About Us
Mission Statement
Encounter Jesus.
Heal deeply.
Rise together.
Purpose Statement
REACH THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT ARE LOST,
STRENGTHEN THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT ARE FOUND.
ALL TO BE DONE BY THE POWER OF CHRIST JESUS WHO DWELLS WITHIN.
Our Pastors
Founding Pastor Jeff Hill
Pastor Jeff Hill is the founding pastor of Ascension and has spent his life helping people experience real transformation through faith, perseverance, and honest community. With more than twenty years of ministry and leadership experience, Jeff is known for his straightforward, compassionate style and his deep conviction that no life is beyond redemption. Much of Jeff’s work has been with individuals and families walking through addiction, loss, and major life transitions, but his calling has always been broader than one area. He has a heart for people who feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of who they are becoming, and he believes the Church should be a place where people can encounter Jesus in a real way and begin again. Jeff’s leadership is shaped not only by ministry, but also by years of building businesses, leading teams, and walking through life with people outside the walls of the church. Together, Jeff and Shauna bring experience in leadership, academics, mental health, and ministry, allowing them to guide people with a perspective that is both spiritually grounded and deeply practical. His desire for Ascension is to build a church where people can heal deeply, grow in their faith, and rise into the life God has called them to live, not alone, but together.
Senior Pastor Blayr Alexander
Pastor Blayr Alexander is the Senior Pastor of Ascension Church | Minneapolis, where he leads with a dynamic and urban style that speaks to the heart of the city. Known for his ability to merge biblical truth and biblical theology with cultural relevance, Pastor Blayr delivers messages that are both sophisticated and practical, reaching people across generations. The overall mission of Ascension Church is to “Encounter Jesus. Heal Deeply. Rise Together.” Personally, Pastor Blayr carries a deep conviction to “reach the lives of those that are lost, strengthen the lives of those that are found, all to be done by the power of Christ Jesus who dwells within.” His ministry is centered on discipleship, acceptance, restoration, and transformation, equipping people to grow in faith and impact their communities as leaders. Pastor Blayr is also a devoted husband to Rosa Alexander, with whom he has shared 12 years of marriage and 16 years together. Together, they are the proud parents of two sons who are a central part of their life and ministry. In addition to his pastoral calling, Pastor Blayr brings a wealth of experience from his professional career, where he has overseen leadership development, strategic planning, and community-building initiatives. His unique ability to bridge faith, leadership, and practical strategy has positioned him as both a pastor and a builder — raising leaders, building people, and transforming spaces for kingdom advancement.
Pastor Danny Hernandez
Pastor Danny Hernandez has been a part of the ministry for 11 years. His journey within the ministry has seen him serve as Youth Director, Youth Pastor, and Associate Pastor. He is deeply passionate about "faith in action" - meeting both the spiritual and natural needs of the church and the surrounding community. Outside of his ministry work, he finds his greatest joy in life with his wife, Crystal, their three children and the family dog. To anyone visiting for the first time, he offers a simple invitation: "Come take a chance and see for yourself what God is doing. Keep coming back, get planted, and watch how you grow into the unique purpose and plan God has for your life."
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Dr. Shauna Hill
Dr. Shauna Rae Hill serves alongside her husband, Pastor Jeff, with a passion for helping people grow in their relationships, their faith, and their understanding of themselves. She holds a doctorate in Family Social Science with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy and works as an educator, therapist, and speaker, focusing on emotional health, family systems, forgiveness, and personal healing. Shauna’s work centers on the belief that spiritual growth and emotional healing cannot be separated. Through teaching, counseling, and ministry, she has worked with individuals, couples, and families who are navigating change, rebuilding trust, and learning how to live with greater honesty and freedom. Together, Jeff and Shauna share a desire to lead in a way that is both spiritually strong and emotionally aware. Their combined background in ministry, leadership, business, and mental health shapes a holistic and trauma informed approach that values real healing, real discipleship, and real life change. As Ascension begins this new chapter, Shauna’s heart is to help create a church where people can encounter God personally, experience deep restoration, and grow into the person they were created to be, while walking that journey alongside others.
Senior Pastor Rosa Alexander
Pastor Rosa Alexander is a faith-filled leader and visionary with a heart for building people and purpose in Christ. The seed of her faith was planted early by her father, whose steady example continues to shape her ministry today. She now walks in the fruit of that foundation, serving alongside her husband, Senior Pastor Blayr Alexander. Pastor Rosa is passionate about discipleship and creating spaces where people encounter the transforming power of Jesus. Her leadership is marked by conviction, compassion, and a commitment to seeing lives restored, rooted, and released into their God-given calling.
Pastor Rick Smith
Pastor Rick serves as a leader at Ascension, helping guide men and the broader community in their faith, growth, and walk with Christ. He has played a key role in building Ascension Men, cultivating an environment where men are challenged to grow in integrity, pursue truth, and put Jesus first in every area of their lives. Rick is a man of strong conviction and deep theological understanding, grounded in both truth and lived experience. He teaches with clarity and purpose, bringing Scripture to life in a way that is both practical and transformative. As he continues to step into teaching Bible Study and ministering more broadly, his heart is to help people grow in their understanding of God’s Word and live it out with confidence and consistency. He is a devoted husband whose wife faithfully walked alongside him before going home to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer. Her life and faith continue to shape and strengthen his own, and remain a part of the legacy he carries forward. Rick’s desire is to see people fully surrendered to Christ, living with purpose, and becoming who God has called them to be.