OUR STAFF & ELDERS
Roger Sodsod
Lead Pastor & Elder
Roger is passionate about seeing people experience grace, 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 now 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 in Kansas City, Missouri. 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, vacationing in Florida, reading voraciously (click here to see his recommended books), walking around Lake Alice, riding motorcycles, smoking meat, cooking, playing/studying chess, playing pool, buying/selling/collecting watches, and roller skating and playing video games with Aiden.
Shawn Fitzgerald
Director of Children and Youth
Shawn is a Jesus-loving, homeschooling, hobby-farming mom of four amazing kids. She was born and raised in the suburbs of Minnesota, but for more than 14 years, she has been blessed to call this beautiful lakes country home.
Shawn has a genuine passion for helping young people discover who they are in Christ, recognize the unique gifts God has given them, and understands that their lives have meaning, purpose, and a place in God's story. She believes the Church has an incredible opportunity to come alongside families and make a lasting investment in the lives of the next generation.
Shawn's heart is to help create welcoming, Christ-centered spaces where children and youth know they are seen, loved, and valued; where they can ask honest questions, grow in their understanding of God’s Word, and develop a personal faith that will continue to shape their lives.
As part of her role at Hilltop, Shawn has the joy of helping lead Kingdom Kids, our children’s church ministry; Kingdom Kids Club, our Wednesday children’s program; and THRIVE, our Wednesday youth program. She also has the privilege of leading our American Heritage Girls troop, where she enjoys encouraging girls to grow in faith, character, confidence, leadership, and a heart for serving others.
Outside of ministry, Shawn loves adventuring outdoors and making memories with her family. Farm chores keep them busy in the best way. She especially enjoys growing pumpkins and sunflowers. Sunflowers have become a special reminder to her of where our focus belongs: just as they turn toward the light, she wants her life to continually turn toward the Son and reflect His light, beauty, and faithfulness.
Shawn is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve our church and its families in this new role. Her prayer is that every child and young person who walks through our doors would encounter the love of Jesus, know without question that they belong, and be equipped to live boldly and faithfully wherever God calls them.
Amy Smith
Church Admin
Amy dedicated her life to the Lord back in 2010. Since then, her life has been a great testament of the redemption, grace, transformation, and growth you can find when you surrender your life to Christ. Amy is married to her husband, Zac, and together they have four children. They have been attending Hilltop since 2022. Amy has served in several areas of the church and enjoys being a part of the Hilltop community. In her free time, Amy loves to spend time with her family and friends. She enjoys being outdoors - especially on the lake, working on art projects, reading, creative writing (she has published 2 books so far), completing puzzles, watching movies, shopping, and cooking.
Shawna Zelinsky
Director of AV and Community Outreach
Shawna has been part of Hilltop since the summer of 2009 and has called it home ever since her youth group days. She jumped into serving in the sound booth at 16 and has been involved in ministry ever since.
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Over the years, Shawna has served in a variety of areas, including children’s and youth ministry, and now leads as the director of AV and outreach. She is passionate about helping people discover their gifts and loves getting to walk alongside others as they step into them.
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Outside of Hilltop, Shawna is the founder and president of Action Ministries, the nonprofit behind the Blessing Closet, a free store serving the community.
When she’s not at church, you’ll likely find her out exploring whether that’s hiking, car camping across the country, or visiting National Parks. She rarely goes anywhere without her camera, always on the lookout for birds and wildlife to photograph. She also enjoys staying active through hockey, cycling, and rollerblading.
