Our beliefs shape our worship, guide our teaching, and fuel our mission. These core truths unite every Encounter Church campus and define our culture.

What Does Encounter.Church Believe?

Our Beliefs

  • We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and our final authority for faith, doctrine, and conduct. In all matters, we ultimately defer to the wisdom and instruction of Scripture.

    2 Timothy 3:16–17

  • We believe Jesus Christ is God. He has always been God and will always be God. He is the only way to the Father and the only source of salvation and eternal life.

    John 8:58; John 14:6

  • We believe Jesus lived a completely holy and sinless life. Because He was without sin, He became the perfect sacrifice for our sins, taking our place and reconciling us to God.

    1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21

  • We believe salvation is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our works. Good works do not produce salvation; they flow from a life that has been saved and transformed by God.

    Ephesians 2:8–9; John 1:12

  • We believe Jesus literally died and literally rose from the dead in bodily form on the third day. His resurrection is an actual historical event and essential to the Christian faith.

    1 Corinthians 15:12–19

  • We believe Jesus ascended bodily into Heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will return again.

    Acts 1:9–11; 1 Peter 3:22

  • We believe in a literal, eternal Heaven and a literal, eternal Hell. Eternal life is found in Christ alone, and every person will ultimately stand before God.

    Matthew 25:46

  • We believe God is holy and that He—not culture—is the standard of righteousness. What Scripture calls sin, we call sin. Yet the gospel offers cleansing, forgiveness, transformation, and new life to everyone who comes to Christ.

    1 Corinthians 6:9–11

  • We believe in one God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. These three are distinct, yet they are one God.

    Matthew 3:16–17

  • We believe the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit remain active today. We are unapologetically charismatic in both doctrine and ministry.

    We reject emotional hype and irreverence, but we equally reject any attempt to stifle the Holy Spirit because His work makes people uncomfortable. We welcome His presence, His power, His gifts, and His sovereign movement among His people.

    1 Corinthians 12:7; Acts 2:1–4

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Our Core Values

  • The life of the believer is one of victory. This doesn’t mean we won’t face hardship; it means that even in hardship, we are free indeed. At Encounter Church, we want to see God’s people live in freedom from fear, spiritual bondage, and legalism.

    "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, NIV)

    We don’t need to live in fear, because God loves us.

    "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18, KJV)

    We don’t need to live in bondage to sin or darkness, because the Holy Spirit empowers us.

    "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17, NLT)

    We also reject legalism—the belief that God’s acceptance is based on our performance.

    "And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." (Philippians 3:9, NIV)

    We serve and live holy lives as a joyful act of worship, not to earn what Christ has already secured. While we lay down our lives for Christ, we are not called to sacrifice for the sake of religious systems. True obedience is better than performance-based sacrifice.

    "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22, KJV)

  • We believe in believing big. Our faith is not in our ability, but in God’s ability.

    "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." (Ephesians 3:20, KJV)

    Faith is not denial of reality—it’s living with full confidence in what God can do. We expect miracles, believe for the impossible, and aim to think without limits.

  • Money is a test of the heart.

    "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, NIV)

    Our generosity should be extravagant, motivated by love for God, souls, and the gospel.

    "And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?" (Luke 16:11, NLT)

    We do not preach prosperity as a goal, but we do believe that generosity is biblical and powerful. God blesses the giver to advance His Kingdom.

  • We are not interested in shallow Christianity. We desire deep transformation through both the Word and the Spirit.

    "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly..." (Colossians 3:16, NIV)

    "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2:10, NIV)

    Spiritual depth means being changed in heart, mind, and action. We embrace both truth and power, Word and Spirit.

  • God is a creative God. We embrace change in method without compromising our message.

    "See, I am doing a new thing!..." (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

    While our doctrine remains fixed, we believe the Holy Spirit inspires innovation in structure, systems, and strategy. We are committed to excellence and Spirit-led creativity.

  • We all have flaws. That’s why Encounter Church embraces a culture of grace.

    "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, NIV)

    We don’t excuse unrepentant sin, but we do walk in patience, forgiveness, and love. We refuse to gossip or allow division.

    "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, KJV)

    Grace builds unity and helps us grow together as a family.

  • We don’t just huddle—we go and play the game. Evangelism is not an option; it’s a mandate.

    "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..." (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV)

    We release our members to be light in their everyday lives—at work, school, home, and in the world. Evangelism isn’t just a program; it’s a way of life.

  • We believe the Holy Spirit is active, personal, and present in the life of every believer. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit means living with awareness, humility, and obedience to His leading in every area of life. We do not want to be driven by routines, preferences, or pressure—we want to be led by the Spirit of God.

    "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…" (John 16:13, KJV)

    Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit requires discernment. Not every voice is God’s voice, which is why we remain anchored in Scripture. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Word of God. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit produces lives marked by holiness, boldness, and power—not emotionalism or chaos, but fruit and transformation.

    "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith…" (Galatians 5:22–23, KJV)

  • God never intended for us to live out our faith alone. Community is essential to spiritual growth, accountability, and perseverance. At Encounter Church, we believe life change happens best in the context of healthy, Christ-centered relationships.

    "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…" (Hebrews 10:24–25, KJV)

    Community is more than attendance—it is belonging. We are called to know one another, walk together through life’s seasons, and carry each other’s burdens.

    We don’t just attend church—we build family.

Each value shapes the culture of our church.

Every ECN campus expresses these values in ways that are unique to each city, but always in unity with the vision of David Hernandez Ministries.

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