Church

Discipleship

Foundation

Rise Up Culture Church exists as a spiritual home where people can encounter God, experience freedom, and be equipped to live out their Kingdom calling. We are a church centered on prayer, the presence of Holy Spirit, and the transforming power of Jesus.

The Rise Up Activation Highway is our main discipleship track which consists of 8 courses that equips people to grow in their identity, walk with Jesus, and step into their calling.

Through teaching, coaching, courses, and resources, we help individuals live out their faith with clarity and purpose. Our goal is to raise up disciples who live transformed lives, lead from wholeness, and influence others for Christ.

The Rise Up Culture Foundation exists to support individuals, leaders, churches, and ministry organizations by providing scholarships and resources for counseling, leadership development, ministry training, and financial support for church planting and ministry initiatives that serve local communities.

The Rise Up Culture exists to help individuals and families rise up into the life God has called them to live.

Through our church, discipleship resources, and our foundation, we are creating spaces where people can encounter Jesus, grow in their faith, and live on mission for His Kingdom.

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One Mission.
Three Expressions.
One Heart for Jesus.

The Rise Up Culture exists to heal and activate the Church. Our heart has always been to help people encounter the freedom of Jesus Christ, discover their identity in Him, and step boldly into the calling God has placed on their lives. We believe every person is born to rise, built to lead, and destined for more through Christ.

The Rise Up Culture functions through three expressions working together as one mission: Church, Discipleship, and Foundation.
The Church is where we gather knee to knee in authentic community. It is a place of worship, healing, and transformation where people encounter the presence of God and grow together as the body of Christ.

Discipleship is where we equip and activate. Through teaching, coaching, counseling, freedom ministry, and practical resources, we help people grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally so they can walk in the fullness of who God created them to be. Our desire is to train and equip believers, leaders, pastors, and missions organizations to faithfully live out the Great Commission and make disciples.

The Foundation exists so that financial barriers never prevent someone from receiving healing, growth, or activation in their calling. We long for the resources God has given us to serve the entire body of Christ. Through the Foundation, we help make coaching, counseling, training, and discipleship resources accessible to those in need.

Our prayer is that every message, course, ministry tool, and resource created within The Rise Up Culture would serve the global Church. We believe these resources are not just for one church or ministry but for the whole body of Christ. Our vision is to see people equipped from nation to nation, rising up in faith, freedom, and purpose.

At the heart of everything we do is this belief:
When people rise in Christ, families rise.
When families rise, the Church rises.
When the Church rises, the Culture rises.

And we believe the time to rise is now.

Our Vision

At The Rise Up Culture, our vision is not to fit people into a box. Our heart is to help people embrace Christ in His fullness and become who God created them to be. We believe Jesus expresses His heart through His people in many different ways. Scripture describes this through the fivefold ministry: the apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherd, and teaching expressions of Christ at work within His body.

 Apostolic 
     Some carry a pioneering, trailblazing heart.
 Prophetic 
     Some hear and sense things deeply in the Spirit.
 Evangelistic 
     Some are bold in sharing the Gospel. 
 Shepherd 
     Some care for and protect people tenderly.
 Teacher 
     Some bring clarity and grounding through truth. 

Each reflects a part of who Jesus is.

Because of this, we value learning to recognize and honor the different ways Christ lives and leads through His people. Growth often means learning to value other’s, listen, discern, and trust the Holy Spirit, even when His leading stretches beyond what feels comfortable or logical.

We are focused on healing and equipping. But within that simplicity, we want to create space for the unique way God has designed each person.

We believe:
 No one is meant to look the same
 No one carries the whole picture alone
 Each person reflects part of Christ’s heart

As we grow together, we learn to value the strength, perspective, and gifting in one another. In doing so, we experience more of the fullness of Jesus than any one of us could carry by ourselves.

