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satellite campus

indianapolis campus

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father." - John 14:12

 

Full on-site satellite campus.

 

   

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overview

team

schedule

contact

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events

By your baptism, you have been called.

Designed and established from the heart of Encounter Ministries, this school draws from the richness of our Catholic heritage as 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. In conformity with the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church, we offer students a dynamic 2-year training program designed to take you to the next level in your ministry.

  • Long Term Discipleship: It is our mission to raise up disciples who are equipped to do "greater works," and it was the Lord's idea to use long-term discipleship for this training.
  • Authentically Catholic: We draw our teachings from scripture, tradition, official Church teaching, the lives of the early Church Fathers and the lives of the saints. Our curriculum has been reviewed by bishops and theologians.

 

location & schedule

Led by a locally trained Campus Director and instructors, this satellite campus is a fully on-site program following the same ESM Curriculum as other campuses.

Classes run mid-September through May.

Location: St. Elizabeth Seton Parish Social Hall, 10655 Haverstick Rd., Carmel, IN 46033
Class Times: Tuesdays, 6-9PM

Application Deadline: Oct. 1
Typical Class Night Schedule:  6:00   Praise & Worship, Testimonies |  6:45   Session 1  |  7:45   Break  |  8:00   Session 2  |  9:00   Dismissal

The single most dramatic area of growth I have experienced has been in hearing God. The instruction on the voice of God…opened me to receive in a way that I have not experienced before. God is present and wants to speak not just through me but to me.

– ESM Indianapolis Student

Encounter has reawakened my spiritual ears and eyes, and ignited my fire once again to stand on the Promises of His Word! Jesus had come to establish His Kingdom here on earth and His Power is here with us!!

– ESM Indianapolis Student

class sessions

WEEKLY / IN-PERSON

Each week, you will join your classmates on campus, where you will receive powerful training and practice opportunities. Your time at class will include praise and worship, prayer, Q&A, activations, and time with your small group.  Classes are led by the local campus director.

Activations

The gifts of the Spirit are part of our inheritance in Christ that, among other things, are meant to equip us for mission. Activations are powerful spiritual opportunities that help us experience the fullness of our identity and bring heaven to earth.  Each teaching session includes "activations," or time for "activating" and putting into practice what you have just learned. This may include a time of silent prayer, asking the Lord to reveal something to you, praying with your classmates, and more. Students can expect powerful personal transformation, breakthrough, and even miracles during this time.

praise

While we recognize, honor and encourage our students to attend Mass as the highest form of worship, our class time praise is focused on becoming aware of God's presence and positioning ourselves in a place of receptivity, surrender, and response to what He is doing. ESM values freedom and joy in our response to God’s goodness. We express this in our school culture through childlike worship. All classes  begin with an extended time of praise as we cultivate our awareness of God’s manifest presence and celebrate together His goodness.. Each satellite campus develops their own team and style of praise, following the same model and core values as all ESM campuses.

 

College Credit

maturing in faith

Partnership with Holy Apostles College & Seminary

Your ESM Graduation credits can earn you advanced standing in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at Holy Apostles, so you can complete your degree faster, save money, and start making a bigger impact! Holy Apostles College & Seminary offers an online and flexible approach that is designed for people in ministry who need options that fit their schedules and their calling.

Tom POnchack

Campus Director
Tom Ponchak is a passionate disciple of Jesus. He studied theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and Asbury Theological Seminary. After several years in Catholic ministry, Tom and his wife, Lisa, left the Catholic Church and joined the Association of Vineyard Churches, a non-denominational, evangelical faith community. He was the founding pastor of Matthew's House Vineyard Church in central Florida. A longing for the Eucharist led them back into full communion with the Catholic Church in 2007. Tom was part of the ESM Online Campus Class of 2022.

Lisa Ponchack

Co-Director
Lisa has been deeply captivated by God's love and his desire to make himself known to us in a deeply personal way. She lives to hear God speak and it has become her passion to help others hear and discern his voice. She is a graduate of Franciscan University and has been involved in ministry for over 25 years. Lisa and Tom have been married for 32 years and have six children, a son-in-law, and one grandchild. She is also a member of Encounter’s Inner Healing & Freedom ministry. Lisa was part of the ESM Online Campus Class of 2022.

Craig Novak

Worship Leader
Craig is a spirit-filled disciple who has a heart for leading others to encounter the Holy Spirit through praise and worship. He spent four years as a full-time campus missionary with The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), and an additional three years as a Director of Philanthropy with FOCUS. He has been married to his wife Maria for 14 years and is blessed with three children. Craig was part of the ESM Online Campus Class of 2022.

Fr. Sean Danda

Year 1 & 2 Instructor
Father Danda is a priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis who desires to help people experience the love of the heart of the Father. He was formed for the priesthood at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and the North American College in Rome, Italy. Ordained in 2009, he has served in various roles throughout the Archdiocese and is currently pastor of St. Malachy in Brownsburg.

Nathaniel Rea

Instructor
Nathanael Rea is the Director of Evangelization and Catechesis at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Brownsburg. He is passionate about helping people return to fullness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is a graduate of Hillsdale College, (BA) and the University of Dallas (ME). He and his wife, Geralyn, have been married fourteen years and are blessed with 5 children. Nathanael was part of the ESM Indianapolis Campus Class of 2023.

