Pastors Brent & Terri Sparks
Pastors Brent and Terri Sparks have been married for more than 30 years, and have served together in ministry their entire married life. After serving as Worship Pastors for the first 21 years, God called them to plant and senior pastor Encounter Church in Groves, TX, where they have served since 2012 to the present. Encounter Church is a multi-campus church that is experiencing life change every single week. It has been the greatest joy of their ministry to lead and to disciple the congregation of Encounter Church. It is of utmost priority that they experience and “encounter” HIS presence. In addition to worship, Brent and Terri are passionate about teaching and equipping believers how to walk in victory every day, Kingdom Living. Both Brent and Terri enjoy the opportunity to travel and speak and share The Word, empowering others to live their best life. The Sparks have 2 married children, Katelynn and Garett Serban, and Kaleb and Emily Sparks, and one precious granddaughter, Eden James Serban. Brent and Terri reside in Port Neches, TX, and are thoroughly enjoying the grandparent season as “Boomer and YaYa”.
OUR LEADERS
Pastor Brent Sparks
After attending Southwestern Assemblies of God College, Waxahachie, TX, Brent made his way down to Houston, TX, where he helped pioneer a new church plant, serving in whatever ministry position he was needed. It wasn’t long until Brent joined the southern gospel singing group, “The Sound”, traveling and ministering all across the United States. After years of solo ministry, he and Terri began their ministry together as worship pastors, which they loved. In 2012, Brent stepped into a lead pastor role, at a church plant in Groves, TX, beginning the church with one family. The first service attendance of 79 people was the least amount of people ever at Encounter Church. The church took off and Brent’s ministry did the same, as Brent was pastor and worship leader all at the same time. Brent is passionate about teaching on the authority of the believer, who you are in Christ, and living in the blessings and benefits that God has already provided for us. Pastor Brent enjoys teaching and speaking to congregations and events outside of Encounter Church and sharing keys to going deeper in Christ and being all God has purposed you to be.
Pastor Terri Sparks
Raised as a “PK” (preacher’s kid), Terri is no stranger to ministry and to serving in the local church, in any and every area. Although she met her husband in college (Southwestern Assemblies of God College - SAGC), they did not even date until a few years after they each had left! But it didn’t take long for Terri and Brent to know God had certainly arranged this union, and they married in 1991, beginning their worship ministry together as husband and wife, along with other ministry titles as well. In 2012, God called Brent and Terri to step out in faith and plant a brand new church, they did so in full obedience. Although Brent was the lead pastor, Terri was right there with him, leading worship and on occasion, preaching as well! As the church grew, so did the women’s ministry, which quickly became a huge part of Terri’s heart. Fast forward twelve years, and if you look into the women’s ministry of Encounter Church, you are sure to find Pastor Terri right in the big middle of it! She also serves on the Core Team for the South Texas District Assemblies of God Women’s Ministry. Terri is passionate about speaking to women whenever she can to help them set goals, create vision boards, and go after their dreams, as well as practicing spiritual disciplines that lead to living in victory every day.