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 Works of the Son

The Works of the Son

| Mike Escen
John 10:22-42
Jesus, The Good Shepherd Pt.2

Jesus, The Good Shepherd Pt.2

| Mike Escen
John 10:11-21
Jesus, The Good Shepherd

Jesus, The Good Shepherd

| Mike Escen
John 10:1-10
Living In The End

Living In The End

| Mike Escen
1 Peter 4:7-11
The Faithful God of the Unfaithful

The Faithful God of the Unfaithful

| Jed States
Hosea 1:1-3:5
Does Jesus Love Me?

Does Jesus Love Me?

| Adrian Owen
Malachi 1:1-5
Enduring Promises of Eternal Restoration

Enduring Promises of Eternal Restoration

| Zack Wayman
Amos 9:11-15
Hope for the Discouraged Church

Hope for the Discouraged Church

| Adrian Owen
Haggai 2:1-9
Micah's Grand Finale

Micah’s Grand Finale

| Mike Escen
Micah 7:18-20
Seeing Jesus

Seeing Jesus

| Mike Escen
John 9:24-41
Baptism Sunday

Baptism Sunday

| Mike Escen
Romans 6:1-4
Sight On The Sabbath

Sight On The Sabbath

| Mike Escen
John 9:13-23
The Blind Shall See

The Blind Shall See

| Mike Escen
John 9:1-12
Greater Than Abraham

Greater Than Abraham

| Mike Escen
John 8:48-59
Freedom In The Son

Freedom In The Son

| Mike Escen
John 8:31-47
Jesus' Dreadful Sermon

Jesus’ Dreadful Sermon

| Mike Escen
John 8:21-30
The Light of the World

The Light of the World

| Mike Escen
John 8:12-20
Neither Do I Condemn You

Neither Do I Condemn You

| Mike Escen
John 7:53-8:11
Of First Importance

Of First Importance

| Mike Escen
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Good Friday Service 2025

Good Friday Service 2025

| Adrian Owen, Mike Escen
2 Corinthians 5:21
Worship and the Family

Worship and the Family

| Mark Brady
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Come and Drink

Come and Drink

| Mike Escen
John 7:37-52
Not His Hour

Not His Hour

| Mike Escen
John 7:25-36
Teaching From God

Teaching From God

| Mike Escen
John 7:14-24
Jesus' Timetable

Jesus’ Timetable

| Mike Escen
John 7:1-13
The Offensive Gospel

The Offensive Gospel

| Mike Escen
John 6:60-71
Feeding On The Bread Of Life

Feeding On The Bread Of Life

| Mike Escen
John 6:41-59
Jesus The Bread Of Life

Jesus The Bread Of Life

| Mike Escen
John 6:30-40
Seeing The Signs

Seeing The Signs

| Mike Escen
John 6:16-29
Has Not the Lord Gone Out Before You

Has Not the Lord Gone Out Before You

| Adrian Owen
Judges 4:1-24

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.