Nate Hitchcock

Senior Pastor, Rev.

Nate has served as the pastor of Ascension since 2010. Having been born in the Northwest, raised in the Northeast, married in the Southeast, and spent many years growing his family in the Southwest, Nate is so thankful to have come “full circle” to settle down in beautiful Washington. Nate has been married to his wife Anna for 25 years and the Lord has blessed them with five children. He is a graduate of Covenant College and Westminster Seminary California. Some of the things he loves are preaching the gospel of the grace of God, running, golf, and the sight of soaring bald eagles.

Edward Volz

Pastor Emeritus, Rev.

Ed has served Ascension as Assistant Pastor since its beginning in 2007. A 1969 graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary, he has served churches in both the Presbyterian Church in America and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Ed lives in Bothell with his wife Kathy and together they have two children and six grandchildren. Ed’s interests include hiking, gardening, and talking with folks about how Christianity works in the struggles of life. Ed retired in January 2022 and is now honored as APC’s Pastor Emeritus.

Edward Volz

Pastor Emeritus, Rev.

Ed has served Ascension as Assistant Pastor since its beginning in 2007. A 1969 graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary, he has served churches in both the Presbyterian Church in America and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Ed lives in Bothell with his wife Kathy and together they have two children and six grandchildren. Ed’s interests include hiking, gardening, and talking with folks about how Christianity works in the struggles of life. Ed retired in January 2022 and is now honored as APC’s Pastor Emeritus.

Brian Walsh

Ruling Elder

Brian has been attending Ascension since 2017 and started serving as an Elder in 2024. He was raised in Ireland and emigrated to the USA in his mid 20’s when he married his wife Jill. They lived for the first few years in the North East before transferring to Washington where they have raised their 7 kids with grateful hearts for God’s gracious provision. He is thankful to be a disciple among the disciples of Ascension daily following and seeking to imitate Christ.

C.J. DeGroot

Ruling Elder

C.J. was installed as a ruling elder at APC in March of 2023. Before moving to Washington in 2018, C.J. served as a ruling elder at City Church St. Louis, where he and his wife Keri were founding members and part of the church plant leadership team. C.J. grew up on the west coast (Washington and California), so loves to be back home in the Pacific Northwest. He is an Engineering Manager at Boeing, plays and coaches soccer, and enjoys staying active in the outdoors with Keri and their three kids. C.J. also serves as a drummer/percussionist at APC

Philip Suh

Ruling Elder

Philip is a graduate of Westminster Seminary California and also serves in a professional vocation. Born and raised in the Northwest, he and his wife, Mi, graduated from the UW, have served in youth ministry, and are parents to two energetic children. His ministry passion is to convey the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and walk alongside the younger generations in the faith. Philip was ordained a ruling elder of Ascension in March 2023.

Chris Sledge

Ruling Elder

Chris grew up in Oak Harbor on beautiful Whidbey Island. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and recently completed a career as a naval aviator. Chris and his wife, Monica, have two children and were long-time members of New Life Presbyterian in San Diego, where Chris served as a ruling elder. They joined Ascension Presbyterian after returning to Washington in 2016 and now reside in Mill Creek. Chris was installed as a ruling elder in February 2020. He loves sports and aviation and has a passion for reading (and buying) books, especially theology and history.

Theo Vander Wel

Ruling Elder

Theo has served as an elder at Ascension Presbyterian since April 2014. He was previously an elder, deacon, and boys group counselor in the Christian Reformed Church. Theo and his wife, Linda, live in Woodinville. Their son teaches Spanish in a university and their daughter is a nurse at a Seattle hospital.  They also have a daughter in college. Theo is originally from Wisconsin and Linda is originally from South Dakota. They married upon graduation from Dordt College. Theo is steeped in the Reformed tradition and believes wholeheartedly that we are called to transform the world in all vocations and walks of life. In addition to serving as an elder, Theo’s calling includes the practice of law. Theo enjoys hiking, biking, and running.

Brett Chase

Ruling Elder, Treasurer

Brett has served as an elder at Ascension since October 2016 and also serves as Treasurer. Prior to joining Ascension, Brett served as a ruling elder in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Brett and his wife Elizabeth live in Lake Forest Park with their two teenage sons and their two bulldogs (one French and one English). The Chases are originally from Wisconsin and have spent the past twelve years living in Arizona, California, and of late Washington. Though not a Jus Divinum Presbyterian, Brett does value the pastoral care that results from faithful Presbyterian polity, and he is zealous for the spirituality of the Church — a biblical truth and Presbyterian distinctive that equips Christians to glorify the Father by advancing Christ’s kingdom in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Bob Briest

Deacon

Bob became a member of Ascension in 2021and started serving as a deacon in 2024. Bob and his wife Lyn grew up together in Ballard and settled in Edmonds. They share a home with Lyn’s son and family. Bob is grateful and humbled for the opportunity to serve the body of Christ at Ascension.

Mike Wheeler

Deacon

Mike has been a member of Ascension since 2017, and began serving as a deacon in 2022. Mike and his wife Rebecca grew up in California, and relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2001 where they raised three children. They fell in love with Ascension from the first time they attended, and Mike is grateful for the opportunity to serve the faithful people of the Lord at Ascension Presbyterian.

Kyle Bartlett

Deacon

Kyle became a member of Ascension in August 2017 and started serving as deacon in early 2020. He grew up in Manitoba, Canada and spent several years in California before moving the Pacific Northwest. He and his wife Kristy have two children, whom they are homeschooling. He strongly believes in the benefit of being part of a community of believers.   

Rina Kroes

Office Manager

Rina has been serving churches in the Pacific Northwest since 2012. Born and raised on the African continent, Rina grew up in the Dutch Reformed tradition before emigrating to the USA in 2002. She was a member of the Christian Reformed Church for many years before joining Ascension. She and her adult son live in Lynnwood where they enjoy worshiping and serving the Lord, and being part of the community of their wider church family.