We Believe in Second Chances

1979: The Encounter Prison Yard Crusade

47 Years of Hope Behind Prison Walls

The Encounter was established in 1979 as Inmate Encounter, with the assistance of the Billy Graham Ministry. Since then we have carried the Gospel of Jesus Christ into Florida's prisons, jails, juvenile centers and streets.

Our prison yard crusades bring faith, mentorship and a path to restoration directly to the men and women inside, one yard and one life at a time.

2007: Inmate Reentry

Helping One Inmate at a Time

The first days after release are the hardest. In 2007 we began meeting men and women at the prison gate and walking with them into a new life.

• Meeting inmates at the gate on release day
• Providing clothing, shelter and food
• Mentoring, planning and connecting to employment

Helping Florida prisoners rebuild their lives, one at a time.

2010: In-Prison Mentoring & Education

Marion & Tomoka Correctional Institutions

Lasting change starts before release. Our institutional progression model works alongside prison programs to prepare each person for successful reentry.

• Programs: cognitive behavioral therapy, life skills, accountability
• Education: GED, vocational and job training, life skills
• Chaplaincy: mentorship, character and faith
• RWP Institutional Phase leading to the Encounter Reentry Campus: structured housing, educational attainment, victim awareness, workforce development, supervision and accountability, mentorship and support

The goal: successful reentry and reduced recidivism.

Collaborative. Accountable. Proven.

2019: The Florida GPS-Book

God's Precious Sources

The GPS-Book is a resource directory covering all 67 Florida counties, with over 11,000 listings for churches, shelters, employment, clothing, food, treatment programs and more. Over 10,000 copies have been delivered.

• Find housing and shelter
• Get food assistance
• Locate job and employment services
• Access healthcare and support groups
• Connect with ministries and churches

Distributed to homeless shelters, juvenile detention, rehab centers, prison classification and chaplaincy, reentering citizens and churches. Organizations that serve returning citizens are welcome to be listed: email info@inmateencounter.com.

2025: The Freeze-Dry Initiative

Commercial Kitchen, Reentering Citizens, Community Service, Volunteers

Our commercial kitchen feeds 2,000 meals a month to neighbors facing food insecurity, including the homeless, through freeze-dried food production, with reentering citizens and volunteers working side by side.

• Housing
• Community service
• GPS resources
• Workforce training
• Faith and restoration

2026: The Encounter Community Restoration Campus

Restoring Lives. Strengthening Families. Serving Communities.

Our 2026 initiative is to purchase and develop a 3-acre campus that will serve as a hub for feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, training the workforce, supporting returning citizens and preparing for disaster relief, all while sharing the hope of Jesus Christ.

• Repurposed (Donated Goods. Greater Purpose.): donated goods sales and consignment that help fund the ministry.
• Market Place (Good Food. Greater Purpose.): fresh produce, groceries and affordable food for local families.
• Preserved (Faith, Harvest, Community): freeze-dried food production and disaster preparedness.
• The Table (Everyone Has a Seat.): community kitchen, meals for the hungry and workforce training.
• Restored (Second Chances. Greater Purpose.): transitional housing, case management, classrooms and a chapel.
• Rooted (Grown with Purpose.): greenhouses and gardens growing food year-round.

Every Life Matters. Every Life Can Change.

2026: The Market Place

Good Food. Greater Purpose.

The Market Place is part of our 2026 Community Restoration Campus initiative: a dignified approach to the growing epidemic of food insecurity, and the middle ground between food banks and retail stores.

• Fresh produce and groceries
• Affordable food options
• Support for local families
• Job training opportunities