Ministry Staff
Mike 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.
Kevin Bennett
Pastor of Administration
Kevin graduated from Grace University in Omaha, NE with a double major in Christian Ministry and Bible. He provides oversight for much of the day-to-day operations of the church (facility, finances, and personnel) and serves closely alongside the staff of Pastors, Elders, and other leadership groups in the church. He fulfills the role of Missions Leadership Team Chairman. He and his wife Joan, have four grown children and nine grandchildren.
Trevor Doles
Pastor of Student Ministries
Trevor attended Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis, Indiana (BA) and received his Master of Divinity from The Master’s Seminary in Los Angeles, CA in 2015. He joined the pastoral staff at Highland Park in 2015 as the Pastor of Student Ministries. Trevor oversees the areas of student ministry, young adults and discipleship. He has a passion to see people grow in their love for their local church, to see them develop a hunger for the Word and to the see the body of Christ care for itself and others in their community and beyond. He and his wife Olivia are the parents of three boys, Xander, Malachi, and Riah.
Jonathan Niles
Director of Family Ministries
Jonathan graduated from Hastings College in Hastings, NE (BA) in 2001 and is currently working to obtain 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 and he and his wife direct the Royal Family KIDS ministry. Jonathan also works closely with the Worship Coordinator in the planning of Sunday worship. He and his wife Cristine have three daughters, Emily, Abigail and Sara.
Sue Christensen
Worship Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Deacon
Sue serves as the Worship Coordinator, planning musical worship and coordinating the worship teams. She loves to hear the body of Christ praising God and proclaiming truth through song. Sue also serves as an administrative assistant for finance and membership. In her deacon role, Sue serves in Women’s Ministry 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 and Nels Iver.
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.
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. She loves sharing the gospel with little ones who have never heard it before as well as those who have been involved in the area of children’s ministry for years. Joy is married to Mike and they have three boys, Eli, Carter and Brady.