At Rise, we live out Christ’s love in our community. Our mission is to embody his teachings of love, justice, and acceptance, being sources of grace and hope. Through meaningful action, we serve and impact our community, fostering positive change and creating a more inclusive society.
OUR RISE TEAM
Lisa Petty | Lead Pastor
Pastor Lisa is passionate about connecting with people and sharing Christ’s unconditional love. A native of San Diego, she holds a Communication degree from Cal State Fullerton, which has been invaluable in her 24 years of ministry. Her experience includes Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Long Range Planning, and Education. After earning her MDiv. degree from the Iliff School of Theology in 2009, she led United Methodist congregations in Colorado and served as Lead Pastor at Christ UMC in Salt Lake City. Outside of church, Lisa enjoys walking her border collie, Ivy, sipping wine on patios, and debating topics like pineapple on pizza. She describes herself as a “completely flawed human pastor, seeking wildly after Christ, and basking in much-needed grace
Todd Stall | Associate Pastor
Todd is passionate about empowering church laity in ministry, discipleship, and leadership. A Southern California native, Todd holds degrees in theater from ASU and the University of Missouri – Kansas City, and most recently an MDiv. from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. After a successful career with a Fortune 500 recruiting company, he shifted his focus to ministry and began his seminary journey. Todd is a certified candidate for Elder ordination in the UMC. Todd works with all ages, and has a passion for those in recovery. Check out The Gathering at Sanctuary on Mission at our San Marcos campus Saturday evenings. In his free time, Todd enjoys reading, spending time with his dog Poco, and debating new ideas with Pastor Lisa—like the controversial topic of pineapple on pizza.
Paul Wilson | Children, Youth & Family Ministries Lead
Paul grew up in the UMC, inspired by his grandparent’s service to the church. Paul works with children, youth, and parents and brings a heart for all God’s children. Paul specializes in creating safe spaces for all of God’s children (of any age) to be who they have been created to be. When he isn’t volunteering or participating in church life, you can find Paul building models, playing video games, or hanging with his community. Paul continues to seek new avenues to grow deeper in his faith and share that faith with others. He’s been a part of the team here for several years an continues to support our children and families as they journey in faith together.
Tim Palmer | Rise Worship Collective Coordinator
Tim’s passion for worship music stems from its power to draw people to church and foster a deeper connection with God, keeping His word close to heart between Sundays. He believes everyone can find a way to enrich their faith through worship music, regardless of musical experience. When he’s not playing music, writing original songs, or learning about and experimenting with AI, he’s spending time with his family. Connect with Tim to share your own love for music or discuss how to get involved with the Rise Worship Collective.