Where Leaders Rise
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
A vision for shalom takes root in North Carolina
Long before it became a Servant Partners site, the work in Waughtown "Southside" Winston-Salem, North Carolina, had already begun. The neighborhood still bears the effects of redlining and disinvestment—historic homes with little upkeep and limited public resources—yet for Joe Maye, Brandon and Salem Ortiz, it’s a place of deep relationships, resilience, and hope.
In 2014, Joe felt a growing conviction. Though he took his youth group on mission trips every summer, he felt they should minister in their own city. Even when they ran week-long Bible clubs in Waughtown, he felt unsettled. “It didn’t sit right with me,” Joe said. “It felt inappropriate to tell kids that we and Jesus loved them, and then not see them again for a year.”
“It didn’t sit right with me. It felt inappropriate to tell kids that we and Jesus loved them, and then not see them again for a year.”
That conviction pushed Joe to invest more—coming once, twice, three times a month—yet the feeling remained. God had given Joe a heart for Southside, and in 2017, his family moved into the neighborhood to live among the families they had come to love.
What started as summer missions became a calling to plant a church rooted in the community. Rise Church was born in their home.
A year later, Rise Academy opened with just five kindergarten students. It has grown
to serve 60 students from K through seventh grade, adding a grade each year, with a
vision to expand through high school. Led by Joe’s wife Duncan, the school is more than an educational space—it is a ministry of Christ-rooted formation and holistic care for students and their families.
In 2021, Brandon and Salem launched the Rise Afterschool Program (RAP), creating space for both elementary and middle school students to flourish. From devotionals and homework help to parkour, arts, and leadership opportunities, RAP gives young people a chance to discover their gifts and step into responsibility.
One man, Danny*, stands out as a vivid example of holistic, generational discipleship. Joe first met Danny’s granddaughter through Rise Academy. Eventually, Danny’s wife became a part of the church community.
Danny grew up in the neighborhood and lived a notorious life on the streets. While incarcerated, he had a profound encounter with God. He returned home a few years ago and speaks openly about praying grandmothers who never gave up on him and how God gripped his heart through reading Scripture in prison.
“Many of the skills Danny may have used negatively in the streets,” Joe said, “his networking, his courage, his boldness—God is now using for His glory.”
Today, Danny is one of the most vibrant and encouraging people in the church. He checks in on people, welcomes newcomers with unforgettable hugs, and carries an instinctive pastoral care shaped by the same lived experiences his neighbors face. He has preached a few Sunday sermons, stepped into leadership, and is currently in seminary. For the team, Danny represents an answered prayer: a local leader with deep roots and a deep love for his neighborhood.
“Many of the skills Danny may have used negatively in the streets—his networking, his courage, his boldness—God is now using for His glory.”
As the ministry grew, Joe felt increasingly alone. Few of the church planters in his network understood the pastoral challenges he faced. He had questions no one could answer. He longed for peers who shared his calling and could offer counsel, encouragement, and spiritual care for the long haul. After seven years, a mentor suggested it was time to leave before Joe burned out, but Joe thought there must be another way.
He met a leader from Richmond who introduced him to Servant Partners. Becoming an SP site brought both excitement and uncertainty: What would it mean to join a wider movement? How would support come from the West Coast?
God met them in the transition. “It’s been energizing and faith-strengthening to be part of a broader movement,” Joe shared. “It’s inspiring to meet others who are incarnationally loving their neighbors for longer than we have.”
Their hope is not just for impact now, but for a future where the next generation leads—where students from Rise Academy grow up to lead RAP, the church, and beyond.
This story was published in the 2025 Annual Report.
*Names changed for security and privacy reasons.
