Our Pastors

JAY AND CHERI PERKINS

Lead Pastor and Wife

Pastor Jay and Cheri Perkins have been in ministry since 1996. He attended Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota and soon after planted a church in Watertown, Wisconsin. In the fall of 2002, Pastor Jay accepted a call to be the Associate Pastor of Shoreland Community Church. He served as the Associate Pastor until becoming the Senior Pastor in 2005 and served through 2019. Pastor Jay became the first Lead Pastor of Rise MKE when RISE began in January of 2020. He has also been the chaplain of the UW-Whitewater football team since 2015.

Pastor Jay and Cheri have two adult sons, Zach and Shane. Zach is married to Cassie (Schaut), and they have a daughter named Rowen and a son named Forrest. Shane is married to Courtney (Tollefsrud).

SUSAN BRUK

Worship Pastor and Women’s Ministry

Susan Bruk has been in worship ministry since she was 16 years old. She studied Music Education at UW-Madison. She is an accomplished songwriter and has produced several albums as a soloist as well as with her current group “Sacrifice of Praise”. She has been a worship leader at conferences and churches throughout the country. She was the Worship Director at Shoreland Community Church from 2006-2019. Susan became the Worship Pastor at Rise MKE in January 2020. After she lost her husband in 2002, God has given Susan a heart to testify to His absolute sufficiency.

Susan has three adult children, Evan, Anna, and Elise, who is married to Kurt Wallgren. Susan and her family enjoy hiking in God’s creation and playing games together.

Our Leaders

  • Patrick Wood

    Elder, Treasurer, and Men’s Ministry

  • Bill Abrahamson

    Elder

  • Scott Woodin

    Elder and Mission Trip Coordinator

  • Nancy Stevenson

    Ministry Support and Mission Trip Coordinator

  • Elise & Kurt Wallgren

    Communication Coordinator (Elise), Financial Bookkeeper (Kurt), and Young Adult Ministry

  • Anna Bruk

    Young Adult Ministry

  • Heidi Ames

    Connections Team Ministry

  • Angel Marti

    Blessings in a Backpack Ministry

  • Caity and Justin Schneider

    RISE Kids Ministry (Caity) and Family Outreach Coordinators

  • Paula Reiter

    Operation Christmas Child and Soles for Jesus Ministries

  • Barb Ade

    Sunday Morning and Internet Prayer Team Ministries

  • Caryl Dobbe

    Cards to the Congo Ministry

  • John and Kathy Nelson

    Building and Grounds Coordinator (John) and Baby Risers Ministry (Kathy)

  • Katie Forke

    Event Support Coordinator

  • Byron and Cindy Loomans

    Worldwide Missions Coordinators

  • Tim Wimberly

    Building Maintenance