My friends Lily, Isabelle, Sophie, and I initially felt skeptical about attending Encounter + after receiving Mr. Sammut's DM, but we decided to go, thinking it would be fun and a good opportunity to connect with God. Despite not knowing the songs by Emmanuel Worship or what to expect, we ended up having an unforgettable night. We spent the day eagerly discussing the event, and as we arrived at the church carpark, seeing familiar faces reassured us that the night would be enjoyable.

The bus ride to the Catholic Leadership Centre was filled with laughter, and upon arrival, our initial nervousness faded as we saw everyone engaging in games and conversations. After getting our name tags, we had dinner, which was a delightful mix of Gnocchi, Lasagne, Caesar salad and bread rolls. The heartfelt conversations during dinner, along with Mr. Sammut's encouragement, made the evening special. We then enjoyed a large round of rock paper scissors before heading to the church for the worship session, where Emmanuel Worship shared their journey from Brisbane. Despite initial nerves, we grew comfortable singing along, especially connecting with the song "King Jesus".

We took a break from singing to choose a Bible verse and write its meaning to us, and I was thrilled to pick my favourite verse, Philippians 4:13. This moment, along with participating in reconciliation, brought immense joy. After more singing, we watched videos and learned about the next Encounter + event, which we are excited to attend. The night brought us closer to God and each other, and we now frequently discuss our faith and plans to attend more such events. Encounter + was an incredible experience that we highly recommend to everyone.

Bella King – 10 Barak
Isabelle Farfalla – 10 Kulin
Lily McFarlane – 10 Kulin
Sophie Dabal – 10 Wonga