"As a group, the church staff handles the day-to-day ministry needs of the church."
Jim Keena - Senior Pastor
Brett LaShelle - Associate Pastor
Chris Blackmore - Pastor of Senior Ministries
Tyd Rogers - Pastor of Youth Ministries
Kenje Fehlberg - Dir. of Children’s Ministries
Bobbi Lovgren - Office Manager
Sheree Hart - Assistant Office Manager
Left to right: Grace, Kim, Jim, David and Emily
Pastor Jim Keena was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. While being raised in a Christian home, Jim came to faith in Christ early in life. After graduating from Arizona College of the Bible in Phoenix, Arizona, he earned a Master of Arts in Ministry from Moody Graduate School, Chicago, Illinois. He followed that with additional graduate and postgraduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois. Jim served as Senior Pastor in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, for over thirteen years and as Associate Pastor in Long Grove, Illinois, for three years. Jim and his wife, Kim, moved their family to Bozeman in the summer of 2008, where he has been serving as the Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Free Church. Jim and Kim have been blessed with seven children: Bethany, Christa Clark, Danae Castle, Andrew, Emily, Grace and David, as well as two sons-in-law, Jason Clark and Doug Castle and four beautiful grandchildren.
Brett LaShelle - Associate Pastor
Left to Right: Roberta, Amanda, Brett, Emily, Lindsay and Camille.
Pastor Brett LaShelle was born in Los Angeles, California in 1959. Brett came to faith in Christ at age 17 and was highly involved in the ministry of Campus Crusade at Boise State University. After finishing his Masters of Biblical Studies and Ministry in 1988, he came to Bozeman as Evangelical Free Church's first full-time Youth and Family pastor. In 1996 Brett was offered a one-year sabbatical where he ministered in Manila, The Philippines, working with a new church plant and giving administrative help to the national office. Brett is now our Associate Pastor working in a number of different ministries in our church. Brett is an avid biker and racquet ball player. He also enjoys water skiing and a number of other outdoor sports. In the last few years, Brett has been trying to keep up with his wife as they both compete in sprint triathlons. The pride and joy for both Brett and Roberta are their four girls; Lindsay (and a new son-in-law Josh), Amanda, Camille and Emily.
Chris Blackmore - Pastor of Senior Ministries
Left to Right: Chris and Judy
Pastor Chris Blackmore grew up on a farm in Illinois. He received Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Illinois. He met his wife, Judy, when they jointly sponsored a Youth for Christ club while both were students at the university. After graduating from U. of I. and finishing his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Seminary, Chris and Judy joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in 1970. They were assigned to Montana State University. In January of 1972 they were reassigned to open Campus Crusade's work at the University of Montana.
In the fall of 1973, Chris and Judy started the church in Bozeman where they have served ever since. Chris completed his Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1982 causing one friend to remark that he is now educated well beyond his intelligence. After 35 years as Senior Pastor, he is presently serving as our Pastor to Seniors. Chris enjoys sports, music, nature, people, but most of all teaching the Bible. Chris and Judy have four children and eight grandchildren.
Tyd Rogers - Pastor of Youth Ministries
Left to Right Front: Trang, Trent, Tayt
Left to Right Back: Tyd, Tal
Tyd grew up in Montana and attended M.S.U. at Bozeman, where he accepted Jesus Christ into his heart his freshman year. He received his degree in Sports Medicine and upon graduating he pursued a relationship with a young female, named Trang, and moved to Illinois. He was married to Trang in 1995 and they moved to Chicago. While in Chicago, Tyd received his Masters from Moody Bible Institute and found a job as the Pastor of Student Ministries at the Evangelical Free Church of Wauconda. While in Wauconda, Trang and Tyd, received three wonderful gifts from the Lord, whom they call their three Mighty Mountain Men, Tal, Tayt & Trent. After 8 years of serving in Wauconda, the T’s packed up their gear and moved to Bozeman. Tyd enjoys Almighty God, mountain biking, road biking, hiking, refereeing wrestling, playing with his "Mighty Men" and going on a weekly date with his wife.
Kenje Fehlberg - Dir. of Children’s Ministries
Left to Right: Kelcey, Kenje, and Keanon
Kenje had the good fortune of being born in MT - Billings, that is. She grew up enjoying the mountains and developed a love for skiing. She attended MSU and received a BS in Speech Communications with a Public Relations option. After marriage and graduation, she moved to Oklahoma where her daughter Kelcey was born. Following that, she moved on to New Mexico, where she ran a small ski school, and then back to Montana - Bozeman, of course! Kenje and her family attended Peace Lutheran Church in Belgrade where she served as a Council Member and Sunday School Superintendent. This is where her son Keanon arrived on the scene. After a few years, God led them to E-Free where she taught Sunday school and Children’s Church before becoming the Director of Children’s Ministry. Kenje and the kids enjoy skiing, baseball, and just hanging out together.
Bobbi Lovgren - Office Manager
Left to Right: Greg and Bobbi
Some of you who are new to E-Free may not be familiar with the face of the church. Bobbi Lovgren, our Office Manager, has been on staff with E-Free for almost ten years now. In addition to running the church office, Bobbi is married to Greg (38 years) and has three grown children, Marcie, Amy and Jonathan. She loves what she does, which is evident to anyone who comes to the office. In addition to her work here, Bobbi loves to attend the Women's Precepts Bible Study offered here Wednesday mornings. The best part about her job is seeing all the parts of the body of Christ - the countless volunteers who serve "on and behind the scenes" - working to do their part to glorify God. She is so appreciative, knowing how very important each one of you is to the Body.
Sheree Hart - Assistant Office Manager
Left to Right: Sheree and Chuck
Sheree Hart joined the E-Free staff in July of 2011 as the Assistant Office Manager/Marketing Director. In addition to helping Bobbi in the office, Sheree has been working to further develop communications via the website and E-News. Sheree is married to Chuck and together they have five children, all of whom reside in Colorado and Texas. Sheree and Chuck also have seven grandchildren. When she is not working, Chuck and Sheree have a passion for the outdoors, which includes activities such as hiking, skiing, and traveling to warm places for scuba diving. Sheree is so blessed to be part of a church that worships passionately, walks faithfully and works joyfully.