Our role is not to shape people into our vision.
Our role is to help people be formed by Christ and led by His Spirit into the life He has for them.
LEADERSHIP

The Rise Up Culture Team

Our team exists to help people rise in Christ—walking in healing, identity, and purpose—so they can live empowered by the Holy Spirit and step into all God has called them to be.

Drew East

Lead Pastor

Vision and Teaching

Melissa East

Lead Pastor 

Strategy and Operations

Moriah Thomas, Ph.D.

Freedom Pastor

Lymaris Lovelord

NextGen Director

Rob Thomas

Discipleship & Development Pastor

Eileen Habelow, Ph.D.

Leadership Advisor

Our Logo

Within The Rise Up Culture, every part of what we build is meant to point people to Jesus. Even our logo tells a story.

When you look at it closely, the logo is more than just a design. It reflects the heart of our mission: helping people rise in Christ, be formed in community, and be sent into their God-given calling.

Each element represents a part of that journey.
When you see the Rise Up Culture logo, you are seeing the story of our mission.

 God’s glory rising.
 Jesus as the foundation.
 The church as a spiritual home.
 People being built into pillars.
 Pioneers being sent into the world.

It is a picture of what happens when people encounter Jesus and step into the life they were created for.

We believe that when people rise in Christ, families are restored, leaders are formed, and communities are transformed.

And that is the story we are living together.

FAQ

How do all three expressions work together?

Rise Up Culture functions as one unified ecosystem with three expressions: Church, Discipleship, and Foundation. Each plays a unique role, but all work together to help people heal, grow, and rise in Christ.

 The Church is where people gather, encounter God, and build community.

 Discipleship provides coaching, courses, counseling, and training to help people experience freedom, grow in leadership, and walk in their calling.

 The Foundation removes financial barriers by providing scholarships and support so that anyone can access healing, training, and resources.

Together, they create a clear pathway:
Encounter God → Experience healing → Get equipped → Be activated.

This model ensures that no one is held back from growth due to lack of access, and that every person has the opportunity to rise into who God created them to be.

What is the difference between the Church and the Foundation?

The Church and the Foundation serve different purposes, but work together to support people spiritually and practically.

The Church is focused on spiritual growth and community. It’s where people gather for worship, teaching, discipleship, and relationship as they grow in their faith and walk with Jesus.

The Foundation is focused on providing access and support. It helps remove financial barriers by offering scholarships, grants, and resources for counseling, coaching, leadership training, and ministry development

The Church shepherds people spiritually, while the Foundation supports them practically.

Together, they ensure that people not only grow in their faith, but also have access to the healing, training, and resources they need to fully step into their calling.

If I choose to give, where does my donation go?

Your giving supports different parts of the Rise Up Culture based on where you choose to give.

Giving to the Church supports the ministry, gatherings, discipleship efforts, and day-to-day operations that help people grow in their faith and community.

Giving to the Foundation directly funds scholarships, counseling, coaching, leadership training, church and ministry planting, and resources for individuals who may not be able to afford them. It helps remove financial barriers so more people can access healing and growth.

You can choose where your donation goes, allowing you to support either the ongoing ministry of the Church or the outreach and assistance provided through the Foundation.

Both play a vital role in helping people heal, grow, and rise into their God-given calling.

Why do I have to pay for the discipleship courses?

Our discipleship courses are designed to provide high-quality, intentional training, resources, and support to help you experience real transformation and growth.

These courses require time, expertise, and ongoing development. They help support the creation of curriculum, coaching services, and the team of leaders, coaches, and contributors who pour into this work.

At the same time, we never want finances to be a barrier.

That’s why the Rise Up Culture Foundation exists. If you are unable to afford a course, scholarships and financial assistance may be available to help cover the cost.

Additionally, our Rise Up Church family receives courses and ebooks as a gift as they walk through our discipleship program, The Rise Up Activation Highway, during in-person Wednesday Activation Nights.

Courses help sustain the mission, and the Foundation ensures access for everyone.
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