Leadership

Pastor Brian Roloff was called from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to Ascension in July 2012.  He has a passion for preaching and enjoys turning everyday conversations into subtle opportunities to encourage others with the gospel.  Pastor Roloff graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 2002 with a double major in History and Social Studies for Secondary Education.  He later completed the seminary certification program at Martin Luther College and earned his Master’s of Divinity degree at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.  Brian and his wife, Christy, live in Plymouth with their three young children.
 

She has a graphic design degree from UW-Stout in 2004. Christy's main responsibilities are creating weekly bulletins and weekly news. She also creates monthly messengers and other publications that need to be laid out. Other responsibilities include upkeep of website and social media. She enjoys being creative and organized. 

Michelle handles various administrative duties including preschool invoicing and bookkeeping. She received her B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from University of Minnesota Duluth. Michelle and her husband have two daughters. They have been members of Ascension Lutheran Church for over 15 years. In her spare time Michelle enjoys playing tennis and volleyball.

She organizes and leads the church’s various musical groups, including adult choir, family choir, children’s choir for grades K-8, and the summer Vacation Bible School music. She also works with various soloists and vocal/instrumental ensembles to lead songs for Sunday worship. Susan has been involved in music leadership since 1998, serving as organist, choir and concert accompanist, instrumentalist, piano teacher, composer, organ/piano soloist, choir director, and vocal coach.

Susan received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Secondary Communication Arts & Literature Education from Martin Luther College, and her master’s degree in English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in English Pedagogy & Technology from Murray State University. She has been teaching English at West Lutheran High School since 2013, and leads a variety of extra-curricular activities there.

“What I enjoy most about my work at Ascension is helping enhance our worship service experience so worshippers leave feeling uplifted by God’s Word and enthusiastic to return and learn more. When people come to our services, they hear the saving message of the Gospel through the pastor’s sermon echoed in the music we sing. I also love creating opportunities for many people, from children to adults, to get involved in music. Music is such a powerful way for us to express our thanks and praise to God for His great love for us.” As an English teacher and musician, she especially takes to heart the words of renowned children’s fairy tale author, Hans Christian Andersen: “Where words fail, music speaks.”

Jennifer Tripp has a bachelor’s degree from Winona State and a K-12 reading license from Hamline University.  She has over 25 years of diverse teaching experiences.  Jennifer served in the preschool teacher role for over half of these years.  She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham, multi-sensory approach to teaching reading.  She has used this methodology as a literacy specialist and reading tutor for children of various ages. Jennifer and her husband Mike are members of Ascension and have two grown daughters.
 
“Every day I have the blessing of coming to work and sharing the good news of Christ’s love with children and their families.  There is so much comfort in God’s promises.  These children are our future and with Christ’s salvation we have so much hope.” -Jennifer Tripp