About us

We will gladly reflect the glory of God by teaching the Word of God in the context of loving relationships, reaching spiritually interested people for Jesus Christ, challenging them to become serving disciples.

Our mission and vision

We exist to exalt Jesus by proclaiming His gospel and loving His people. The good news of Jesus’s person and work is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16-17). We want to glorify our Savior by proclaiming and protecting this message in every ministry of the church. Through the gospel, sinners are converted and believers grow (Luke. 24:27; Col. 1:28-29). We also proclaim Christ by our love for one another (John 13:34-35). This love preserves our unity in Christ and builds us up as the body of Christ (Eph. 4:1-7, 15-16).

Exalting Jesus.
Proclaiming His Gospel.
Loving His People.

Interested in membership?

Because of the significance of church membership, we encourage people to gather with Highland Park for at least 6 months before joining the church. We believe members should know their church well and be fully aware of what membership entails. For more membership information, fill out the form below.

If interested complete the form below.

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Ministry staff

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Michael Escen
Senior Pastor

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Jonathan Niles
Associate Pastor

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Adrian Owen
Associate Pastor

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Sue Christensen
Worship Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Deacon

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Cindy Stoeckle
Administrative Assistant

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Joy Escen
Children’s Ministry Assistant

Elders and deacons

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Brian Christensen
Church Chairman, Elder

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Matt Stoeckle
Elder

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Mark Brady
Elder

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Jnel Birkel
Deacon

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Tim Birkel
Deacon

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Jed States
Deacon

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Cindy Ragonese
Deacon

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. 

Contact Sue

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.

Contact Kevin

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.

Contact Adrian

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.

Contact Jonathan

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