Meet the team
Hugo van Driel
Pastor
Hugo van Driel has been involved in Yapton Free Church since 1991. In 1993 he came onto the leadership of the church. He then in 1994 had a powerful encounter with God and his life is radically different now. He is now a full time employee and pastor of Yapton Free Church, he has a real heart for evangelism. This is seen as he visits most schools in the area, leading assemblies and supporting in lessons. He is also very much involved in the Nepal Project, which his late wife Rosie established. Hugo had the joy of getting married again in 2012 to Hanneke who was previously a missionary in Mongolia for 12 years. Together they are forerunners of this new season on ministry locally and around the world. Hanneke is part of the core Team and has a passion for worship and training up and releasing leaders in the body of Christ.
Gerald Sercombe
Elder
Gerald has been an elder of Yapton Free Church since 2002 and has a pastoral heart. For many years Gerald was a local farmer at Gaston Farm but has now retired 'put on a new set of tyres' in his new home with Henni and Oscar in Walberton. Gerald and Henni have been happily married for over 35 years.
Annamarijn Dikslag
Core Team
Ben grew up in Yapton but moved away for university and work before returning to Yapton in 2018. Anna moved to Yapton in 2015. They got married on Christmas Day 2020. Anna leads a home group, overseas the youth work and coordinates the pastoral team. Ben and Anna are actively involved in many aspects of church life, local community and mission abroad. Ben is a fitness coach and organises sports events in the community. He is working as a drum teacher in local primary schools and will be joining the chaplaincy teams at St Philip Howard School from September.
Veyanke Hodson
Elder
Veyanke leads a homegroup and has a real heart for people to realise their true identity in Christ. She is also involved with the Sunday school and is member of the Ministry team. Veyanke and her husband Nigel, and children, Lily and Joshua, run a charity called Soup from Heaven which is based in Cape Town, South Africa. (Veyanke is originally from Cape Town). SFH is involved in many different projects to help the very poor and needy in Cape Town. A Soup Kitchen, orphanage, family sponsorships and street outreaches being a part of this. Once again their passion is to teach people who they are in Christ and how much they are loved!
Reg Hawks
Elder
Reg heads up the Homegroups, and supports the Homegroup leaders.
As well as leading their own homegroup with his wife, Paula.
They also have a teenage son, Will who is now working with YWAM.
Reg has a heart for prayer and seeing people changed by God.
Jo Jeffers
Church Administrator
Jo is married to Joseph and mum of Maisie and Tilly. Jo has been a member of Yapton Free Church for the past 9 years having joined a prayer and praise evening and had a powerful encounter with Father God.
Jo works part time as the Church Administrator and runs our Wednesday morning Parent and Toddler group. In her spare time Jo enjoys painting, writing, taking school assemblies with Hugo and running prayer spaces in schools. Along with her daughters she loves to cook when hosting family, friends and visitors.
Jo is the person to contact if you have any questions. To contact Jo, call the church office on 01243 552232 or email admin@yaptonfreechurch.net
Will (Core Team) & Katie Cronin
Youth Pastors
Will first came to Yapton Free Church through doing an Alpha course in January 2014. While doing Alpha, he experienced the love of Jesus which transformed his life. Will married Katie who has been a member of Yapton Free Church for many years.
Will has his own business as a landscape gardener and makes gardens look nice while sharing the love of Jesus wherever he goes! Will and Katie have a heart and passion to serve and see the youth in our church grow in their relationship with God and happily became our youth pastors in 2018.
Andrew Rackstraw
Core Team
Andrew and his wife Mavis moved into the area at the beginning of 2019. Andrew has travelled extensively, teaching and encouraging in both mission and indigenous church situations. Andrew and Mavis are currently assisting in the leading of one of the home groups, and also have a prayer inner healing ministry. They have 3 grownup daughters and 3 granddaughters.
