Rise Up Podcast

In this special episode of the Rise Up Podcast, we’re sharing a powerful recording from Leadership Night — a gathering of the shepherds, team leads, city group leaders, youth leaders, and servants helping lead the life of Rise Church.

Jason and Stacey bring a challenging and encouraging word about the holy weight of leadership, the call to be set apart, and the importance of leading from intimacy with Jesus rather than ...

What happens when a small group of people sense God stirring something before they fully know what it is? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate sits down with Jason Clarke, Chris Cutshall, and Stacey Cutshall to look back at the earliest days of Rise—from Bible studies and worship nights at Stomping Grounds to dream nights, launch-team stories, and the first steps of planting a church.

Together, they share the joy, cha...

Building a House for the Kingdom

What happens when God marks out a place for His kingdom before anyone else can see it? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate sits down with Jason Clarke and Jared Hargens to tell the story of how Rise went from portable church setups to transforming Skate World into a house of worship in the center of Gresham.

Together, they unpack the faith, sacrifice, generosity, construction, and unseen le...

7 Principles to Start Something that Matters 

What do you do when the burden on your heart might actually be God’s invitation to move? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate sits down with Jason Clark and Kristen Friend to talk about what it means to launch something with faithfulness, urgency, and purpose. Whether it’s a ministry, church plant, business, nonprofit, or new season in your family, this conversa...

When Loss Doesn’t Get the Last Word What do you do when grief shapes your story before grace does? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate sits down with Chris Yamnitsky, alongside Kristen Friend, to talk about loss, addiction in the family, the ache of growing up too fast, and the long road from coping in the world to being remade by Jesus. Chris shares what it was like to lose his dad at a young age, to carry question...

What do you do when the thing you once loved starts to feel ordinary? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate and Jason talk about what it means to relight the flame—in your calling, your marriage, your ministry, your work, and your everyday life. Because most people know how to start with passion, but far fewer know how to stay faithful when the novelty wears off and consistency becomes the real test. Together, they un...

The Fight for Gen Z and Gen Alpha What if the next generation isn’t lazy, fragile, or lost—but uniquely positioned for a move of God if someone will help them see who they are? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate sits down with Youth Pastor Jordan Fahlman to talk about Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and what it means to disciple a generation being shaped by technology, social anxiety, activism, and a deep hunger for purpos...

EP 08 | When a Coffee Shop Becomes a Kingdom Space What if God wants to use every area of your life—work, calling, even a cup of coffee—for His Kingdom purpose? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Jason and Nate sit down with Will Ray, owner-operator of Pause Coffee, to talk about calling, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and what it looks like to be on fire for Jesus in the marketplace. Will shares the story behind...

Money, Investments, & Building a Life of Financial Freedom What if the way you handle money is shaping more than your bank account—what if it’s shaping your peace, your future, and the kind of life you’re building? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Jason and Nate go deeper into the themes from the Overflow series to talk honestly about biblical stewardship, investing, budgeting, debt, and why the church...

What if the place you were trying to leave was the very place God was calling you to help transform? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Jason and Nate sit down with Kristen Friend, Executive Director of Ministry at Rise, to talk about how a casual stop at Stomping Grounds turned into a Spirit-led redirection, a family mission, and a life fully poured out for the gospel in Gresham. Kristen shares the honest story of coming fro...

Episode 05 — Rewriting the Story of the Next Generation

What if the future of your city is being shaped right now—in a kids hallway, in a classroom, in the quiet courage of a leader who almost said no? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Jason sits down with Kids Ministry Director Marisa Brown (with Jordan jumping in) to explore the calling, cost, and conviction behind next-gen ministry at Rise.

Marisa shares how h...

Episode 04 —The Soundtrack to Your Calling: How Faithfulness Shapes Eternal Impact

What does it look like to say “yes” to Jesus when the work is unglamorous, the timeline is unclear, and the fruit is still invisible? In this episode, Nate and Jason sit down with Tyler Nobes—founding member of Rise and creator of Church Lobby Music—to trace the unlikely chain of events that led from a random café...

Episode 03 — A City God Won’t Give Up On: Watching God Answer Prayers Decades Later

What if the place you’ve written off is the very place God is still writing a story? In this episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Jason and Nate sit down with Alex Lessler, lead pastor of Willamette Christian Church, to talk about growing up in Gresham, watching it change over decades, and discovering that cities—like people&mdash...

What if the thing you’re chasing—purpose, clarity, fulfillment—is actually the doorway God uses to lead you to Himself? In Episode 2 of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate and Jason sit down with Kassie Cox to talk about her journey from never imagining she’d be a Christian (or work for a church) to helping shape the Discipleship Pathway at Rise.

Kassie shares the honest behind-the-scenes of coming to church post-COVI...

What really goes into building a church that’s trying to saturate a city with the gospel—beyond what you see on a Sunday? In the very first episode of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate sits down with Lead Pastor Jason and Youth Pastor Jordan to pull back the curtain on the conversations, risks, and small steps of obedience that shaped Rise from the beginning. You’ll hear the origin stories (Chick-fil-ationships, Dairy Qu...