About Us – Our Team

Scott Burns has been the lead pastor of Arise Church since Sept 2020. Originally from the west coast of Scotland, he moved to Portland in 2006 to attend Multnomah University where he earned his Masters in Divinity (and more importantly met his wife!). In 2016 he was awarded his doctorate at Talbot School of Theology. He is passionate about discipleship and spiritual formation, with particular interests in prayer, developmental spirituality, and the role of weakness in spiritual transformation. He loves leading people into deeper intimacy with Jesus, teaching the Scriptures, running 24-7 Prayer rooms, having deep conversations over coffee, and equipping people to serve Jesus wholeheartedly.

Scotty draws from a breadth of ministry including pastoring in the large church context, church planting, worship leading, campus ministry, church consultancy, teaching, interchurch partnerships and overseas mission. He serves on the PrayerPDX team, formed by the Luis Palau association, to shepherd, resource and unite churches in the Portland Metroplex in prayer; is a leader in the 24-7 Prayer Movement; and a member of The Order of the Mustard Seed. Scotty has a global heart, with a particularly deep love for India where he travels regularly.

Originally from SE Michigan, Amanda moved to Las Vegas, NV in 2006, with her now husband, Ian. They were married in 2010 in northern Michigan, and traveled to Portland, Oregon for their honeymoon. Amanda fell in love with the Pacific NorthWest. They had their son in 2013 and moved to Hillsboro, OR in 2014. In mid 2023, they completed their family with the birth of their daughter.

Growing up in church, both her mom and sister worked in the Children’s Ministry in various capacities. As the baby of the family, Amanda was around for all of it. Amanda’s heart really began to beat for the kids when she was old enough to become the assistant to the Children’s Choir instructors. She helped with choreography, decorating, helping the kids learn their lines for the upcoming program, and so much more. It’s because of these years working alongside her sister and her sister’s best friend, fully immersed in the kids lives, that she really felt God’s calling.

Amanda loves to drink coffee and read a good book! Her favorite activity is being a part of her son’s baseball team and cheering them on! She is an active member of Arise MomCo, and is the point person for Arise Children’s Ministry.