LEADERS
GET TO KNOW OUR LEADERS
Rev. Jeremy Bellsmith
Lead Pastor
Jeremy was born into the church—the son of a church leader, fluent in its language and rhythms from an early age. But along with faith, he also encountered the church’s flaws. He saw how hurt people can hurt others, how honest questions can trigger defensiveness, and how churches sometimes fracture and fall apart.
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Layered on top of that came deeper questions: Is the Bible really true? Can science and faith coexist? How do I love marginalized groups like my 2SLGBTQ+ friends and family well?
These questions set the stage for a lifelong wrestling match with God.
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Jeremy didn’t plan to become a pastor. In fact, he stumbled into ministry 30 years ago, somewhat reluctantly. But that calling became the arena for his ongoing wrestle—one where deconstruction, doubt, and deep questioning weren’t signs of failure, but pathways to a more honest, rooted faith.
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He discovered that asking God good questions can draw you closer to Jesus. Again and again, God proved faithful and trustworthy.
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When Jeremy and Austin launched UpperLVL, their shared vision was to create an environment where people could bring their real questions and whole selves—no perfect words, no rituals required. It’s a space for the curious, the skeptical, the burned-out, and the hopeful, as well as those already burning for Jesus.
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Jeremy doesn’t claim to have all the answers. But he knows the One who does—and he’s committed to helping others wrestle their way toward Him too.
Lay Pastor | DJ
Austin Penner
Austin didn’t grow up in the Christian faith. For over a decade, he struggled with addiction and identity until he hit rock bottom at 27. In that place of brokenness, he cried out to Jesus—and everything changed. In late 2021, Austin surrendered his life to Christ and began a journey of healing, freedom, and transformation.
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Not long after, he walked into church for the first time and met Pastor Jeremy. The two quickly became close friends, united by a shared desire to reach people far from faith with the love of Jesus.
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Austin had been DJing at LevelTwo Nightclub since 2017, but when the club reopened post-pandemic in 2022, his life looked radically different. Now sober and following Jesus, he wrestled with questions: Can I still DJ? Could club music and ministry really go together? How do I reach my scene with the gospel?
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Through prayer and reflection, Austin and Jeremy were inspired by how Jesus met people where they were—right in the middle of everyday life. That sparked a bold idea: what if they started a church in the club?
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Doors opened quickly. In partnership with LevelTwo, their first UpperLVL Worship service launched—exactly one year after Austin got sober. In September 2022, he stepped back into the same DJ booth to share a different message — the radical love of Jesus through his music.
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Today, Austin serves as worship DJ and lay-pastor of UpperLVL while pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. He creates custom DJ sets that remix worship anthems, hymns, EDM, and Christian hip hop—fusing high-energy sound with a life-changing message. Alongside a growing team, Austin is helping pioneer a fresh expression of church that brings the gospel to places the Church has often overlooked.
