Encounter Campus Ministry works toward renovations and new services

Image courtesy of Encounter Campus Ministry

NORMAL, Ill. – Encounter Campus Ministry is currently renovating their new building on Mulberry Street to include several new services for students. The process started in 2017 with Encounters board of directors exploring the idea, but it did not fully take shape until 2021, when Encounter began receiving money for the project. 

“The vision that was cast almost 10 years ago really set out some of the crucial needs that we were seeing in students, and how do we serve those in different ways,” Capital Campaign Manager Cat Poffenbarger said. 

Two of planned additions are a coffee bar brought in partnership with  Lab Coffee and counseling services for students and ministry members. 

“We will have three on-site counselors from truth and love, they will be the one providing the care,” Poffenbarger said. “That partnership of maybe a staff member is meeting with a student who’s in crisis, and it’s beyond the staff members, understanding or knowledge of what that crisis might be, and so there is the wonderful ability to just walk down the hall and be like, here’s somebody who can help right here.” 

Poffenbarger said the community is one of the most important qualities of Encounter Campus Ministry and is a leading factor in the expansion. 

“Now we’re looking for community, were looking for ways to connect with people that are like them, similar age or lifestyle, to walk them back down to the other side of our building of the encounter space and be able to plug into a small group, or join a softball league, or join something where that sense of community is really thriving,” Poffenbarger said. 

Encounter took on this task through fundraising efforts, which have raised $2,700,000 so far, this is roughly two-thirds of the $3,750,000 goal. This money allows for expansion, which gives Encounter a larger space for some of their already existing programs.  

“There’s also a really thriving internship community that’s at Encounter, and so people that are maybe thinking about going into some type of vocational work post-graduation, there’s been an internship program that has really grown there, so we’re giving them their own space to start leading more,” Poffenbarger said.  

Encounter Campus Ministry is hoping to officially open the new area located at 210 Mulberry St. on June 1, 2026.