"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 - Secretary
Mary Ann Neely - Asst. Secretary
Left to right: Grace, Kim, Jim, David and Emily
Pastor Jim Keena was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was raised in a Christian home and came to faith in Christ early in life. After graduating from The Arizona College of the Bible in Phoenix, Arizona, he earned a Master of Arts in Ministry degree from Moody Graduate School, Chicago, Illinois. He is currently in the PhD in Educational Studies program 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 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 two 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 for Christ at Boise State University. After finishing his Masters of Biblical Studies and Ministry in 1988, he came to Bozeman as the 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. Brett is now our Associate Pastor working in a number of different ministries in our church. Brett and Roberta have four girls; Lindsay, 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. Chris enjoys sports, music, nature, people, but most of all teaching the Bible. Chris and Judy have four children and four 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 being 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 is Mighty men and going on a weekly date with his wife.
Kenje Fehlberg - Dir. of Children’s Ministries
Left to Right: Kenje, Keanon, and Kelcey
Montana born and bred, Kenje was raised in Billings, skiing on the slopes of Red Lodge. She attended church with her family but didn’t know Jesus. She attended MSU, married in 1981 and graduated Speech and Communications, PR Option in 1982. After graduation, she lived in the southwest including Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, while her husband served in the Air Force. Her first child, Kelcey, was born in Oklahoma. They always dreamed of returning to Montana and in 1990 landed back in Bozeman where her son, Keanon, was born in 1991. Raising her children she began to consider her influence on them and hoped that they would live their lives differently than she had. They began attending Peace Lutheran Church and Kenje taught kindergarten Sunday School. Seeing the children’s excitement as they learned about God’s unconditional love for them, she realized her own need for God’s love. She became more involved in the church, but had yet to accept Jesus as her savior. In 1997, she was invited to Bible Study Fellowship and embraced the gift of Jesus’ personal sacrifice. God’s timing was perfect as shortly after accepting Jesus she faced an unwanted divorce. Knowing God’s forgiveness of her sins, allowed her to forgive and move on. She and the kids began attending EFree in 1998 and she taught Sunday school and Children’s Church. After working for the Bozeman School District, MSU Libraries, and at several “second” jobs, she received the opportunity to serve here at EFree in 2006 as Director of Children’s Ministry. Kenje is excited to continue her growth in the Lord, serving Him, and working with the wonderful children and families of EFree. Her family enjoys skiing, baseball, and just hanging out together.