partnering with us

For those of you who are just joining our story, I want to say welcome, and thank you for reading! My family and I moved from Michigan to Phoenix, Arizona, in February of 2018. It’s hard to believe that it has been 10 months—nearly a year—already! We moved down here to follow the Lord’s call to help plant a church. We joined together with Pastor Joe Soria (wife Joy, son Ethan), and a small team of hard-working former-midwesterners to launch Arise Church in April 2018. My husband, Matt, does a lot of behind-the-scenes work, including computer-based programs, sound & lighting education & formation, and sets our sound system up each week. He also plays the drums on our worship team. I lead the worship music ministry and meet weekly as a part of the leadership team to pray, plan, and  help grow this church to be what God has uniquely called us to be in this community.

It is both a joy and a challenge to help build a church from the start. Anyone who’s helped with a church plant or portable church knows the wear that set-up & tear-down can be each week, as we have been renting space in an elementary school in a Peoria neighborhood. But, many hands make the work light.  It’s amazing how strong our little church family (as I like to call it) has become. I am amazed at how God is working in the lives of people here, and it has been a privilege to be a part of that. The people of Arise Church have been a blessing to me as I can only hope and pray I have been and will continue to be to them.

Part of church planting involves raising funds. As missionaries in this city, we have had to raise money both for our church and for our family personally. My husband does work full-time outside of the church to help support us financially, but it’s not quite enough to cover our expenses. We live simply, and are still living out of our RV until we can afford to be in a house. We have a few people who generously give to us each month, and we are so grateful for that! Currently, we are looking for 6 more people who can give $100 a month for the next 6 months or so. We are hoping that in 6 months or so we will be able to be more self-sustaining (after we get on a cheaper insurance plan & redo some of our budgeting). The reality is, right now, we are behind on bills, have put all we can on credit, and are late in paying our rent. So your financial giving will truly make a difference. Just this week, we didn’t know how we would get groceries, and at just the right time, we received a check in the mail, which allowed us to buy groceries (thank you to that family-you know who you are)!

Please consider giving monthly for the next 6 months. It would bless us in a way that both lifts a burden and allows us to serve without restraint, knowing our basic needs are taken care of. By partnering with us, you are, in a way, helping be a missionary to those in this area as well.

Your prayers are important as well! We are so thankful for those who have committed to praying for us regularly. Thank you.

You can mail your check to us to the address below, or you can give online by going to arisechurchaz.org/give. After you put the dollar amount in, you can select “Matt and Tori Walker Support.” Or on a check, be sure to say “Walker Support.”


Thank you! May God bless you as you seek Him.

Tori Walker


Arise Church
In c/o Matt or Tori Walker
PO Box 1292
Sun City, AZ 85372

Matt & Tori Walker
2398 W Williams Dr
Phoenix, AZ 85027