What We Believe

Doctrinal Statement

EFCA Statement of Faith

The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around these theological convictions:

God

1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.

The Bible

2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.

The Human Condition

3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.

Jesus Christ

4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.

The Work of Christ

5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

The Holy Spirit

6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

The Church

7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.

Christian Living

8. We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

Christ’s Return

9. We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.

Response and Eternal Destiny

10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.

Our Distinctives

In addition to our statement of faith, we believe it is necessary to clarify and uphold certain distinctives that mark out our church as uniquely committed to what we understand the New Testament to teach regarding the church’s doctrine and practice.

Expository Preaching and Teaching…

that exposes the intended meaning of the Biblical text as written by the authors of Scripture and presented in a relevant and practical way, resulting in changed lives.

Repentant Faith…

that clarifies the true Gospel which requires faith in the Person and Work of Christ and repentance towards God resulting in justification by faith, the forgiveness of sins.

The Doctrines of Grace…

that embrace with firm conviction the eternally sovereign purposes of God in the work of Christ, applied to the helpless sinner in salvation, resulting in the praise of His glory.

God-centered Worship…

that extolls the worth of God as a redeemed people in a volitional, intellectual, and emotional response to His Person as expressed in the work of Christ’s atonement and revealed in the Word of God.

Believer’s Baptism…

as a Christ-ordained symbol of one’s union with Christ and His Church through conversion, therefore, it is a step of obedience reserved for those who profess faith in Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4)

Biblical Counseling…

using all the all-sufficient Scriptures as the only resource for living godly in the face of life’s problems, resulting in obedience and righteous interpersonal relationships.

Plurality of Eldership…

leading the local church by the God-given authority and wisdom of Biblically qualified men united under the Lordship of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, resulting in edification as a church.

Authentic Community…

living out Biblical Christianity in the context of life with other believers in a genuine way, vitally connected to one another in the local church through fellowship, accountability, prayer, discipleship, serving and using spiritual gifts, resulting in spiritual friendships that stimulate Christlikeness.

Church Discipline…

purifying the church from unrepentant patterns of sin in the lives of people through a process of restoration as outlined in the Scriptures, in an effort to enforce accountability to the standard of God’s holiness, resulting in a chaste Bride with a vibrant witness.

Statement on Marriage…

God has designed marriage and defined it in His Word as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself (Gen. 1:27; 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). For this reason, Highland Park Church will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Click here for our marriage and wedding policy at Highland Park.

Equipping Classes

Care Groups

Children's Ministries

Missions

Royal Family KIDS

Student Ministries

Worship Team

Cindy Ragonese

Deacon

Cindy serves in the management of the 38th Street Coffee shop. She and her husband Chris have two married children, Garrett (Jessi) and Anna (Kyson Krepel). Cindy has one grandson, Nolan.

Jed States

Deacon

Jed serves in our Usher Ministry. Jed is married to Melissa and has three daughters, Adelynn, Makenzie, Hannah, and one son, Asher.

Tim Birkel

Deacon

Tim serves in Sound/Worship technology running sound for Sunday morning and overseeing the sound/technology team. He and his wife Jnel, have three daughters: Elisha (married to Andrew Davis), Shayna, Melea (married to Zach Weinmeister), and are foster parents to one son, Jeff Coughtry. They are grandparents to 6 adorable grandchildren.

Jnel Birkel

Deacon

Jnel serves in Compassion/Fellowship ministry organizing and overseeing meals provided for funerals and other church wide fellowship events. Jnel is married to Tim and they have three children: Elisha (married to Andrew Davis), Shayna, Melea (married to Zach Weinmeister), and are foster parents to one son, Jeff Coughtry. They are grandparents to 6 adorable grandchildren.

Mark Brady

Elder

Mark serves with Pastor Adrian in the youth ministry. Mark and his wife Lana have three children, Carter, Elliot, and Graham.

Matt Stoeckle

Elder

Matt serves with Pastor Adrian in Adult Equipping classes. He and wife, Cindy, have 3 adult children, daughter Callie and twin sons, Noah and Nicholas.

Mark Kasik

Elder

Mark is involved in Men’s Ministry aside from serving on the Elder Board. Mark and his wife, Louise, have 6 grown children, 4 of which are married, and 5 grandchildren.

Brian Christensen

Church Chairman, Elder

Brian serves as Church Chairman and as an advisor for the elder team in general. He and his wife, Sue, have 3 children, Kyle (married to Jerica), Anne, Grace and 3 wonderful grandchildren.

Joy Escen

Children's Ministry Assistant

Joy works alongside the Children’s Ministry Director and provides support and assistance in the areas of Children’s Equipping Classes, Awana, and Vacation Bible School. Joy is married to Mike and they have three boys, Eli, Carter and Brady.

Contact Joy

Cindy Stoeckle

Administrative Assistant

Cindy works closely with the pastors of church as an administrative assistant providing support for them in their areas of ministry. Cindy is married to Matt and they have three adult children, Callie and twins, Noah and Nick.

Contact Cindy

Sue Christensen

Worship Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Deacon

Sue serves as the Worship Coordinator and deacon, planning musical worship with our Senior Pastor and organizing the worship teams. Sue also serves as an administrative assistant for finance and is involved in women’s discipleship. Sue is married to Brian and has three children, Kyle and wife, Jerica, Anne and Grace and is a happy grandma to Margot Ruth, Nels Iver, and Mads Jordan. 

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Kevin Bennett

Associate Pastor

Kevin oversees the care for our seniors within the congregation. He and his wife Joan, have four grown children and ten grandchildren.

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Adrian Owen

Associate Pastor

Adrian attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College where he earned his BA in Biblical Studies and Master of Divinity in 2022. Adrian joined Highland Park in 2023 and serves on staff as an Associate Pastor. His specific areas of oversight include student ministries, equipping ministries, and member care. He and his wife Melody have been married since 2019. Together they enjoy reading, watching movies, and going on coffee dates. They have one child, Anselm.

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Jonathan Niles

Associate Pastor

Jonathan graduated from Hastings College in Hastings, NE (BA) in 2001 and has received his master’s degree in Theology and Biblical Counseling from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jonathan joined the staff of Highland Park in 2016. Jonathan has oversight of Highland Park Children’s Ministries, the church facility,  and he and his wife direct the Royal Family KIDS ministry. Jonathan also works closely with the other pastors and the elders in the counseling ministry. He and his wife Cristine have three daughters, Emily, Abigail and Sara.

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Michael Escen

Senior Pastor

Mike studied at Master’s University (BA) and The Master’s Seminary in Los Angeles, CA where he received his Master of Divinity in 2010. That same year, he began his tenure at Highland Park serving for 3 years as Pastor of Student Ministries. He has been in the role of Senior Pastor since 2013. As Senior Pastor, he has oversight for the mission and vision of the church as a whole and is responsible for the preaching of the Word each week. He delights in seeing the Spirit of God work through the proclamation of His Word. He and his wife Joy have three boys- Eli, Carter, and Brady.

Contact Mike