About Us – Our Story

Arise Church (originally Hillsboro Alliance) held its first service on January 6, 1974 in the local Grange Hall, led by Pastor Byron Evans. A handful of families gathered together carrying a vision to establish an Alliance Church in Hillsboro that would reach neighbors and nations. Several of those founding families are still part of our church today.

In 1981, Pastor Bud Makus took over as Senior Pastor. By the late 1990’s, the current property on Bentley Street was acquired and three buildings had been constructed. The church had grown to a congregation of over 300 and space had become a challenge. In 2000, plans were put into motion to build a fourth building which would provide a larger multipurpose space that would double as a worship sanctuary and gym, accessible to the community. As is often the case with church building programs, the stress of raising the necessary funds contributed to a rift in the church and attendance declined sharply. For a number of years we leased our buildings to a local charter school, without which our church would not have survived.

In September 2020, Dr. Scott Burns joined us as our third pastor commissioned to help us rebuild our church. Over the past few years through lots of seeking God and repenting of our failings, we have rediscovered the heart of God, put prayer at the center of the life of our church, and re-envisioned God’s missional call to and through our church. To align with the transforming work of God, the decision was made to change our name to Arise Church, reflecting His prophetic call for us, His people, to arise to make disciples in our city.

In January 2024 we were reaccredited with the C&MA, a significant denominational milestone which acknowledge the health and growth of our church, and celebrates the work that God has done.

Today we are a growing multigenerational and increasingly multiethnic church, and God is moving in our midst! God has gifted us with an amazing facility, a beautiful congregation, and a BIG VISION to see people encounter the presence of Jesus from our campus to the ends of the world!