Summer Intensive: Come and See!

What is all the excitement about? What is it that drew so many to Jesus and the Early Church? They encountered the love and power of God in an experiential way that transformed their thinking, increased their faith, healed their hearts, and empowered them to be light to the world around them through demonstrations of God’s love and power!

Those days are not over!

God has more in store for you! Priests, religious, and lay people alike are experiencing a greater awakening in their faith, a new joy and freedom, and a new sense of God at work in their hearts as well as through their words and actions.

What does God have in store for you?
Come and see!

Time is running out. The Summer Intensive starts in:

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EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!

Register by June 8th and use the coupon code 2025EARLY to get a 20% discount on a 4-day ticket!

Do you feel a stirring in your heart for more?

Time is running out!

Register now to ensure your spot at the 2025 Encounter Summer Intensive!

Download the flyer and bring a friend!

Speaker Highlights (speakers subject to change)

Fr. Boniface Hicks

Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB, is a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Director of Spiritual Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary. He has apeared on The Journey Home (EWTN). He is author or co-author of several books including: The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass: A Guide for Encountering Christ in the Liturgy, The Fruit of Her Womb: 33-Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary, Through the Heart of St. Joseph, Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love, and Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love.

Dan DeMatte

Dan DeMatte is the Executive Director of Missions and Advancement of Damascus Catholic Mission Campus, an organization with the largest youth camp in America. Last year, over 25,000 youth were taught the gospel message through his camps. Damascus offers camps, retreats and resources that help people encounter Jesus and live the adventure of the Catholic faith. Dan seeks to reclaim a lost generation for Jesus, and is leaving a lasting impact on those who attend the camps. He is also author of the book: Dream Bigger: A 21-Day Journey to Unlock God’s Dream for your Life.

Fr. Diogo Escudero, OFM Cap.

Fr. Diogo Escudero

Fr. Diogo Escudero was pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Miami School of Medicine before he became a Capuchin. He is a graduate and teacher at the Encounter School of Ministry, DC Campus and is currently teaching at the Doylestown, PA campus. He has experienced tremendous grace and blessing in the area of healing and will be leading the session on physical healing at this year’s Summer Intensive.

Fr. Jason Lewis, MIC

Fr. Jason Lewis, MIC is a member of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. He is the co-author of After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and for You. He has made numerous TV, video, and radio appearances, including EWTN’s 13-part series, The Cenacle of Divine Mercy II, and EWTN Live. He has lead various retreats and pilgrimages for priests, religious, and lay faithful. His heart-filled talks cover a wide range of Catholic topics, including specialties in the Message of The Divine Mercy, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and many issues facing the human person in the modern world.

Theresa Leyva

Theresa is one of our DC Campus teachers and the coordinator of our Year Two Program. She is also a retired music teacher who has been involved in music ministry and evangelism for many years. She loves watching our students grow in confidence in their identity as sons and daughters of God and step out into the world to proclaim the Gospel with love and power. Theresa is married to Andre, and together they have six grown children and eight grandchildren.

Dr. Andre Leyva

Dr. Fernando Andre Leyva is a retired psychologist with a PhD. in Developmental Psychology. He is currently completing an MA in Theology. Dr. Leyva is a cradle Catholic who experienced a life-changing encounter with Jesus at age 23. He loves the mission of Encounter and is devoted to bringing to life the teachings of the Church (Acts 2:42).

John Roeder

John is a teacher at the Encounter School of Ministry, DC Campus. He is also the General Manager for The Word Among Us and has been involved in ministry for thirty years, teaching marriage preparation, Life in the Spirit seminars, Alpha, and Catholic Bible studies. John is married to Betsy, and together they have raised five children.

Betsy Roeder

Betsy is a teacher for the Encounter School of Ministry, DC Campus and its Year 1 coordinator. She has been in ministry for 30 years, serving in marriage preparation, music ministry, Alpha leadership, Life in the Spirit seminars, and Bible studies. She has also been blessed to connect pastors and parishes to The Word Among Us in her role as parish liaison. Betsy is married to John, and together they have five children, including identical twins.

Watch a short clip from some of our past and current speakers. Just hover over the videos to show the arrows and click the arrows to scroll to the next speaker(s). Click the video itself to play it.

Testimonies

Does God want to be intimate with you? Yes! Does he want to work through you? Yes! Just listen to what some of our students have said about their experience. Don’t hesitate… plan your summer around this event and register now!

Here I was thinking “I’m so inadequate,” and He’s like, “it’s not about you, it’s about me in you.” That’s what the Intensive was about,… discovering the very truth of Christ in us, and uncovering that great, beautiful gem that is ever more beautiful. The layers just keep getting pulled back and back and back, and with each layer comes a new level of freedom.

