Leaders and Staff
In addition to the many people who give valuable time towards the running of Freedom Church, a number of key individuals are at the heart of the church with responsibility for its day-to-day operation.
Tim Bond
Senior Pastor
Tim Bond
Senior Pastor
Tim has been working as a Pastor since 2007 and loves to communicate Jesus whilst in every way being real about life’s peaks and troughs.
A skilled communicator, Tim is passionate about speaking truth and hope into the lives of those around him.
Tim also loves cooking and, as our Pastorchef, is keen to build community in which to create and share great food and the good news. He is married to Merry and is father to Joshua and Isaac.
Ben Bluemel
Assistant Pastor
Ben Bluemel
Assistant Pastor
Ben is a pastor, writer and thinker. He moved over to Jersey in 2022 with his wife Kelsey (and their two cats).
A Classics graduate from Oxford University and a former corporate lawyer in London, Ben has been a full-time pastor since 2015 and holds a Masters in Biblical Interpretation. He is passionate about the Church and teaching the timeless truth of God’s word in a way that makes sense within our fast-moving and ever-evolving cultural moment.
Outside of ministry life, Ben enjoys running, hiking and sunset-chasing – basically anything outdoors!
Kirsty De La Haye
Head of Operations
Kirsty De La Haye
Head of Operations
Kirsty has lived in Jersey since 2008, when she moved from the UK with her husband Adrian, and three children.
Kirsty loves to use her administrative and organisational skills to help make life run smoothly and good ideas become a reality. She is passionate about looking after those in the church and encouraging them in their ongoing growth and discipleship. As well as being Head of Operations, she also coordinates our Life Groups.
Phil Le Cheminant
Worship and Comms Pastor
Phil Le Cheminant
Worship and Comms Pastor
Phil is the Worship and Comms Pastor at Freedom Church and lives in Jersey with his wife Laura and their dog Henry.
For over twenty years Phil has been playing music both in the local church context and at national conferences and festivals, and has arranged and produced numerous commercial recordings.
Phil has delivered training to musicians and worship leaders across the UK and overseas. He is passionate about equipping singers, musicians and technicians with the practical tools to serve more effectively in worship.
Jon Jefferson
Youth Leader
Jon Jefferson
Youth Leader
Jon is married to Alice and is father to Joy and Jude. He is the youth leader at Freedom Church and also regularly leads and plays in the worship team together with Alice who plays the keyboard. They have been part of Freedom Church from the beginning.
Serena De Gruchy
Office Manager, Freedom Kids Leader
Serena De Gruchy
Office Manager, Freedom Kids Leader
Serena is married to Andrew and they have 3 children, Naomi, Micah and Phoebe. She has been in church leadership with Andrew over the years, as well as leading worship and running the church toddler group. Serena joined the church office team as Administrator/Bookkeeper in 2012, a role that she loves.
Serena is also part of the Freedom Kids team on Sundays as she leads Tots, the Under 4s group. She has a passion to see everyone feel welcomed and become part of the church family, and is excited about getting more involved in serving our community from Freedom Centre.
Diane Wheeler
Freedom Centre Manager
Diane Wheeler
Freedom Centre Manager
Diane was born in the beautiful island of Jersey, has lived here all her life and is married to Paul.
Diane worked for the local police service for 29 years and after retirement, took up a post in the church office in 2013 in administration and finance. Diane’s role has since changed and she is now the manager at Freedom Centre. Diane also helps head up hospitality and events and the welcome and set up teams, and likes to see the church in action being God’s hands and feet here on Earth.
Diane also has a passion for Burkina Faso in north-west Africa and has visited the country on 8 occasions to help on various building projects.
Anita Shakeshaft
Finance Manager
Anita Shakeshaft
Finance Manager
Anita has been in Jersey for 15 years, with Freedom being her home church. She started working with the team in April 2017, so is a newbie in the admin office. She mainly deals with the finances but likes to take on projects to help out in other areas of the church.
Anita is also part of the Jersey Christians Against Poverty team as a volunteer, and has a passion for the Philippines island of Cebu, where she supports and visits a charity that work with street kids.
Micah De Gruchy
Media Assistant
Micah De Gruchy
Media Assistant
Jenn Stewart-Jones
Pastoral Counsellor
Jenn Stewart-Jones
Pastoral Counsellor
John and Jenn have been in pastoral leadership since 1982 and carry a strong passion for their faith and for people. They founded Freedom Church with a clear vision of what they believe God wants for Freedom Church.
Throughout their time in leadership, they have had a heart for developing 'a Church for this time' – a growing Church ready to respond and reach out to the community.
Previously employed as a Deputy Head Teacher, Jenn is contagiously enthusiastic about developing strong relationships and helping all to come to know Christ and experience Freedom. She and John have three married daughters and six gorgeous grandchildren.
John Stewart-Jones
Founding Pastor
John Stewart-Jones
Founding Pastor
John and Jenn have been in pastoral leadership since 1982 and carry a strong passion for their faith and for people. They founded Freedom Church with a clear vision of what they believe God wants for Freedom Church.
Throughout their time in leadership, they have had a heart for developing 'a Church for this time' – a growing Church ready to respond and reach out to the community.
Previously employed as a medical Doctor, John is contagiously enthusiastic about developing strong relationships and helping all to come to know Christ and experience Freedom. He and Jenn have three married daughters and six gorgeous grandchildren.