Our Team

Joint Lead Pastor/Trustee/Chair/Leadership Team

Mark

Mark and Karen are married with three grown up children and two grandchildren! They have lived in the Cotswolds for the last thirty years where they have been involved in church leadership and have experience of the joys, sorrows and challenges of life, leadership and ministry. In the past they have had the privilege of travelling extensively, both in the UK and overseas, envisioning, encouraging, training and equipping parts of the wider church.

Join Lead Pastor/Leadership Team

Karen

Mark and Karen are married with three grown up children and two grandchildren! They have lived in the Cotswolds for the last thirty years where they have been involved in church leadership and have experience of the joys, sorrows and challenges of life, leadership and ministry. In the past they have had the privilege of travelling extensively, both in the UK and overseas, envisioning, encouraging, training and equipping parts of the wider church.

Youth Pastor

Ruth West

Ruth is the Youth Pastor here at Encounter Vineyard. She is responsible for ministry with young people from school year 6 to young adults and has been involved in ministry with young people in church, school and community settings since being at school herself. She has a passion for young people to know God’s love for them through Jesus and to be empowered in everything they have been created for. Ruth is married to Dave and, originally from Oxfordshire, first moved to the area when they got married in 2009. She is excited to join Encounter Vineyard having returned to the Cotswolds following ministry and study in Cardiff.

Children's Pastor

Faith Lamb

Faith is the Children’s Pastor here at Encounter Church. She is responsible for the 0 – 10 year olds. Faith is married to Pete and has 2 boys, Malachi and Jacob. Faith has served within Kids ministry since she was 16 and became a Children’s Pastor in 2016. She has a passion to see children know Jesus for themselves, to know His love for them and show His love to their friends.

Office Manager

Ron

Ron, our Office Manager looks after all the running aspects of the Church and loves to serve and assist all to fulfill their calling in the Church and in God. Ron works closely with an amazing office team made up of Fiona Leach,  June Yeats, Max Wiltshire and the Pastoral Team to support the work and passion that God has laid on the hearts of The Leadership Team and the Trustees.

Worship Leader

Tim

Tim has been leading worship since 1997 in Gloucestershire and abroad, shortly after becoming a Christian at Liverpool University, where he studied Zoology. He loves to see Jesus magnified, honoured and celebrated as he deserves whilst facilitating a spontaneous Kingdom atmosphere where the Spirit can move freely and perform his works in and through His church. He has a passion to see people freed to be their fully authentic human selves meeting a fully authentic eternal God. Tim is married to Ana and has two teenage children, Isaac and Anorah.

Trustee/Finance and Governance Lead

Malcolm

With an early career in Engineering design and commissioning followed by leading a range of businesses and financial services, faith and commerce have been inextricably entwined throughout his professional career. Married to Dot they have two children and six grandchildren ranging in ages from 2 up to 14 which keeps them both excited with life and always learning. Living in the heart of the Cotswolds for over 20 years they feel privileged to be involved with Encounter and the expanding vision of God for the area.

Manager Special Projects and Men's Ministry

Max Wiltshire

Max is married to Susie with three grown up children and an increasing number of grandchildren; they have lived in the Cotswolds since 2006. He found faith in Jesus in his late 30’s, joined Encounter church in 2021, and is privileged and excited to be part of all that God is doing through the wonderful group of people who worship together here.

He combines working nationally in infrastructure development with supporting the church as it seeks to partner with God  both locally and regionally. He also co-leads the men’s work with Steve.

Leadership Team/Pastoral Care Lead

Martin

My wife, Therese, and I live with our youngest daughter Shannon, in Alderton. We have been worshipping at Encounter for 2 years having joined the church after moving to the area. I have a passion to see the move of the Holy Spirit through the church and to see both the love and compassion of Jesus flowing in our area. It is a great privilege to be a part of what Christ is doing at Encounter and to serve him as he sees fit.

Trustee/Food Hygiene Lead

Alistair

Alistair has been a member of churches on the current site where Encounter stands for almost 29 years and works in retail in Cheltenham and runs our catering team – Loaves and Fishes. As a Trustee he is responsible for Food Safety and equality at Encounter. Alistair and his wife Ryssa are very involved in church life and have family in London, Australia, New Zealand and the Phillipines.

Trustee/GDPR Lead

Adam

Adam lives in Winchcombe with his wife, Sarah, and their three children. In his spare time he enjoys music, cooking, sports and nature. Sarah and Adam are on the Sunday Youth team at Encounter and are part of the worship team. After developing their faith at Trent Vineyard in Nottingham, they moved down to the Cotswolds 19 years ago. Adam is passionate about the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit and strongly believes in his healing and transformational power. 

Trustee

Ali Busby

Ali is well known to us all and has been part of the Encounter family for many years. She and her husband Dave have served on the Leadership Team in the past and Ali has served in multiple areas within the life of Encounter. We are so thrilled that she has agreed to join the Trustee Team that plays such an important role in the governance of the church.

Leadership Team

Martin Dearman

Martin hails from Essex, has been married for 39 years and has lived in the Cotswolds for 35 years. He has 3 children and 7 grandchildren and he has a background in the travel industry as well as the running of children’s day nurseries for over 28 years. Martin is an ardent Gloucester Rugby fan. Back in 2009 Martin gave his life to the Lord and his spirit filled journey began. He runs the Men’s Bible Study here at Encounter and has a heart for the disadvantaged in our community and longs to show God’s love to people in a practical way. 

Leadership Team

Michelle Dearman

Michelle hails from Essex, has been married for 39 years and has lived in the Cotswolds for 35 years. She has 3 children and 7 grandchildren and she has a background in the travel industry as well as the running of children’s day nurseries for over 28 years. way. Michelle became a Christian 23 years ago. She loves people, loves the church and most importantly loves the Lord. She is involved in lots of areas of church life, especially women’s ministry. They are both looking forward to this next season of life both for them as a couple and for us as church together.

Youth Intern

Robyn Hammond

Robyn is currently doing a combined internship with Encounter Vineyard and Youth For Christ as part of her gap year. She is passionate about making known the truth of the Gospel. So far in her gap year she has been on mission to Brazil and India and is often found on the streets talking to people or singing or preaching about Jesus. She has felt God put a particular burden to use this time her life to be part of seeing revival and transformation in the lives of the young people of this nation. In her free time she loves doing all things outdoors.