Karen Beck

Year 1 & 2 Instructor
Karen is a life-long, devout Catholic who is deeply in love with Jesus! She is a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish and serves on several ministry teams there. Karen is a Spanish teacher at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School where she also serves as an adult leader on student retreats and directs a student mission trip each summer to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She graduated from the Encounter School of Ministry in May 2023 and is on fire to lead others to the heart of Jesus through a renewal of mind by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Mary Jo Gremling

Instructor
Mary Jo celebrates her lifelong journey in the Catholic faith while also appreciating the gifts other Christians bring to the Body of Christ. She is a registered nurse, a grief recovery specialist, an author, a publisher, a retreat leader, and a graduate of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend’s Education for Ministry Program. A member of St. Pius X parish, Mary Jo is active in divorce support ministry. She is passionate about helping hurting people experience the healing love of the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Mary Jo was part of the ESM Indianapolis Campus Class of 2023.

Paige Krohn

Instructor
Paige encountered Christ deeply in college through bible studies with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). After graduating she felt called to spend 3 years as a FOCUS missionary. Upon moving to Indianapolis to begin working as a nurse, she heard about Encounter at a Theology on Tap. She knew the Lord had brought her the opportunity to go through the school. Encounter has given her a new boldness to take with her as a registered nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit at a local hospital and all areas of daily life. Paige was part of the ESM Indianapolis Campus Class of 2025.

Cheri Bush

Instructor
Cheri Bush works at the Archdiocese of Indianapolis as the Catholic Philanthropic Advisor for Catholic Charities. She has worked as a youth minister and social worker before directing two scholarship programs and mentoring hundreds of students at Ivy Tech. She has taught college courses in Human Services and Child Development and served as a parish catechist for children preparing for First Communion and Reconciliation. She also assists with Encounter’s Inner Healing and Freedom Ministry. Cheri was part of the ESM Indianapolis Campus Class of 2024.

Liz Gritt

Instructor
Liz moved is a member of St. Malachy parish in Brownsburg. She was led to become involved with Encounter after her husband passed away and she questioned what her vocation would be going forward in life. Liz has a background in counseling, working most of her professional life with teens. She also homeschooled her 3 children from preschool to college and has been a teacher in several capacities. Liz looks forward to being a part of the Indianapolis ESM team and is excited to share her enthusiasm for the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. Liz was part of the ESM Indianapolis Campus Class of 2025.

Vivian Tragresser

Instructor
Vivian and her husband, Mike, have three adult daughters who love the Lord and two toddler grandsons. She was first baptized in the Spirit in 1980 and has been a member of the People of Praise, a charismatic covenant community, since 1986. She and Mike are recently retired and are now “Fulltime for Christ!” Vivian has accepted an invitation to be a councilperson with Pentecost Today, USA (formerly the National Service Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal) and has been assigned to their team for Unity and Ecumenism. Mary Jo was part of the ESM Indianapolis Campus Class of 2025.

Michael Tragresser

Instructor
Mike has been involved in the Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church for over 50 years, since being baptized in the Spirit in 1975. He is a member of the People of Praise, an ecumenical covenant community. Mike and his wife Vivian retired from working in 2025 and are looking forward to working full-time building God’s kingdom from now until Jesus returns. Mike was part of the ESM Online Campus Class of 2025.

John Stewart

Instructor
John Stewart is a member of Our Lady of Grace in Noblesville where he serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) and volunteers with their youth ministry program. Professionally he travels extensively in sports and entertainment. John and his wife Suzanne host the “Marry Your Best Friend Podcast,” have three children, and over 50 animals. John was part of the ESM Indianapolis Campus Class of 2025.

Beth Snyder

Assist. Events Coordinator
Beth was born into a devoutly Catholic family. She has fallen in love with Jesus through the reading of His Word and through times of praise and worship! The Lord has taught her to more clearly hear His voice and to step out in faith to share a word of encouragement with others. Beth is a member of St. Alphonsus Liguori parish where she is involved with Bible Study and is a EMHC to the sick. After graduating from EMS, Beth organized monthly prayer ministry teams at her parish after Sunday Masses. Beth was part of the ESM Indianapolis Campus Class of 2025.

4-day summer intensive

July 27-30, 2026

Try it out! This annual event provides a survey of the content offered in the first four quarters of the Encounter School of Ministry. The summer intensive is perfect for anyone desiring to attend the Encounter School during the year but unable to do so because of distance or schedule. It is also ideal for those discerning their enrollment in the school of ministry but needing greater discernment.

The survey includes: Identity & Transformation • Hearing God’s Voice & the Prophetic Gifts of the Holy Spirit • Power & Healing • Inner Healing & Freedom

bishop-Approved

bishop Timothy L. Doherty • Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana

This campus has been reviewed and welcomed by the diocese. We are so grateful for the many bishops who offer their support and encouragement.

contact

ESM Indianapolis Campus
433 Sycamore St
Westfield, IN 46074

indianapolis@encounterschool.org

   

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