The Rising Group is a not-for-profit Christian organization that aims to bring spiritual awakening and humanitarian activism into students’ lives. This spiritual awakening is aimed at helping students experience the fullness of life God intends for us all. We believe that life is most abundant when lived out through an authentic relationship with God and an authentic relationship with one another. The catalyst for this authenticity, we believe, is found in Christ Jesus. We believe there is power and relevance to be found in the traditions passed down through our Christian history. By combining the liturgy of the ancient church with music reflective of our current age, we wish to present a unique worship experience. And, we believe that this brings about a desire for authentic relationship with God. Furthermore, we believe that relationship with God transforms our relationships with other people so that we develop greater willingness to serve those in need and provide for those who are without. By helping students discover God, we hope to change the fabric of society by fostering spiritually formed, life-long passions for service of the greater good.
The Rising Group is a non-denominational, ecumenical Christian organization that anchors itself in the theology of the Nicene Creed,first adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 ad. The Nicene Creed has functioned as a great unifier for many Christian traditions– Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and others – throughout history.
In the tradition of the early church fathers, and in agreement with many hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world, we profess:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the HolySpirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
(The Nicene Creed – English Language, Liturgical Commission Translation)
More specifically, The Rising Group also anchors its theological mission in the words of what the Christians have called “The Great Commission”and “The Great Commandment.” Both formulated from the words of Jesus as they are recorded in the New Testament Scriptures, these two tenets of faith motivate all that we do.
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’
(matthew 28: 16-20).”
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself Lluke 10:27). ”The Great Commission motivates our commitment to helping students encounter God. The Great Commandment motivates our commitment to promoting humanitarian relief efforts of all kinds. We believe that offering spiritual awakening to college students is one way The Rising Group can partner with Christian churches – Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and others – from throughout the ages in helping to accomplish the two great missions Jesus gave his earliest disciples.
This is who we are.