Rise Up Podcast

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 sale to a church plant, from freezing garage rehearsals to the soundtrack now serving churches far beyond Gresham. Tyler shares behind-the-scenes stories from the early Rise days: the grind of set-up/tear-down, the “foxhole” bonds that form real buy-in, and how God uses ordinary sacrifice to forge uncommon community.   Then the conversation turns to Tyler’s newest “assignment”: building a legit, church-safe music platform after discovering the hard way that Spotify isn’t licensed for public church use. You’ll hear how Church Lobby Music was born out of a real ministry need—creating instrumental, conversation-friendly atmosphere without lyric controversies or livestream takedowns—and why Tyler believes God often reveals calling through a string of connected obediences. This episode is for anyone wondering if their unseen service matters, if their current job is “wasted,” or if their next step is too small to count.   Challenge: Identify your next right step—one “yes” you’ve been postponing because it feels inconvenient or insignificant. Take it this week. The Kingdom is often built in the places you’d least want to volunteer.

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—have seasons of promise, disappointment, and renewal. Alex shares stories from his childhood in Gresham, the economic optimism of the early ’90s, and the deep nostalgia of a city that once felt “up and coming.” From café discipleship that awakened his calling to prayer gatherings contending for revival, what unfolds is a powerful reminder that we are often links in a longer chain, standing on the shoulders of those who prayed before us. Then the focus widens to the church in the Portland metro—unity across denominations, a rising spiritual hunger, and why hard ground may actually be fertile soil for the gospel. If you’ve ever wondered whether your city is too far gone, your prayers too delayed, or your role too small, this episode will renew your perspective and strengthen your faith. Register for Marriage Conference Here: https://risecitychurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3456484

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-COVID as a tired mom, feeling out of place, and being drawn back—through something as simple as her daughter loving kids ministry. From anxiety-filled hotel rooms to slow, question-filled faith, you’ll hear how God often meets us through relationship first, then reshapes everything: identity, calling, and the way we see work, family, and purpose. Then the conversation turns outward: why discipleship has to speak to a region that’s not just post-Christian, but increasingly pre-Christian—and how the Pathway exists to help people know where they are, what’s next, and how faith moves from belief into practice. Challenge: If your purpose has been tied to what you do, achieve, or build—what would it look like to let Jesus be the center again? And what is your next right step toward Him today?

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 Queen blizzards, & trial church services), but this episode quickly moves deeper: how God guides people through peace, provision, and prophetic pictures lead us to take the "next right step.” They reflect on what makes ministry in the Portland metro uniquely challenging—and uniquely fruitful in this cultural moment in time. If you’ve ever wondered how vision becomes a movement, how discipleship becomes a lifestyle, and how ordinary people become everyday missionaries in their own city, this episode will help you see it—and step into it.

Launching on February 10th. The Rise Up Podcast explores what it looks like to follow Jesus with clarity, courage, and conviction in a complex cultural moment. Hosted by the team at Rise City Church, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the stories, decisions, and discipleship that shape a church committed to saturating its city with the gospel.   Through thoughtful conversations on leadership, spiritual formation, and everyday obedience, we examine how faith moves from belief into practice—at work, at home, and in the public square. We talk honestly about the challenges of ministry and mission in the Portland metro, and why hard ground can still produce deep roots.