Meet Arise AZ 2026 Main Session Speakers
Cherie Wagner
Main Session Speaker
Cherie’s life-long passion is two-fold: knowing Jesus Christ and making Him known. Founder of Neue Thing Ministries and author of Found On My Knees, Awake O Sleeper, Rest, and Hope: Tethered to an Unwavering God, Cherie writes Bible studies and books that will encourage, equip, and empower women with the Word of God. Cherie, her husband Jeremy, and their son Redford live in Mesa, Arizona. Born and raised in Chicago and transplanted to the desert of Arizona, Cherie is a city girl at heart with a wild love for the mountains, a coffee connoisseur, a lover of knowledge, and forever a student of God’s Word. Connect with Cherie at neuething.org.
Rachel Fiorentino
Main Session Speaker
Rachel is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and author of Walk Worthy. Press On. With over 15 years of experience in leadership development, training and coaching. Rachel helps women grow with clarity, courage, and deep-rooted conviction.
Her leadership journey didn’t begin in a boardroom. It began in long term care. From there, she spent over a decade as a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom raising four children, starting a homeschool co-op, and learning firsthand that the most formative leadership often happens in hidden places. Those seasons shaped her belief that faithfulness matters more than flash and that influence isn’t defined by title, but by obedience and integrity.
Today, Rachel speaks and coaches at the intersection of faith and leadership, helping women navigate change, steward their calling, and lead with both strength and softness. She weaves biblical truth with modern leadership insight in a way that feels practical, deeply personal, and just a little bit sassy. Come ready to laugh a little, think deeply, and walk away encouraged, challenged, and just uncomfortable enough to grow.
Rachel lives in Arizona with her husband, Joe. They have four grown-and-flown adult children and one granddaughter. They love to travel, collect Harley-Davidson chips in every city they visit, and are fully embracing their “legacy years” with coffee in hand and purpose in motion.
Rachel believes leadership isn’t something we arrive at. It’s something we walk out, one faithful step at a time.
Onjalai Brown
Main Session Speaker
Onjalai Brown is a transformational leader, speaker, and ministry founder devoted to awakening hearts to the truth and power of God, with over fifteen years of experience in women’s ministry and discipleship. She is the Founder of Awaken Ministries, a Spirit-led ministry committed to sharing the Gospel, baptizing believers, and equipping disciples to live boldly through the power of the Holy Spirit. Known for her authenticity, spiritual authority, and exuberant personality, Onjalai creates environments where people encounter God deeply and experience lasting transformation.
