mercedarian Sisters at UF and Fr. David Ruchinski were praying and discerning the launching of an Encounter Campus in Gainesville!! The rest, as they say, is history…. She is passionate about Encounter School of Ministry because it equips God’s people to live out their baptismal call to be authentic disciples of Jesus and make Him known. “I am more and more convinced that our inheritance in Christ is much greater than what we typically experience. The single most powerful thing that happens in Encounter is the renewal of the mind to the riches we have in Christ. The saints understood this!! This abundance is for regular people too. God has raised up Encounter School of Ministry to bring His people alive in Him so that they can give convincing evidence that Jesus is Lord because they walk like He walked.”

Christ is a homesteader, a scientist, and a mom of three who has a passion for helping others experience the love of God. She is excited about taking back territory for the Kingdom and claiming Gainesville for Christ by teaching, equipping, and activating others in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Fun Fact: Chris raises sheep, so the Good Shepherd parables especially resonate with her!