Every Sunday at 10:30AM
Location: 106 West 3rd Ave, Trappe, PA 19426
Our Team
Learn More About Our Team
Church Staff
Jason's Bio
Jason Rising is the visionary Founder and Lead Pastor of Verge Church, a vibrant community committed to transforming lives through the power of the gospel. Hailing from Massachusetts, Jason, along with his wife Teri, has dedicated over 25 years to serving the local church—first as evangelists and staff pastors—pouring their hearts into the mission of building God’s kingdom.
Jason leads with a deep passion to equip and empower believers for the work of ministry, believing that every follower of Christ is called to play a vital role in the church’s growth and outreach. His greatest joy is witnessing the church flourish as a loving, authentic community where people are not only rooted in their faith but also actively reaching those who have yet to experience the life-changing grace of Jesus.
Known for his creative and humor-filled approach to preaching, Jason’s communication style connects deeply with people, making the gospel message accessible and compelling. He invests wholeheartedly in developing leaders who will carry forward the mission with boldness and love.
At his core, Jason’s vision is to cultivate a church culture that celebrates and empowers individuals to live out their unique calling—to honor God passionately and love one another sacrificially. He is steadfast in his conviction that the church’s highest calling, the very mission Jesus entrusted to His followers from the beginning, is to make disciples—followers of Christ who are equipped and inspired to carry on the transformative work of ministry in the world.
Jason Rising
Lead Pastor
Teri's Bio
Teri’s story begins in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania, where from a young age she felt the gentle yet compelling tug of a divine call upon her life. It was shortly after graduating from high school that this call grew unmistakably clear—she was meant to serve in ministry. With a heart full of faith and determination, she set out to deepen her understanding and equip herself for this sacred journey by enrolling at the University of Valley Forge. There, she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Youth Ministry, immersing herself in studies that would shape her vision and passion for guiding the next generation.
During her time at the university, God’s hand was evident not only in her academic growth but also in her personal life. While touring with One 18 Ministries—formerly known as Holy Hands—Teri met Jason Rising, a partner who shared her faith and commitment to serving others. Their bond grew quickly, leading to marriage and a lifelong partnership rooted in mutual support and spiritual calling.
Together, Teri and Jason have been blessed with two strong and handsome sons, Joshua and Caleb, whose vibrant energy and character fill their home with joy. Their family circle has grown even richer with the addition of two wonderful daughters-in-law, Megan and Mia, whose presence has brought warmth and grace to their lives.
At the heart of Teri’s ministry is a passionate and unwavering desire to inspire and empower women across all walks of life. She delights in walking alongside women of every age as they discover and embrace the unique calling and divine purpose God has intricately designed for them. Her greatest joy lies in helping women uncover their true worth—not through worldly measures, but through the lens of Christ’s love—and to live authentically, led by the Spirit’s guidance. Through her mentorship, Teri offers a safe, nurturing space where women can grow in faith, confidence, and purpose, stepping boldly into the fullness of the life God intended for them.
Teri Rising
Community Pastor
Brandon's Bio
Brandon is a seasoned and passionate teacher dedicated to equipping the church for its sacred calling in the work of ministry. With years of hands-on experience in diverse roles—from leading small groups and serving as a worship pastor to guiding youth ministries and overseeing large volunteer teams within a global parachurch organization—he brings both heart and wisdom to every aspect of his service.
His deepest desire is to see every believer fully mobilized, growing through intentional discipleship and empowered by leadership development. Brandon envisions a vibrant, thriving community where each person embraces their unique ministry calling—building up the body of Christ while reaching the world with the transformative Gospel of Jesus. He passionately believes in the multiplication of disciples, who in turn inspire and nurture others in faith.
What excites Brandon most is witnessing God’s powerful work in building the Church of Jesus Christ. He considers it a profound privilege to participate in this divine work as a “living stone,” carefully shaped and placed around the precious cornerstone—Jesus Himself—joining together with the people God is gathering to form a strong, unified spiritual house.
