Our Leadership and Staff

Rev. Richard Cox

Pastor

Pr. Richard has been a pastor for 7 years and is always looking to encounter Jesus in new ways. He is Husband to his wife of 11 years, Anne, and father to Ellie (11), Charlotte (5), and Jude (4). Before entering the ministry full-time, Pr. Richard studied photo-journalism and still enjoys photography today. When not in the office, you might be able to find him hiking, reading, or wrangling his kids. Pr. Richard loves seafood, travel, and sitting by the Gulf of Mexico.

Gwen Neal

Office Manager

Gwen has been Ascension's  Office Manager for over 20 years . She enjoys cooking, working out at the gym , eating healthy food and singing. 

Ken Kepler

Director of Music

Like many of his childhood contemporaries, Mr. Kepler started piano lessons at age 6-- and wished to quit many times! Thankfully, he didn't and eventually took eight years of piano lessons, two years of organ lessons, and then three more years of piano. Along the way, he played cello and violin in school and taught himself the accordion. He did not plan to make of a career of music, and obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree with the intention of pursuing overseas mission work. Time eventually merged music and religion, and he has served continuously since 1983 as a paid musician in seven churches; the theology training led to several years of adjunct teaching in a community college. He operated a music studio during the 1990's.