Our Story

Encounter Church in Burlington, Vermont is a story of faithfulness, sacrifice, and God’s purpose unfolding across generations.

In 2001, Paul and Ellen Lyon answered God’s call to move to Vermont with their four young children. In a region not always known for spiritual openness, they planted roots with a burden to see lives transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. Through seasons of growth, challenge, and perseverance, Burlington United Pentecostal Church became a lighthouse in the city.

In 2009, the church found a home at 294 North Winooski Avenue. What began as a step of faith gained stability, and from that place the church’s reach expanded. Vermonters from all walks of life came through its doors. People from many nations found community. College students searching for truth and direction encountered the presence of God. Over the years, countless lives were touched and transformed within those walls.

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In March 2026, Chris and Josie Paolini arrived in Burlington, stepping into a season that had been covered in prayer long before they came. A pastoral transition began, marked by honor, continuity, and expectation. On April 29, 2026, Pastor Chris Paolini was elected as Pastor of Burlington United Pentecostal Church.

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This was more than a leadership change—it marked the beginning of fresh vision.

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As they prayed and sought the Lord, God spoke clearly to the Paolinis about direction, identity, and purpose. What had been built was not replaced but renewed. In May 2026, Burlington United Pentecostal Church became Encounter Church.

The name changed, but the foundation remained the same.

Encounter Church remains rooted in the same truth that has guided it from the beginning:

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• Apostolic in doctrine, grounded in the Word of God and the message preached by the apostles

• Pentecostal in experience, believing the same Spirit poured out in the Book of Acts is still active today

• Holiness in lifestyle, committed to living lives set apart and pleasing to God

• Evangelistic in mission, reaching beyond our walls with the gospel of Jesus Christ

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Our vision is clear: to populate heaven with transformed souls who are rooted and built up in the faith.

From a family stepping out in faith in 2001, to a church filled with worship and witness, to a renewed vision for the future, this is more than a timeline—it is a testimony.

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The story is still being written, and we invite you to become part of it through a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.