I’ve been seeing the transformation in my own heart. Identity was very powerful… just resting in the truth that it’s not about what you do, but it’s about who you are in God’s eyes, in the Father’s eyes. For myself, I can think, “well I know that, I’ve gone through a lot of experiences of that,” but over the process of this first year and growing in the prophetic gifts, and then the healing gifts, and inner healing… the Lord is removing all those hidden layers of “it’s not about what you do Tyler, it’s about who you are… I love you right now, I love you so much.”

This whole ministry has helped me develop a more personal relationship with the Father, and connecting with Jesus’ heart. So, I see myself and my identity in a new way and have learned a lot about the word joy and also confidence and stepping out in faith. If it wasn’t for Encounter, I don’t think I would have the courage to answer the call to go to Africa and get involved with jail ministry. Every time I come through these doors, there just this peace… there’s always something that changes in my heart and I’m always better off than when I came in.

“I never thought of myself as God’s instrument for healing… we had the opportunity to learn a prayer model and to pray for sick members of the group. There was a particular lady who had pains in her hips and in her foot… by the time we were done praying for her, her pain had significantly lessened and she was able to jump up and down!“

“… and I just experienced the unfathomable mercy and love of God… and that is what Encounter is empowering us to share with the world. My faith used to be silent. I thought God was someone we prayed to and he listened to us but it was very still. Encounter taught me that that is not true, that God is active, and he wants to heal people right here and right now. I’ve prayed with people for inner healing and physical healing and I’ve seen it happen right before me. A gentleman we prayed with, his knees were healed… my knees have been healed from an injury… it has just changed my entire life!

I did come [to the Summer Intensive], I brought some Capuchin brothers and a priest friend of mine. For all of us, and particularly for myself, it was a very powerful experience. It was an experience of affirmation and confirmation of what the Lord is doing in my life. I quickly saw that what Encounter had to offer, God had put in my heart. I wanted to grow more in my identity as a son to the Father, in the Lord Jesus, by the action, by the working by the power of the Holy Spirit.

While I have been greatly blessed by all the teachings, the session on identity and authority were transformational. I have always sought out whatever is “true” and “authentic.” Now I could embrace the truth of who I am as daughter of the Most High and respond to the Word of God to evangelize.

The Encounter School of Ministry challenged me to grow in faith; especially in using the spiritual gifts of prophesy and praying for physical and emotional healing. I have been a Christian for 40+ years and this is the first time I learned how to pray with someone with expectant faith for healing.

This has been a time of formation and refreshment, and anchor and safe harbor to pray and learn. I grew in knowledge and understanding, much I have been able to incorporate in my personal ministry and marriage. This blew new breath and life into my ministry service in CFC.

I have changed! I now offer to pray with people right away and with greater expectation that the Lord will act. I listen more for the Holy Spirit and try to obey or communicate what I hear. I have really enjoyed coming to know the people! Still need to grow in confidence that the Lord can use me for miracles/healing/etc. and grow in confidence that I hear the Lord clearly.

I was able to grow in my relationship with God. I now am clear on my identity in Christ and the knowledge of the great power of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord has used Encounter School, both the teachings and the people of deep faith in this “community” to transform my life over these past two years. I have been able to experience the Lord healing me physically, emotionally and spiritually through praying with others, using the Encounter prayer models and have been able to grow in using the spiritual gifts. The leaders have been a great blessing, with their example and witness of their faith and humility, and also by the sacrifices of their time and prayers for all of us.

The door was opened to learn more about what the Holy Spirit wants to do through us. He wants to partner with us to uncover lies of the evil one and help people realize their true identity as beloved children of our All-Powerful God who wants to restore truths, set captives free, and heal a hurting world. It was important to me that the teachings were scripturally-based and true to the Magisterium.

The teachings have been very informative. The notes on how to pray for people and those that need Inner Healing were very good. I loved the talk on Angels and having a spirit of Joy. We can hear from God and tell others where to find Life.

I’m learning to take risk, to avoid performance mentality, the power of prophecy, and that being human and making mistakes is OK. I learned that even if people don’t get healed we should make sure they receive the love of Jesus.

The whole experience was tremendous. Excellent teachers and teaching. Personally, I received a huge inner healing that keeps unfolding. I have also found the Inner Healing tool tremendously helpful when praying with others.

I loved the opportunity to practice skills, encouragement from others, being challenged to get out of my comfort zone, and the praise and worship.

I loved the activations, especially serving as prayer teams at Encounter. It helped me take a leap of faith and see how God was blessing others through me.