Sermons

Our preaching ministry

In our preaching ministry we desire to explain what God’s Word states and apply it to God’s people. This priority comes from the understanding that God grows His people through the divinely-inspired Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17). As a church we are currently studying Daniel.

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The Writing on the Wall

The Writing on the Wall

| Mike Escen
Daniel 5:1-30
The Most High Rules

The Most High Rules

| Mike Escen
Daniel 4:1-37
Prepared to Stand Firm

Prepared to Stand Firm

| Mike Escen
Daniel 3:1-30
Jesus Shall Reign

Jesus Shall Reign

| Mike Escen
Daniel 2:1-49
Holy Resolve

Holy Resolve

| Mike Escen
Daniel 1:8-21
Kings and Exiles

Kings and Exiles

| Mike Escen
Daniel 1:1-7
The Most Important Command

The Most Important Command

| Kwacha Simwaka
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Baptism

Baptism

| Mike Escen
Mathew 28:16-20
The Good Life

The Good Life

| Mike Escen
Psalm 112:1-10
The Consequences of Sin

The Consequences of Sin

| Adrian Owen
2 Kings 21:1-26
Joyful Praise

Joyful Praise

| Mark Brady
Psalm 100:1-5
From Sorrow to Joy

From Sorrow to Joy

| Zack Wayman
Psalm 13:1-6
He Comes to Make His Blessings Flow

He Comes to Make His Blessings Flow

| Adrian Owen
Psalm 65:1-13
A Declaration of Dependence

A Declaration of Dependence

| Jed States
Psalm 139:13-24
Follow Me

Follow Me

| Mike Escen
John 21:15-25
Fish Stories

Fish Stories

| Mike Escen
John 21:1-14
Unbelieving Thomas

Unbelieving Thomas

| Mike Escen
John 20:24-31
Jesus Among the Disciples

Jesus Among the Disciples

| Mike Escen
John 20:19-23
Mary Sees the Lord

Mary Sees the Lord

| Mike Escen
John 20:11-18
Witnesses at the Tomb

Witnesses at the Tomb

| Mike Escen
John 20:1-10
According to the Scriptures

According to the Scriptures

| Mike Escen
John 19:31-42
It is Finished

It is Finished

| Mike Escen
John 19:17-30
Behold the Man!

Behold the Man!

| Mike Escen
John 19:1-19
Are You the King of the Jews?

Are You the King of the Jews?

| Mike Escen
John 18:28-40
Trial and Denial

Trial and Denial

| Mike Escen
John 18:12-27
The Arrest of Jesus

The Arrest of Jesus

| Mike Escen
John 18:1-11
My Redeemer Lives

My Redeemer Lives

| Mike Escen
Job 19:25-27
Good Friday Service 2026

Good Friday Service 2026

| Mike Escen and the Highland Park Worship Team
Isaiah 53:4-6
Jesus Prays for Us

Jesus Prays for Us

| Mike Escen
John 17:20-26
Raised With Christ

Raised With Christ

| Mark Brady
Colossians 3:1-17

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.