After 21 years of ministry together as Worship Pastors, Pastors Brent and Terri Sparks planted Encounter Church in July of 2012. Encounter Church is now a thriving multi-campus church with over 1,100 in attendance in Mid County and Orange County, as well as an online campus of 300-400. They desire to have more campuses across Southeast Texas and Louisiana. Through Pastor Brent’s authentic and practical preaching style, he inspires, teaches, and motivates the church each week to apply the message to their everyday living. Pastors Brent and Terri long to see every person who walks into the church experience God’s presence in such a way that will lead to a life-changing ENCOUNTER with Him!
Pastors Brent and Terri have been married since 1991, have two adult children, Katelynn and Kaleb, and one brand-new granddaughter, Eden James Serban! Katelynn and her husband, Garett, serve as Encounter’s Worship Pastors. Kaleb and his wife, Emily, both serve on the medical frontlines as ER and ICU Registered Nurses. All members of their family share a passion to see the Kingdom of God invade the earth. Pastors Brent and Terri have a heart to disciple believers into taking their next steps of pursuing their relationship with God!

Paris Ragan is the Dean of Students and a professor at JSBC. He holds a Master of Arts in Practical Theology Degree from Northpoint Bible College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Davis & Elkins College, and a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from JSBC.

Pastor Ragan is an associate pastor of Family Worship Center and Crossfire Youth Ministry. He is also the director of Crossfire Unite Fellowship and Crossfire Unite Student Fellowship. He is a regular guest on the Generation of the Cross program which airs over the SonLife Broadcasting Network.

Maricela H. Hernández was elected as the West Spanish language area executive presbyter in August 2021, representing nine Hispanic districts within the Assemblies of God. She is the secretary/treasurer of the Texas Gulf Hispanic District of the Assemblies of God.

Prior to her current role, Hernández served as lead pastor of Templo Paraiso, Sullivan City, Texas for nine years and as assistant pastor of Family Christian Assembly, Penitas, Texas for 20 years.

Hernández serves on the AGTrust Board of Advisers, Southwestern Assemblies of God University Board of Regents, and Global University Board of Trustees. She founded Flames of Fire Bible School in 2007, which is recognized as a SAGU extension site. She serves on the CMN lead team and NWM regional director. She is involved internationally serving as the USA Women Ministries Representative for the Hispanic World Fellowship of the Assemblies of God.

Hernández holds a master's degree in leadership from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the University of Texas Pan American. She is also a graduate of Bethel Bible Institute.

She and her husband, Rafael, have two adult children.

Pastor Eleazar Rodriguez Jr a.k.a. “JR” has been the lead pastor for VIDA CITY CHURCH Houston for the past 30 years.

JR is married to his wife Patsy and they have just celebrated 41 years of marriage.

At the present, he serves as the Superintendent for the Texas Louisiana Hispanic District of the Assemblies of God.

JR published his first book entitled “Violent Generation” (Spanish/English) published by Creation House.

He is also the author of the Spanish song entitled ““Anhelo Conocerte Espíritu Santo” (I Desire to Know you Holy Spirit) published by Rejoice Music known throughout the Hispanic Christian world both nationally and internationally.

JR and Patsy have two sons ; Eleazar III (wife Karen), Joseph Ryan and two grandsons Eleazar IV and Azar (with Azael on the way).