Leadership
Meet our Pastors & Staff
Roger Dayton
Lead Pastor
Roger has been serving as the lead pastor at Elevation Church Billings since June of 2019. Before taking the position at Elevation, he served in youth ministry for 12 years and was also the Dean of Students/Theology Professor at Yellowstone Christian College.
He finds great enjoyment in spending time with his family, teaching stories from God’s Word, and watching the MSU Bobcats beat the Griz!
Roger and Jessica have 3 girls and a little dude who keeps them busy…they are always in desperate need of coffee. Roger and Jessica are from Billings, and they love the opportunity to serve in their hometown and see people far from God come alive in Christ.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
Max Soft
Pastor of Christian Education,
Spiritual Development, and Apologetics
Spiritual Development, and Apologetics
Max was born and raised in Billings, Montana and received his Bachelor's degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, his ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, and received an honorary Doctorate in Divinity from Yellowstone Christian College after teaching history and Theology there for 21 years. Max also taught theology and history at the University of Mary and Little Bighorn College.
Max has three children: Edmond James (EJ), Konnar, and Aubree. He loves the Cleveland Browns, Montana Grizzlies, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and basically any team playing Duke in basketball or Alabama in football! He enjoys reading and doing research, and he loves to teach.
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach God's statutes and ordinances to Israel.
Ezra 7:10
Max has three children: Edmond James (EJ), Konnar, and Aubree. He loves the Cleveland Browns, Montana Grizzlies, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and basically any team playing Duke in basketball or Alabama in football! He enjoys reading and doing research, and he loves to teach.
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach God's statutes and ordinances to Israel.
Ezra 7:10
Peyton Hathaway
Student Pastor
Peyton is from Yuba City, California and moved to Billings with his wife, Emily, to serve the students of Elevation. He has a heart for student ministry and has been involved in ministry his whole life. He has a Bachelors in Youth Ministry from Grand Canyon University (Lopes Up). He has served with Younglife, North Phoenix Baptists Students and various camp ministries . He first found his love for Montana after working two summers as a Crew Boy Counselor at Clydehurst Christian Ranch. He enjoys disc golf, hockey, aquariums, burritos, and anything outdoors. Peyton loves to teach students about Jesus and the plans that God has for them.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:20
Freddie Bennett
Kids Director
In 2016, Freddie and her family of six—husband, Austin, and children, Salem and Coram-Deo, Parousia, and Amala—left Mesa, AZ to return to her Montanan roots as a Christian. Often comparing her own life to that of the woman that washed Jesus’s feet, Freddie’s faith solidified through trusting “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinithians 5:17).” She brings a combined six years of administration experience in the non-profit and church worlds as a manager for Scottsdale-based teenage risk prevention non-profit, NotMyKid, and as the backhouse supervisor for children’s ministry at Redemption Church (Tempe, AZ). Returning home has not been easy, but she is excited to fish, snowboard, and serve Elevation Church as the Kids Director. She explains, “My heart’s desire is to see redemption on this side of heaven in the lives of everyone I meet, especially in the children I have the privilege to be around.”
Bree Jones
Events Coordinator and Groups Director
Bree moved from Southern California to Billings as a freshman in high school and has lived here for over 20 years. She grew up in church and has parents who gave her a solid foundation.
Bree has been married to Dan for 21 years and they have two beautiful kids, Chloe and Eric. Bree has always had a heart to serve and loves it whole-heartedly. Her passion is to serve others and see them grow in their faith by being in the Word and getting involved by serving those at Elevation Church Billings. Bree loves spending time with family and cooking for others in her free time.
For even the son of man didn't come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45
Bree has been married to Dan for 21 years and they have two beautiful kids, Chloe and Eric. Bree has always had a heart to serve and loves it whole-heartedly. Her passion is to serve others and see them grow in their faith by being in the Word and getting involved by serving those at Elevation Church Billings. Bree loves spending time with family and cooking for others in her free time.
