Leadership Team
Hi, I'm Mike Horsman, Pastor of Lakes Christian Centre since 2001. I am a true local Windermere guy and have been involved with this Church, in various roles, since 1984. I had become a Christian a year previously when God broke into my life during an evangelistic mission in Heywood, Manchester. My wife, Lynda, and I married in 1985 and we have two wonderful children - Beth, a student in Glasgow and Josh who is at secondary school. Prior to taking on a full time pastoral role, I worked in my family jewellery business and managed a cleaning company.
Having recently moved into our new building in the lovely village of Bowness-on-Windermere I am looking forward to increased opportunities for our Church to reach out to the local community in a dynamic and relevant way. My desire is that we will be able to share the love and joy of the Lord Jesus Christ with those who pass through our doors. I am passionate about prayer and believe that we greatly underestimate its essence and power. Jesus said "My House shall be called a house of prayer for all nations" (Mark 11:17). Let's go for it !
My name's Paul Bell and I'm Assistant Pastor at Lakes Christan Centre. I'm married to a wonderful girl called Mel, and God has blessed us with 2 brilliant sons. While my role in the church is to assist Mike in caring for the people, I am employed full time as a maintenance manager in a large hotel. Life as you can imagine can get a little bit busy!
I'm not a dyed-in-wool 'local' but a Yorkshire-man who came up to the Lake District, and like so many others, I came and stayed! At the time I'd just finished serving in the Royal Air Force, and was finding it difficult settling back into 'civvy-street'. I came up to Windermere because I was into white-water kayaking and wanted to go 'paddling'. I remember being so deeply struck by the beauty of the Lakes, that I parked my car up above the town, and said these words to God, "Lord, can you can find a way for me to come and live up here, and can you give me a Church to be part of, because I can't have one without the other", and the rest is as they say, history.
Hello, I'm Simon Berry. I first served as a Deacon at Lakes Christian Centre and became an Elder in the early 90s. For two years I took on the role of Pastor. As well as being an Elder, I currently serve as the Chair of the European board of the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association.
I became a Christian in New Zealand in the Spring of 1984 whilst travelling with my wife Diana when God broke into both of our lives in a powerful and miraculous way. Returning to the Windermere area in the Winter of that year we joined the Church which, a few years later, became Lakes Christian Centre. It is always a privilege to serve the Lord but to be able to do it in such a wonderful part of the world is a great blessing."
As well as my Church responsibilities, I run the family hotel business, English Lakes Hotels, with my brother Tim. We are responsible for six hotels around Lake Windermere and North Lancashire.
Diana and I live in the village of Troutbeck. We have have 3 sons, Robert a professional photographer living in the Lakes, Ben currently a professional traveller and Elliot who spends a lot of his time in Africa.
My name is Ian Woods. I became a Christian in July 1985 whilst on leave from the army. On a shopping trip to Watford I stopped to chat with some Christians doing street evangelism and, that night, responded to the Lord's voice and stepped into the Kingdom of God. I joined Lakes Christian Centre in 1992 having moved to the Lake District in response to a vision I had during a flight from Siberia. Nicky and I were married in 1993 and for several years afterwards we and our young family were involved in pioneering, and pastoring, new Churches in West Cumbria and South West Scotland. I returned to Lakes Christian Centre in 2004 as an Elder. My ministry is in teaching and preaching as well as a responsibility for overseeing the youth work.
I currently run a training consultancy, known as Onesimus, focusing on principle centred leadership and bringing God's wisdom into business. Previous careers include 12 years as an engineer in the military, 10 years as a full time athlete competing and coaching in the winter sport of Biathlon at Olympic level.
My desire is to faithfully teach the Word of God to those who are part of the church, and preach the good news to those who have not yet responded to the call.
Hello, I'm David Foster. My wife Cheryl and I began coming to Lakes Christian Centre in 1988 after moving from our temporary rented house in Backbarrow to our first proper home together in Bowness on Windermere. I later became a Deacon at the church and was invited to join the Eldership in 1996 - which was a great joy and privilege. My main responsibility is in overseeing the financial side of the Church and other governmental matters. I have a heart for the local community and a desire that all the flock within the responsibility of Lakes Christian Centre are cared for and loved by the local church as Jesus himself would love them.
Originally, from Preston, I have lived in the South Lakes since I was five years old. After leaving school, I took on one or two temporary jobs before starting in the leisure industry at Fallbarrow Park, Bowness on Windermere in 1983. I remained within that company for nearly nineteen years becoming the park manager along the way. It was during that time that I came to faith following a tent meeting on the grounds at Fallbarrow. The following year, I met my wife Cheryl and we have two children, Richard and Kayleigh.
I am still employed in the leisure industry and since 2003 have worked for Kendal Caravans with a responsibility of overseeing the management and development of five caravan parks.
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Lake Road
Bowness-on-Windermere
Cumbria
LA23 3AP
Call 015394 88298