Executive Director

Nate Boyd

nate@christianencounter.org

In the spring of 2010, Nate arrived at Christian Encounter for an internship following some formative years in camp ministry. After observing the leaders at the Ranch intent on humbly shepherding each person they encountered, Nate wanted to stay for the long-haul. He has served in a number of roles since then and began as Executive Director in 2017. ​Nate met his wife Alyssa (intern 2012-2013) while on an intern recruiting trip. They’ve been married since 2014 and have two children, Lilly and Corban. Nate was ordained for the ministry through Christian Encounter in 2016 and completed his M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies in 2017 from Western Seminary. Nate loves watching the transformational impact of the Gospel, whether in a person, a church, or a community, and he finds joy in the lifelong pursuit of its full expression.

Director of Student Life

Jensen Near

jensen@christianencounter.org

Jensen is a NorCal native with a passion for helping young people "connect the dots" between God's Word and their daily lives. Appropriately, Jensen's arrival at Christian Encounter in 2018 was the result of the Lord's own secret game of connect the dots: after Jensen's passion for mentoring and discipleship led him to seven years in Christian Residence Life, a Masters in Theology, and three years as a Young Adults Pastor, the Lord used Nate Boyd - an undergrad and seminary classmate - to call Jensen and his family to the Ranch. Jensen and his wife Elizabeth have three children, and enjoy good food, sports, and making people laugh.

Director of Counseling

Kevin Phillips

kevin@christianencounter.org

Kevin was born and raised in Northern California where he remains today. Kevin has a passion for working with adolescents and young adults, helping them to find their value and security in Christ. Kevin and his wife Vicki have two adult children who live nearby, and three teens at home. They love kayaking, hiking, and pickleball in their free time. Kevin is known for his sense of humor, a vast variation of vocational experiences, his no nonsense direct approach, unflappable determination, and a love for classic rock.

Outreach Coordinator

Jackie Turner

jackie@christianencounter.org

Jackie Turner joined the staff team in August ‘25. Jackie received a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry in 2015 and graduated from Western Seminary with a M.A. in Ministry and Leadership in 2019. She is a certified Critical Incident and Crisis Response Chaplain and an ordained Minister of Evangelism through Smartsville Community Church. Jackie has been featured worldwide on various media platforms and loves seeing the Gospel poured into the world.