For even the son of man didn't come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45
Edgar Garcia
Community Outreach Director
Edgar is originally from Tijuana Mexico. He moved to San Diego in 1993 where he went to high school. He graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a B.A and M.A in Spanish Literature. He’s currently in seminary working on an M.A in Pastoral Leadership. Married to Tiffany since 2011., they have two children Annalise and Thomas. Edgar moved to Billings in 2019 and started attending Elevation Church Billings in September of the same year. Edgar is currently on staff as the Office Manager and Community Outreach Coordinator. Edgar was first introduced to the Faith back in 1990 and gave his life to Christ the same year. What Edgar loves about Elevation is the “Come as you are” approach to people far from God.
Shaina Delker
Next Steps Coordinator and Communications Director
Shaina was born in Billings then moved to Missouri where she met her husband in high school. She then attended Missouri State University and got a BS in Psychology before and her husband got married in 2015. The two of them moved back to Montana in 2016 and started attending Elevation. She grew up in church and has had many leadership and serving roles. In addition to the Next Steps Coordinator, she is the Event Coordinator for MTSBC and is in a Biblical Counseling internship. She is passionate about loving people well and developing relationships that reflect Jesus’ love for us.
Loren Soft
Church Administrator
Loren was born and raised in Eastern Montana in the small town of Richey. At the Alliance Church in Richey, Loren gave his life to Christ at age 12 during a missionary presentation. Following his high school graduation in 1960, he was given a football scholarship to Eastern Montana College (MSUB). Loren graduated from EMC in 1965 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Education and a Masters Degree in counseling in 1973. Following graduation, Loren began what was to become his lifelong career of 39 years working with children and adolescents at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch and Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, retiring in 2004. In 2004, Loren joined Faith Evangelical Church in Billings as the Church Administrator. He retired from that positon in 2019 and later that year was asked to serve as the Church Administrator (Volunteer) for Elevation Church. Loren and his wife Janice were married in 1961 and celebrate 63 years of marriage. They are the parents of two daughters, Barbara and Sonya. They enjoy spending time with their four grandchildren.
Sue Jackson
Office Assistant
Sue has been at Elevation Church Billings since 2016 and loves the fact that for Elevation, it is more important to reach out to those far from God than it is to "impress" people.
Following along that thought, many of the things she does for Elevation are "behind the scenes." She works with Elevation's Finance Officer to help with the books and helps keep information in Elevation's computer system updated. She is responsible for keeping communion supplies available and reaching out to and arranging baptisms, and she helps prepare both crafts/artwork for Kids Ministry. Sue makes sure seating is available in the auditorium and is available to greet and welcome people on Sunday mornings.
Serving the Elevation Church Billings family is one way Sue can share God's love with others and try to show them how very, very, very much they are loved and accepted by Him.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
Following along that thought, many of the things she does for Elevation are "behind the scenes." She works with Elevation's Finance Officer to help with the books and helps keep information in Elevation's computer system updated. She is responsible for keeping communion supplies available and reaching out to and arranging baptisms, and she helps prepare both crafts/artwork for Kids Ministry. Sue makes sure seating is available in the auditorium and is available to greet and welcome people on Sunday mornings.
Serving the Elevation Church Billings family is one way Sue can share God's love with others and try to show them how very, very, very much they are loved and accepted by Him.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
Mark Hansen
Care Pastor & Lead Elder
Mark and Jo Hansen began serving with the Elevation body of Christ in 2015. Mark has been serving as Lead Elder and Care Pastor since 2016. Native Montanans, they have been serving together since their early 70's college years. Mark taught English, Physical Education, Health, and Social Studies in grades 6-12 for 30 years, mostly in Worland, Wyoming. Receiving a Master of Divinity in 1985, Mark pastored vocationally for three years, until deciding to return to teaching, pastoring as a volunteer. They enjoy many family events with their three adult children and six grandchildren. Mark plays racquetball year-round and enjoys golfing. Jo enjoys opening her home for dinner fellowships and serving on the HEART Fellowship lead team, nursery, and Next Steps. Elevation has been their most enjoyable, meaningful, and rewarding local body of Christ-followers.
Rita Brown
Finance Officer
Rita Brown was born and raised in Billings. She loves the area as she is an outdoors girl and there is so much here. Rita was saved in 1989 and she describes it was a very powerful and pivotal point in her life. She has been married to Todd for 31 years, and they have three boys who are all in college - one in med school, one just graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, and the other a junior with the hopes of being the next Oscar winning screenwriter!