Our Staff

Rev. Justin serves as the Senior Pastor of our church, bringing a deep commitment to proclaiming the Gospel and shepherding God’s people. Since the beginnings of his ministry in July 2005, he has faithfully preached Christ to a wide range of communities and congregations.

His pastoral experience includes serving as a Chaplain for a fire department, where he ministered to individuals and families during moments of crisis and loss. He has also worked in funeral service as both a Funeral Associate and a Licensed Funeral Director, walking with families through some of life’s darkest and most vulnerable hours. Rev. Justin is often called upon to officiate funerals for those without a pastor, offering comfort, dignity, and the hope of the resurrection.

Over the years, the Lord has opened doors for him to preach and minister across denominational lines, including Southern Baptist, Independent Baptist, Free‑Will Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Nondenominational, Full Gospel, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal‑Catholic communities. His ministry has always centered on the conviction that the Gospel of Jesus Christ transcends human boundaries.

From 2022 to 2026, Pastor Justin served within the Independent Sacramental Movement. Much like Martin Luther’s own journey, he began in an Anglo‑Catholic context but eventually found himself compelled to speak out against what he discerned as systemic issues and theological errors. Through prayer, study, and conviction, he came to recognize a deep alignment with Lutheran theology and the Reformation’s commitment to Scripture, grace, and the authority of Christ alone. His transition into the Lutheran tradition reflects a desire to remain faithful to God’s Word above all else.

Pastor Justin’s ministry is marked by a willingness to stand against injustice, challenge unhealthy systems, and follow the truth of Scripture wherever it leads. His heart is to preach Christ crucified, care for God’s people, and lead the church with integrity, compassion, and courage.

On the 15th day of October, in the year of 1996, I was born to Jeff and Neshia Hayes in Bradford TN. I grew up within the area and have remained in the area and surrounding areas for the entirety of my life. I accepted the call to the ministry at the early age of 12 in the Jesus Name Apostolic Movement, but as a preteen, nobody really takes seriously a person that young of age, so I put my call to the ministry on hold until later on down the road. At the age of 17, I had found myself in a little nondenominational church picking the call back up. I worked under my pastor for roughly 5 years until life got in the way. At the age of 22 I gradually began to drift away from the faith until I eventually left the faith altogether, eventually got to the point of questioning God’s existence. Fast forwarding to when I was 27-28, God called me again to tell me He still loved me and that it was time to come back home to where I belonged and to eventually begin to feed His sheep again. And I, this day, am humbled, honored, and grateful to be a Lutheran Pastor.

The Most Rev. Shane R. F. Hughes serves as Archbishop Primate of the Metropolitan Old Catholic Church, offering pastoral leadership, sacramental ministry, and visionary guidance within an inclusive and independent Catholic tradition. He is also a visiting clergy person with the Church of the Risen Christ, supporting its mission through preaching, sacramental service, and spiritual accompaniment.

Born in the East Midlands of the United Kingdom and raised along the rugged beauty of the Jurassic Coast, Archbishop Shane’s early life was shaped by both grounded community values and a deep appreciation for nature, history, and continuity. At the beginning of his professional life, he worked within the National Health Service, where his work in nursing and compassion laid a strong pastoral foundation that continues to inform his ministry today.

With over a decade and a half of ministry experience, Archbishop Shane has developed a reputation for blending tradition with thoughtful renewal. His leadership reflects a commitment to sacramental life, inclusivity, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rooted in the heritage of the wider Catholic and Old Catholic movements while remaining open to contemporary expression.

Now residing in the heart of the Cotswolds, he continues to serve both church and community with dedication. Alongside his ecclesiastical responsibilities, he holds a deep passion for graphic design and heraldry, frequently contributing to the visual identity of churches, ministries, and religious communities. His creative work reflects a love for symbolism, history, and the beauty of sacred tradition expressed through modern design.