Rise Up Podcast

Rise City Church
  • 5.0 (13)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 our City with the Gospel.

Episodes

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

    FEB 24

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

    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

    53 min
  2. Episode 02 — From Searching for Purpose to Finding Jesus: Discipleship for the Pre-Christian Moment

    FEB 17

    Episode 02 — From Searching for Purpose to Finding Jesus: Discipleship for the Pre-Christian Moment

    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? FINAL WEEK TO REGISTER FOR RISE YOUTH RETREAT: February 20th-22nd Trout Creek Bible camp  Register here: https://risecitychurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3216574

    44 min
  3. Episode 01 — How A Vision Becomes A Movement: Pulling Back the Curtain on Rise

    FEB 10

    Episode 01 — How A Vision Becomes A Movement: Pulling Back the Curtain on Rise

    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. RISE YOUTH RETREAT: February 20th-22nd Trout Creek Bible camp  Register here: https://risecitychurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3216574

    44 min

  4. TRAILER

    TEASER — Rise Up Podcast

    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.

    3 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

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 our City with the Gospel.

Information

  • Channel
    Rise City Church
  • Creator
    Rise City Church
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Rise Up Podcast

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