Brandon Ward
Development Pastor
Alexis's Bio
Alexis’s journey as a follower of Christ began in her early years, nurtured through hands-on discipleship in outreach and street ministry. It was in these formative experiences—meeting people exactly where they were—that her passion for sharing the hope of Christ first took root. Witnessing lives touched by God’s love ignited in her a deep hunger to help others encounter Christ’s grace in fresh, creative, and meaningful ways.
Driven by this calling, Alexis pursued her education at the Savannah College of Art and Design, graduating in 2014 with a degree that would later influence her professional path. For four years, she applied her talents in hospitality design, blending creativity with service.
Today, Alexis embraces her roles as a wife and mother of two young daughters, navigating the joys and challenges that come with life’s seasons. Through every change, one thing remains unwavering: her heartfelt desire to see people come to a genuine knowledge of Christ and experience transformation—not only in extraordinary moments but also through the quiet, everyday rhythms of life.
Alexis Ward
College Pastor
Rebekah's Bio
Rebekah brings over a decade of ministry experience to the Verge Team, with strengths in preaching, team building, and outreach. At the core of it all is her passion for disciple-making, helping others connect deeply and follow Jesus together.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry from the University of Valley Forge, Rebekah stepped eagerly into ministry alongside Jason and Teri. For the past 12 years, she has faithfully served with them, forging meaningful partnerships with nonprofits and churches across the Northeast. The opportunity to help plant Verge Church marked the beginning of a long-held dream—one she continues to pour into with joy.
In addition to her role as Verge’s part-time Finance Director, Rebekah serves full-time with American Bible Society, where she helps bring Scripture engagement initiatives to life in some of the most vulnerable places in the world.
When she’s not discipling women or engaging with the community, you’ll likely find her curled up with a good book, tuning into her favorite podcast, or delighting in her title as the world’s best Auntie.
Rebekah Reese
Finance Director
Beyond Our Walls – Verge Leadership
At Verge Church, our philosophy of leadership flows from our core identity: a community reimagining what it means to be the Church by returning to our foundation—Jesus Himself. Leadership, in this context, is not about control, status, or institutional hierarchy. It is about Christ-centered formation, Spirit-led mission, and a deep commitment to embodying the way of Jesus in every sphere of life.
We believe leadership begins with Christology. Just as our identity, purpose, and mission are shaped by Jesus—his teachings, his lifestyle, and his redemptive vision for the world—so too is our leadership. To lead at Verge means to reflect Jesus not only in belief, but in practice: to lead by serving, to influence by loving, and to guide by listening to the Spirit. We are sent people, just as Jesus was sent, and our leadership reflects that same missional impulse—rooted in God’s character and driven by His love for the world.
Leadership at Verge is not about preserving systems, but about cultivating movement. We reject the notion that the Church exists for institutional maintenance. Instead, we embrace a model of leadership that prioritizes holy imagination: the Spirit-inspired ability to see the world as God sees it and to respond creatively, courageously, and compassionately. This requires rethinking traditional leadership paradigms—organizing, discipling, and sending in ways that are agile, relational, and participatory.
We do not lead to maintain control—we lead to release. Our structures are designed not to centralize power but to empower people: equipping every believer to live out their God-given purpose. We champion shared leadership, where every voice matters, and every person is seen as a potential catalyst in the Kingdom.
At the heart of Verge leadership is discipleship. We are committed to forming leaders who look like Jesus, live like Jesus, and lead like Jesus. Leadership is not reserved for the few—it is the calling of the many. Our aim is to cultivate a multiplying culture, where leaders are continually raised, developed, and sent—so that the Church remains a dynamic, Spirit-filled movement, not a static institution.
Ultimately, we believe the future of the Church hinges on our willingness to lead differently: to imagine new possibilities, organize for mission, and disciple with intention—for the sake of a world Jesus is still redeeming.
Christ-Centered Leadership
Missional Identity Over Institutional Maintenance
Empowerment Through Shared Leadership
Discipleship as the Core of Leadership Development
Location
106 W 3rd Avenue, Trappe, PA 19426
Join Us On Sunday
Every Sunday at 10:30AM
We exist to compellingly love people to follow Jesus completely.
