In late December 2021, several SBI students attended the Encounter Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This three-day event was organized by Encounter Ministries, a charismatic Catholic ministry. It featured praise and worship, Mass, speakers, breakout sessions, Eucharistic Adoration, a healing service, fellowship, and more. Afterward, two students agreed to share some of their reflections on their experience at Encounter.
Describe your overall experience at Encounter.
Student 1: I had an amazing experience! All the speakers did amazing and I loved how they each had their own message and subject. I thought the three days was a perfect amount of time and I loved every single part of this conference.
Student 2: I realized how personally Christ loves me.
What did you enjoy about the conference?
Student 1: I enjoyed the speakers, the different options for the breakout sessions, and the prayer groups that were on the side.
Student 2: I enjoyed how they touched so many different areas of the faith through the Mass, prayer, talks, etc.
Was there any speaker that was particularly helpful or enjoyable? What will you take away from their talk?
Student 1: I really enjoyed Fr. Boniface Hicks's talk on learning to be little. He was discussing how sometimes we as humans want to take the thorns out of our lives. Fr. Boniface reminded us that God's grace is sufficient for all of us and he wants to love us with our thorns. This talk reminded me that I am loved by God no matter what my condition is and it's okay to go to God when we are in pain.
What was it like to be prayed over at the conference?
Student 1: I loved being prayed over because sometimes I find myself praying for the same things over and over for myself, so to receive prayer from someone who is just led by the Holy Spirit and not biased was extremely fruitful.
Student 2: Peaceful and beautiful. I'm comfortable with being prayed over from experiences in my past and most recently at Hope in Ignis meetings, so it wasn't uncomfortable to me, but I know it can be if it's new to people.
How did God reach you during this conference?
Student 1: In the last healing session when the prayer groups were on the side, I decided to go up again for a third time. I wasn't really expecting anything to happen. When it was my turn to go up and be prayed over, the two people who were going to pray told me to "just receive what God is giving you and don't try to pray with us or over us." That statement really helped me because in the past, I would usually overthink the prayer that was being said over me and I never actually "received" what was being prayed. In those moments, I fully felt like God came to me through the Holy Spirit and I felt this amazing sense of joy and peace. It wasn't words that I heard but it was this tangible internal feeling that God was holding me, everything was okay, and nothing else mattered.
Student 2: He reminded me of his unique and personal love for me, and that I can count on that always.
What will stick with you or what will change in your life after attending Encounter?
Student 1: As mentioned above, I truly felt like I was touched/baptized by the Holy Spirit in the last ten minutes of this conference. I want to live my life for God and for his Church. In whatever I am being called to after college, I know that it will include Christ and his Church.
Student 2: I do not need to be afraid as a baptized daughter of God, and I should use the boldness I have been given.
Why should others think about attending Encounter?
Student 1: No matter where you are in life, whether you are very confident in your faith or if you are a little lost right now, Encounter can be a blessing to anyone. It may plant a seed in you that you are unaware of until down the road. I would recommend it even if you are questioning the conference.
Student 2: It's a chance to tap into the gifts given to them in Baptism and hear the truth of the faith.