Encounter Stoke brings together local churches, schools and people in loving and serving communities. We create safe, welcoming spaces where everyone can feel that they belong. Opportunities are provided to spend time together, learn new things and explore the difference faith can make whilst working together to bless our local area.
Alongside this, our vision is to see nine new inter-generational worshipping communities established across the city. Each one reflecting the unique flavour of its local community.
St Mark’s CE Primary School working with St Mark’s Church.
St Paul’s C of E Primary working with St Paul’s Longton
Priory CE Academy working with St Matthias
St Nathaniel’s Academy working with St Paul’s Burslem
Kingsland CE Academy working with Bucknall Team Ministry.
St John’s Church and St John’s CE Primary School working together in Trent Vale.
St Luke’s Church & CE Academy in Hanley.
Community. Hope. Love.
And this is my prayer: I pray that your love will grow more and more. I pray that you will have better understanding and be wise in all things. I pray that you will know what is the very best. I pray that you will be true and without blame until the day Christ comes again.
And I pray that you will be filled with the fruits of right living. These come from Jesus Christ, with honour and thanks to God.
Philippians 1:9-11 (New Life Version)
Encounter Stoke was born out of a desire to bring God’s best to Stoke-on-Trent. When Paul, the writer of Philippians, wrote to the church in Philippi, he was joyful because of the way that the Christians there were working together. He saw that they were growing in love for one another and prays for more of that tremendous, ever-increasing love between them.
As we draw together churches, schools and local communities through Encounter Stoke, we want to build hope for people across the city. And we want to be communities that are growing in love for each other and the people around us, working together to tell people about the love of Jesus.
