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WHO WE ARE
Helping Athens, UGA, Athens-Clarke and surrounding counties encounter God
OUR MISSION
Our mission is simple:
Helping People Encounter God.
We do this by reaching people, making disciples, multiplying leaders, planting churches, and pursuing revival.
OUR PASTORS
Pastors Caleb and Bri Ruthven have carried a heart to see people encounter God through the local church since before they were married. Both originally from New Mexico, In 2014 they moved to Kennesaw, Georgia, to help plant Encounter Church. For 12 years, they faithfully served the local community, built their family, and watched God cultivate in them a growing desire to one day plant a church of their own.
In 2026, they were sent from Kennesaw to Athens, believing God had highlighted the city to them as a place where He wanted to encounter His people. Along with their three children, they left Kennesaw with a deep love and compassion for the city of Athens and the surrounding communities, trusting God to use their lives to bring His presence. Encounter Athens shares a name with Encounter Church not because they are the same, but because the heartbeat of Pastor Caleb and Bri has never changed, to help people encounter God.
Encounter: Our heart is “helping people encounter God.” Everything we do as a church has the purpose of creating a point of connection/experience/encounter with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Cross: The focal point of our worship, preaching and ministry is the cross of Jesus: His love, His suffering, His sacrifice, His victory, His resurrection, and the awesome power of His blood. We believe that God wants to give every believer a life changing revelation of the cross.
The Holy Spirit: We intentionally purpose to make room for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit every time we come together. We believe His presence marks us and makes us different from the rest of the world. We have a passion to see people experience the Holy Spirit.
The Word: We are lovers of the Bible. We continuously read through the Bible together on a daily/yearly basis and strongly suggest you choose a whole Bible reading plan.
Multicultural and Multigenerational: We believe the Kingdom of God is made up of people of every race, color, culture, background, and of all ages. We love diversity and believe in the power of diversified unity.
Prayer: Prayer is a vital part of our culture and family life. It is the fuel for God’s work. It is one of the main ways we “make space for His presence.”
Compassion: We believe the church is called to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus as well as to show the world Jesus’ heart. Our heart is to show mercy and compassion to the broken and needy.
Missions: We believe God has called us locally and internationally to “reach, disciple, and revive.” We partner with other churches and missionaries around the world to spread and establish God’s kingdom. To learn more about the churches and missions we partner with, check out Encounter Global.
Tithing: We believe in the Biblical principle and power of the tithe. It is one of the main ways God has instructed us to worship Him and demonstrate our trust in Him. The practice of tithing opens the door to God’s financial blessing and protection upon our lives and is used in advancing the Kingdom and growing the church.
As a church, we worship and honor God by giving the tithe of our tithes. Encounter Athens only operates on 90% of our budget; we monthly give away 10% to other ministries and missionaries.
Discipleship: Jesus didn’t just call us to believe; He calls us to follow Him. We aim to teach and train people how to pattern their lives according to Jesus’ teachings. The goal of discipleship is to reproduce fully committed Jesus followers. We don’t aim to reproduce ourselves but to reproduce the presence and character of Jesus in people.