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Pastor Pete & Martha Pera and Family

Pastor Pete is the founding Pastor of Rise Community Church. He and his wife Martha are motivated and inspired by the overwhelming impact of the Gospel in their own lives and consider it one of the greatest privileges in life to share the love of Christ with others. They are called to be a part of building a community of discipled believers to be the hands and feet of Jesus. They believe very strongly in the power of serving the community. We love and serve God as we love and serve people. Pastor Pete serves at the Lead Pastor at Rise, overseeing the Teaching Team, Rise University Classes and overall vision of the church.

Pastor Pete and his wife Martha have been happily married since 1992 and have served the Lord in ministry together for over 30 years. They have four beautiful children Marco, Peter, Sophie, and Victoria. Pastor Pete graduated from Nyack Christian College and received a master’s in Education from Nova Southeastern University. His lovely wife is a therapist with a degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. They have lived in the Cooper City area and have faithfully served this community and neighboring communities such as Davie, Weston, Hollywood, Sunrise, and Pembroke Pines since 1995.

Contact Pastor Pete: pastorpete@risecommunity.org
Contact Martha: marthapera@risecommunity.org

Pastor Mike & Teresa Boyd and Family

Pastor Mike “Chopper” Boyd and his wife Teresa are one of the founding families of Rise Community Church. Pastor Mike serves as the Executive Pastor at Rise, overseeing all Administration and Finances. Prior to getting married in 1992, they were high school sweet hearts who became teenage parents. Two beautiful children and nine years later they were on the verge of divorce when a friend invited them to church in 2001. It was here they experienced miraculous healing and restoration in their marriage and family. Teresa has been in banking since 1993 and is the Director of Business Banking at a financial institution. Mike has been a professional Scuba Dive instructor since 2009 and continues to conduct private lessons in his own business today. Mike and Teresa have passionately served in various capacities including youth & college ministry since 2003. Mike strives to authentically share the love of Jesus in a relevant and applicable way. This lead to the start of a College ministry that is still thriving today. Mike and Teresa have two college aged children Brian and Kayla, both attend Palm Beach Atlantic University. Brian is an Audio Engineer and musician and is graduating in 2015 and has been serving in ministry since 2005 in worship, sound, student and children's ministries. Kayla is a pre-med college student and has been serving in student and children's ministry since 2008.

Contact Pastor Mike: pastormikeb@risecommunity.org
Contact Teresa: teresaboyd@risecommunity.org

Brenden & Janell Hojara

Brenden & Janell have served in ministry for over 20 years. Married in 2005 and parents of 3 amazing sons, Ezra, Kingston and Hero. Brenden serves as the Community Pastor at Rise, overseeing all Community Groups with his wife. Brenden also leads the Media/Online Ministry and assists the Admin and Worship Ministry as needed. Recently Brenden has joined the Teaching Team and has discovered a new passion for Theology and teaching. He is pursuing his Masters Degree in Theology and hopes to help the younger generations learn more about God through intentional discipleship and community. Brenden has worked in the field of Digital Marketing for over 10 years and is a partner at a local marketing agency. Janell is the Regional Manager of a local stretch studio, managing all South Florida locations.

Email: brendenh@risecommunity.org

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God

God is the creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, I Peter 1:2, II Corinthians 13:14

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. He left His home in heaven to be born of a virgin fully God fully man, Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to reign as king of kings and Lord of Lords.

Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-5; 14:10-30, Hebrews 4:14-15, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, I Timothy 6:14-15, Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every believer from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.

2 Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13; 14:16-17, Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 5:18

Humanity

Humanity is made in the image of God. We are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although God designed us to have fellowship with him, we became alienated from God through Adam and Eve’s disobedience. As a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and choose to sin against God. Humanity is incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts.

Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8:3-6, Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:23, Colossians 1:21, Isaiah 59:1-2

Eternity

Human beings were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God, through forgiveness and salvation. When you die, you will either spend eternity in heaven or hell. Eternal separation from God happens in hell. Eternal union with God occurs in heaven.

John 3:16, I John 2:25; 5:11-13, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15

Salvation

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts. Humanity can never make up for their sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal union and life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.

Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6; 1:12, Titus 3:5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1

Eternal Security

Because God gives men and women eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.

John 10:29, II Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 7:25; 10:10-14, I Peter 1:3-5

The Bible

The bible is God’s Word to all of humanity. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of God. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible and inerrant

2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 1:13, Psalm 119:105,160, Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5, Romans 16:25-26

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth

Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the Gospel. The Bible lists of these gifts are not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and should never be used in violation of Biblical parameters

Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12 :4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10

The Church

The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ great commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23).