Bio

"I'll cry for Jesus and that's about it," he says with a twinkle in his eye. The Southern disposition, slow drawl and polite "Yes, ma'am" reveal the kindhearted soul of passionate worship artist Ryan John. His loves are God, music, and his brother, and when you hear him talk, you'd never know that his own path has had its share of trials, shaking everything he believed to be certain in his life.

Ryan has traveled all over the southeast speaking at pastors' conferences, youth rallies, and church services, including the Alabama Baptist State Convention and True Love Waits events. He has also worked with respected greats like:

Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. Johnny Hunt, Phil Waldrep, Charles Billingsley, Zoegirl, and Shawn McDonald, Mike Satterfield .

However, a few years before his foray into ministry, Ryan watched helplessly as his parents' marriage began to crumble. As a nine-year-old boy, Ryan found himself asking questions that were hard for him to answer: How can two people just stop loving each other? How can Dad just change his mind about us like that? "I felt really vulnerable to the outside world," Ryan reflects. "I found myself spending a lot of time alone to keep people at bay, or I tried to keep busy to not think about it."

Unknowingly at the time, what happened next influenced the entire direction of Ryan's life: his parents summoned up their courage and decided that their relationship and their family were more important than their differences. They not only figured out how to make their marriage work, they made it thrive. Their home became a haven of love, and he and his brother, Travis, grew up the very best of friends. Ultimately, Ryan's parents showed their boys the true power of love to prevail.

These lessons in love taught Ryan that love isn't just something received; it's something you give: to your family, your peers, the church, and most importantly, to God. His ministry has become a forum for people to openly respond to God's love, an opportunity that Ryan believes is the true heart of worship.

His experiences with love became a driving force in Ryan's life. In high school, he was the well-liked junior who walked the sophomore queen candidate down the aisle, defying the rumors that no one would escort her. She was killed in an auto accident on her way to school the following year, and Ryan was called upon by his principal to support his peers: to counsel, to listen, and most importantly, to love.

As a junior-high kid in the youth group, when Ryan had to choose between baseball and ministry, Ryan knew sharing God's love and grace with his peers was what he wanted to do. He began speaking as an advocate for the Southern Baptist FAITH evangelism process, and before he knew it, his schedule was full of speaking dates.

Today, Ryan's greatest joy onstage is being a conduit for creating an atmosphere where people are free to manifest their love for God in a way that's personally meaningful to them. Off stage, he considers building relationships with kids and adults alike the most important part of ministry. He has always been characterized by his approachability. Ryan enjoys building these relationships and taking the time to show others they're important and that he cares about them. That's his purest form of worship.

WORSHIP & RECORDING ARTIST RYAN JOHN

Summer 2004 marked the release of Ryan's first solo project, Deeper Waters.

Ryan has traveled all over the southeast speaking and performing at concerts, retreats, camps, rallies, and worship services. He's also partnered with respected greats like Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. Johnny Hunt, Phil Waldrep, Shawn McDonald and Zoegirl.

Powerful lessons in love have taught Ryan that love isn't just something received; it's something you give: to your family, your peers, the church, and most importantly, to God. His ministry has become a forum for people to openly respond to God's love, an opportunity that Ryan believes is the true heart of worship.

RYAN HAS MINISTERED WITH:
Dr. John MacArthur
Dr. Johnny Hunt
Phil Waldrep
Zoegirl
Shawn McDonald
Charles Billingsley
Lawrence Phipps
Duffy Robbins
Mike Satterfield

CHURCHES & CONVENTIONS:
SEE YOU AT THE POLE
True Love Waits
AL BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL CONF
First Priority
ALABAMA STATE CONVENTION
Shades Crest Baptist Church
FRAZIER MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
First Baptist, Columbiana, AL
FIRST BAPTIST, SNELLVILLE, GA
First Baptist, Sweetwater, TN
VAUGHN FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH

RYAN'S MINISTRY INCLUDES HIS MUSIC AND SPEAKING ON TOPICS LIKE:
Love Faith
Purity Grace
Trust Provision of God

ENDORSEMENTS:
"Ryan's musical abilities, motivating presence and athleticism cause crowds of students and adults to receive and respond to his message. His concerts, camps, retreats and worship experiences not only attract students, but also challenge them to rise above the pressures that threaten to pull them down. Ryan's unique difference is that he has lived the life he now challenges other students to live. His testimony is seen in what he did right, not what he did wrong."
Dr. Lawrence H. Phipps, Pastor
VAUGHN FOREST CHURCH, MONTGOMERY AL

"Ryan's message is simple but profound, and persons of all ages can be positively impacted by this young servant of the Lord. I heartily recommend him!"
Rick Lance, Executive Director
ALABAMA BAPTIST STATE BOARD OF MISSIONS

"Ryan's passion for the Lord and his deep desire to lead others into a close and intimate walk with Jesus is evident in his music. The lyrics and the music itself stir the soul and honor Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:9, 'So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.' (NIV) I believe that Ryan John pleases Jesus with his music and his life!"
Joe Godfrey, Associate Executive Director
ALABAMA CITIZEN ACTION PROGRAM, BIRMINGHAM, AL


"Ryan is an integral part of our student ministry. He has made such an impact on our young people and our church."
Tim Hebson, Student Ministries

WHAT THE STUDENTS SAY ...

"This summer, I've seen the way that Ryan cares about others and how he leads them to God by being their friend. I've seen first-hand what kind of Christian he is: He talks the talk AND also walks the walk."
Dane Vansant

"Ryan has meant so much to me and the youth group; we could never tell him how much we love him. I have grown in my spiritual life more than I could ever have imagined, and I owe most of that to Ryan."
Bethany Bently

"I'm so thankful that God has blessed me by placing Ryan in my life. He is always willing to listen to whatever you have to say. He knows what is important and that is people and their personal walk with Christ. He is willing to do whatever it takes to build a relationship with someone and bring that person to Christ."
Cig Castleberry

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