The 1st Encounter Church Baby!

On February 22, 2025, at 2:58 PM, we welcomed a beautiful new life into the Encounter Church family—Cassius Lee Coleman, the first baby born into our church community!

Affectionately known as Cash, he is the son of Zak and Shelby Coleman, and his arrival was both long-awaited and deeply prayed over. From the earliest days of Shelby’s pregnancy, the EC family surrounded this growing family with love, encouragement, and prayer. Week after week, we stood in faith alongside the Colemans, trusting God for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

A verse that anchored Shelby and Zak during their journey was:

“When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” – Isaiah 60:22

That promise carried them through uncertainty, anticipation, and the final stretch—and it proved true in the most powerful way.

Though Cassius arrived safely, the hours following his birth were filled with unexpected concern. Cash was quickly rushed to the NICU due to fluid-filled lungs, and for three days, his parents and our church family leaned into prayer like never before. People from Encounter showed up to the hospital, and prayed bold, believing prayers over his tiny body.

And God answered.

In record time, Cash’s lungs cleared, his strength returned, and he was able to go home completely healed and healthy. What could have been a season of fear turned into a testimony of God’s healing power and the faithfulness of a praying church.

Now, baby Cash is thriving—and his life is already a reminder to us all of God's perfect timing, goodness, and grace.

We celebrate this new season with Shelby, Zak, and their family. Cassius is a gift not only to them, but to all of us. As the very first baby born into Encounter Church, he represents so much more than a milestone—he is a living example of God’s presence among us, generation to generation.

We can’t wait to watch Cash grow up in this church family, and we pray that he always knows how deeply loved, covered, and called he is.