We Exist to Rise Up & Saturate Our City with the Gospel
What does it mean to Rise Up and Saturate Our City with the Gospel?
Everywhere you turn in our city you will see followers of Jesus rise to their true calling: declaring, displaying, and living out the power of the Gospel.
Like ink spilled across a map, every block of our city will experience the transforming power of God's people on mission. As the local church, we exist to call forth, raise up and send out disciples; igniting the hearts of His people for His purpose. Hearts set on fire to see the kingdom of God break forth in our city.
Our Story
Rise Launch
Vision Clarity
As we grew, we took huge steps towards clarifying our vision to Rise Up and Saturate Our City with the Gospel. This means all over our city, you see followers of Jesus rising up to their true calling to bring the presence of Jesus to every corner of our community.
Our Future Home
In 2018 we purchased our future home right in the middle of Gresham. The hand of God moved in powerful ways to allow us to purchase the former SkateWorld. From million-dollar donations to construction companies donating the entire buildout, to volunteers giving thousands of hours, this space was made possible through the generosity of this church.
Ministry Impact
Forward in Chaos
8th Street Academy
In Fall of 2021, the vision and culture of Rise was expanded further into our city under a separate non-profit—Rise Up Education. Dave and Sherry Grey purchased the former Phonics Phactory building in Gresham to launch a new Gospel-centered private school and invest in the future of our city. Through a team of visionaries from Rise, 8th Street Academy was born. This was a vision-filled move to saturate our city with the Gospel through raising up the next generation to thrive in their God-given calling.
Pause Coffee Lab
In March of 2023 the former ticket booth to SkateWorld became Pause Coffee Lab. What was once the space where people gained entry to a skating rink, is now a space for people to gain entry into the life and community of our Church.
Meet Our Team
Rise is led by many different teams of people each with different experiences, giftings, and passions. Some of us are paid staff, and most of us volunteer.
We love what we do, but know that our primary calling is to equip YOU to rise up into living your calling and purpose in God's family and on His Mission.
What We Believe
Sound doctrine is critical because what you believe determines what you do. God has revealed truth about himself so that we can be in relationship with him. To pursue sound doctrine means to pursue the heart of Jesus.
QUESTIONS
I’m NEW TO CHURCH and I’m wondering:
Each weekend we gather to hear fresh, relevant, teaching from the bible that will impact your real life. We speak to non-christians and christians alike because we’re a church that exists for our city. A band leads us in a time of musical worship to Jesus. We have response times where people can go be prayed for, take communion (eat bread and drink juice remembering what Jesus did for us), or give to the mission.
You might hear stories, or updates about exciting things happening in the church. We use a lot of video for teaching and communication.
If you’re new, we don’t pressure you to give money, take communion, we actually don’t want you to. We give as a church to create space for you. We genuinely care about you and you’re our valued guest.
I’m A CHRISTIAN and I’m wondering:
Actually, we think we can simultaneously speak to both Christians and non-Christians. We are persuaded that when you teach robust biblical doctrine, you will connect with the culture and serve those who’ve never stepped foot in a Church. We think doing that in a way that intentionally addresses the questions the culture around is asking is the pattern of the early church in Acts and should be the pattern today. Paul who became “all things to all people” that God might save some is a clear example.
Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it well: “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others…” So we're going to teach the foundational doctrines of scripture, yet, speak them in a way so someone new to Christianity can understand.
We are what some would call a non-denominational church, in that we are not tied to any denomination and are led by qualified local leaders.
That being said, we think there’s tremendous value and importance to being anchored in the Historic Christian Confessions, imbued by the wisdom of Christian history, and affiliated with the doctrinally sound Christian “tribes” of our day.
In many ways our church is a rare blend of the two tribes: the theologically meaty teaching of teachers like: Matt Chandler, Charles Spurgeon, Chuck Smith, John Piper, Charles Stanley, Augustine of Hippo, RC Sproul, and JC Ryle--AND--the passionate, creative, worship culture of churches like Mosaic Church LA, Hillsong Church, Churchome, or Elevation Church. We know that’s unique combo. But it’s a space we feel Jesus has called us to.