OUR LEADERS
ROGER SODSOD
Lead Pastor
Roger is passionate about seeing people experience salvation, freedom, healing, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and a new sense of purpose as they are equipped to fulfill their calling in the Kingdom of God.
Originally from Winter Park, Florida, Roger has been married to Jackie since 2001. Now that their adult son, Aiden, is working at Lake Region hospital and has moved out, they’re empty nesters. They also have a tuxedo cat named Joy.
Roger has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Florida, a Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a certificate in leadership and Biblical studies from the Vineyard Leadership Institute, and a Master of Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While beginning his career as an opera singer, the Lord abruptly called him into ministry at an Encounter God retreat, and he began serving in ministry in 2003.
Roger enjoys date nights with Jackie, reading, running, weight lifting, martial arts, riding motorcycles (he has a Triumph Sprint 955i), smoking meat, playing pool, chess, watching movies, buying/selling/collecting watches, and roller skating and going to superhero movies with Aiden.
LORA MARFELL
Administrative Assistant
Lora has been apart of Hilltop since 2014 and took on the role of Administrative Assistant in 2020 . She has a passion for planning/organizing, supporting the different ministries within the church and being able to connect with people at Hilltop and within the community. She also has been personally involved in the kitchen ministry, women's ministry and most recently the Youth Group (THRIVE).
In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, crafting, organizing, and driving her VW Beetle.
Lora has been married to her husband Ben for 23 years and the have 2 daughters Abigail (married to Jacob Wolter) & Emma (engaged to Cole Mahler), a German Shepherd (Anna) & a cat (Willie).
LORI DIAZ-LANE
Children's Director
Lori has been attending Hilltop and serving our church family faithfully in countless ways since early 2007. She took on the role of Children’s Ministry Coordinator in February 2015, and she oversees the ministry to our children from 5th grade on down to infants. Lori is passionate about working with children of all ages, and she loves seeing them discover their God-given potential and purpose in life.
When she’s not at Hilltop, she enjoys coaching speech, managing her family resort, cooking, gardening, painting and designing.
Lori and her husband Kevin have two wonderful daughters, Haley (married to Auke) and Caroline.
HILLTOP ELDERS
Chris Hamilton
Arlan Symens
Sam Richter
Keith Billings
Chris has been married to his high school sweetheart, Rondi, for 17 years and they have 6 children: Kaeden, Isaac, Macaila, Luke, Simeon and Benny.
Chris & his family have been attending Hilltop since 2006.
Both Chris & Rondi grew up in Fergus Falls and graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy.
Chris graduated from MSUM with a degree in Business.
For 4 years their family served
on a church-planting team in
the Middle East. During this time, their youngest son was
born in Dubai.
Chris enjoys fishing, hunting, camping, hiking and etc.
Rondi love baking and traveling abroad.
Something that may interest
you is that Chris can juggle
and Rondi can bake a
mean cheesecake.
Sam been married to Shirley for 48 years and they have 3 sons &
6 grandchildren.
Josh married to Kate;
Wyatt, Winston & Wyllow
Dan married to Nikki;
Ben & Jamie
Matt married to Jamie;
Xavier
Sam & Shirley have been
attending Hilltop since 2014.
They both attended the FFCC and Rhema Bible Training Center
in Broken Arrow, OK.
They have lived in: Fergus Falls, Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Grand Forks, Fergus Falls,
Broken Arrow (OK), Coos Bay (OR), Reedsport (OR), New Ulm and have settled in Fergus Falls.
In Sam's free time he enjoys fishing and home improvement projects. Shirley enjoys puzzles and quilting. Together they enjoy flower & vegetable gardening and reading.
Arlan is married to Nancy.
Keith is married to Sonja and they have 9 adult children.