About Our Lead Pastors
Drew and Melissa East are the Lead Pastors of Rise Up Culture Church and the founders of The Rise Up Culture.
Their leadership reflects both Spirit-led vision and practical sustainability.
Together, they carry a unified vision:
To see people healed, equipped, and activated to live out their calling with boldness and purpose.
With almost 20 years of ministry experience, Drew and Melissa have been leading side by side, discipling others, and raising their family in a lifestyle of faith.
Drew and Melissa lead as a unified team:
Drew and Melissa lead as a unified team:
Drew focuses on vision, teaching, and leadership development
Melissa leads in administration, logistics, and creative execution
Together, they have:
Counseled and discipled numerous couples, marriages, and families
Built systems that multiply care and leadership
Helped individuals step into healing, identity, and purpose
Their leadership reflects both Spirit-led vision and practical sustainability.
A Foundation Built in Ministry
Drew brings over two decades of pastoral leadership experience, and most recently served at his previous church during a season of significant growth. During his 10 years there, the church grew from approximately 300 to nearly 2,000 weekly attenders, creating an increased demand for leadership development, discipleship systems, and sustainable care models.
Within this environment, Drew oversaw:
Care Ministry
Intercessory Prayer
Freedom Ministry
Through his leadership:
Within this environment, Drew oversaw:
Care Ministry
Intercessory Prayer
Freedom Ministry
Through his leadership:
Thousands of hours of coaching, discipleship, and ministry care delivered
Hundreds of individuals guided through pastoral counseling and freedom ministry
50+ leaders trained and activated through Freedom Coach Training
Countless messages preached and taught, leading people into deeper intimacy with Jesus
This work resulted in a multiplying model of care, where trained leaders began discipling and supporting others across the church.
Growth without discipleship leads to burnout.
Growth with equipped leaders leads to multiplication.
Growth with equipped leaders leads to multiplication.
Pastor Drew's Education:
Raising Up Leaders Who Multiply
Drew developed the Freedom Coaching model to equip everyday believers to become ministers of care, prayer, and discipleship.
This model has:
Expanded access to care within the church
Reduced pastoral burnout
Created sustainable discipleship systems
Empowered believers to step into leadership
Drew has authored 9 books, now used in discipleship pathways and leadership training.
Through courses like License to Roar, dozens of individuals have been activated into their identity and purpose, with over 50 individuals stepping into bold, Spirit-led living.
Many participants now lead groups, disciple others, and serve as Freedom Coaches.
Heart for Wholeness
Melissa has faithfully served alongside Drew in every season, bringing leadership in administration, creativity, and discipleship.
Her experience includes:
Leading within Creative, Communications, and Discipleship departments
Overseeing online church and media operations during the coronavirus season
Training and equipping community and discipleship group leaders
Leading ministry events, launches, and initiatives
Melissa also pioneered a Faith and Fitness program, helping women break free from body shame and begin stewarding their health in alignment with God’s truth. She is passionate about integrated health and wholeness, helping people experience transformation in body, soul, and spirit.
Melissa has been ministering since high school, where she began leading Bible studies through Fellowship of Christian Athletes after giving her life to Jesus. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Services Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and is passionate about helping individuals, couples, and families experience healing and wholeness. Melissa has preached at church services, women’s events, and is the author of three books, with more currently in development.
Her heart is to see people fully alive in Christ, walking in their God-given identity, and leading their families from a place of freedom, health, and purpose.
Her heart is to see people fully alive in Christ, walking in their God-given identity, and leading their families from a place of freedom, health, and purpose.
Pastor Melissa's Education:
At the core of Drew and Melissa’s ministry is a deep commitment to family. They believe discipleship begins in the home.
This vision shapes Rise Up Culture Church:
Families worship together
Parents disciple their children
Faith is lived out daily
Children are invited into their own age-appropriate discipleship journey, equipping the next generation to hear God’s voice, know their identity, and walk in their calling.
When We Rise, Those Around Us Rise
At the heart of everything we do is a deep conviction that when individuals rise in Christ, families rise, and when families rise, entire communities are transformed.
Our passion is not just to build a church, but to cultivate a culture where people encounter Jesus, walk in freedom, and are equipped to live out their calling in every area of life.
We believe discipleship starts in the home, extends into the church, and ultimately impacts the world. This is the vision behind Rise Up Culture. A people who know God, walk with Him, and step into their God-given purpose and calling.
Speaking Inquiries
Created with
