Episode 02 — From Searching for Purpose to Finding Jesus

What if the thing you’re chasing—purpose, clarity, fulfillment—is actually the doorway God uses to lead you to Himself? In Episode 2 of the Rise Up Podcast, Nate and Jason sit down with Kassie Cox to talk about her journey from never imagining she’d be a Christian (or work for a church) to helping shape the Discipleship Pathway at Rise. Kassie shares the honest behind-the-scenes of coming to church post-COVID as a tired mom, feeling out of place, and being drawn back—through something as simple as her daughter loving kids ministry. From anxiety-filled hotel rooms to slow, question-filled faith, you’ll hear how God often meets us through relationship first, then reshapes everything: identity, calling, and the way we see work, family, and purpose. Then the conversation turns outward: why discipleship has to speak to a region that’s not just post-Christian, but increasingly pre-Christian—and how the Pathway exists to help people know where they are, what’s next, and how faith moves from belief into practice. Challenge: If your purpose has been tied to what you do, achieve, or build—what would it look like to let Jesus be the center again? And what is your next right step toward Him today?