WORSHIP WITH US
OUR TEAM
Jay Jong
Director of Worship
Bio
Jay is the Director of Worship for Encounter Ministries and the Encounter School of Ministry. Just as the Encounter School helps prepare people for supernatural ministry, Jay also believes in teaching, equipping, and activating those working in worship ministry. In addition to leading worship and playing various instruments with Encounter Worship, he also helps with the songwriting and production of Encounter’s original music.
Tara Philip
Bio
John Mira
Bio
John is a worship leader, song writer, and plays bass guitar in the Encounter Worship family. Through music, he has been profoundly blessed by opportunities to help lead people into the heart of worship and bring God’s love, mercy, and power all across Michigan. John loves participating in God’s vision for worship and his heart aches to see all God’s beloved encounter Him and pour out their love in praise. “The thought of you God stirs us so deeply that we cannot be content unless we praise you” – St. Augustine
Lauren Martin
Bio
Lauren is a worship leader, songwriter, and vocalist for Encounter Worship. She desires to see authentic encounters with Jesus through worship. She is passionate about creating an environment that allows others to experience the freedom and fullness of the kingdom.
Annie Reis
Bio
Annie is a vocalist for Encounter Worship and serves as the Associate Director of Media and Marketing for Encounter Ministries. Her heart burns to yield to the pure presence of God in her worship and her ministry, knowing that He is enough. Annie’s deepest desire is to cultivate atmospheres of pure worship through deep devotion and love.
Jacob Wenzel
Bio
Jacob is a worship leader and keys player from Lansing, MI. He plays for Encounter Worship and also helps lead worship in the Diocese of Lansing throughout Mid-Michigan, and internationally at different events and conferences. Jacob’s heart for worship was born from receiving freedom through worship, and now he wants to release that freedom in worship through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Julie Becka
Bio
“I’m just practicing for Heaven, where I’ll get to praise my love and King forever.”
Jay Jong
Bio
Jay is the Director of Worship for Encounter Ministries and the Encounter School of Ministry. Just as the Encounter School helps prepare people for supernatural ministry, Jay also believes in teaching, equipping, and activating those working in worship ministry. In addition to leading worship and playing various instruments with Encounter Worship, he also helps with the songwriting and production of Encounter’s original music.
Tara Philip
Bio
Hailing from Alton, IL (just outside of St Louis), Nick moved to Kansas City six years ago by way of Minnesota. Upon graduating college in 2010, Nick signed up for what he thought would be nine months of missionary service with NET Ministries. Those nine months turned into three years after which he joined religious life. He was officially “Brother Nick” for a grand total of six days and 13 hours before “discerning” he was not called to that way of life. He quickly hopped back into full time ministry and served with SPO (Saint Paul’s Outreach) at the University of St Thomas for three years.
In 2016 Nick moved down to Kansas City to help start a Young Adult Chapter with SPO, and he currently serves as the local Regional Mission Director. He lives in Overland Park with his lovely bride Theresa, and two girls Perpetua Joy (2) and Judith Esther (1).
John Mira
Bio
John is a worship leader, song writer, and plays bass guitar in the Encounter Worship family. Through music, he has been profoundly blessed by opportunities to help lead people into the heart of worship and bring God’s love, mercy, and power all across Michigan. John loves participating in God’s vision for worship and his heart aches to see all God’s beloved encounter Him and pour out their love in praise. “The thought of you God stirs us so deeply that we cannot be content unless we praise you” – St. Augustine
Lauren Martin
Bio
Lauren is a worship leader, songwriter, and vocalist for Encounter Worship. She desires to see authentic encounters with Jesus through worship. She is passionate about creating an environment that allows others to experience the freedom and fullness of the kingdom.
Annie Reis
Bio
Annie is a vocalist for Encounter Worship and serves as the Associate Director of Media and Marketing for Encounter Ministries. Her heart burns to yield to the pure presence of God in her worship and her ministry, knowing that He is enough. Annie’s deepest desire is to cultivate atmospheres of pure worship through deep devotion and love.
Jacob Wenzel
Bio
Jacob is a worship leader and keys player from Lansing, MI. He plays for Encounter Worship and also helps lead worship in the Diocese of Lansing throughout Mid-Michigan, and internationally at different events and conferences. Jacob’s heart for worship was born from receiving freedom through worship, and now he wants to release that freedom in worship through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Julie Becka
Bio
“I’m just practicing for Heaven, where I’ll get to praise my love and King forever.”
ABOUT US
Worship can be described as the valuing of God and the outward expression of loving Him above all things. Here at Encounter, one way we value and treasure God is by worshiping him in song and music – free of a performance mentality with a child-like joy.
As the Encounter School of Ministry equips us and helps us grow in the different giftings God has given us, our goal with Encounter Worship is to specifically help our Main Campus students and alumni operate more effectively in areas of worship and music.
PRESENCE-DRIVEN , PROPHETIC WORSHIP
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OPPORTUNITIES
PRESCHOOL WORSHIP
Our worship ministry is a direct extension of the school, so the core of our worship happens before class for preschool worship. This is a time to prepare ourselves to receive during class, with worship being lead by students and alumni as an opportunity for leaders to grow and develop their gifting in worship.
COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
Worship is more than just the music and performing on a stage, so in an effort to be filled and worship in freedom, we hold weekly gatherings of worship with short teachings in an atmosphere of open heaven to freely give and receive from the Lord. These gatherings should never be an obligation or performance, but a time to rest and recharge.
