Ryan was born in Tulsa and grew up in Claremore, Oklahoma before moving to Wisconsin for his junior high and high school years. After attending Missouri State and the University of Wisconsin, Ryan transferred to Middle Tennessee State to finish his undergraduate work. It was there during the last month of college that the Lord suddenly and graciously opened his eyes to believe and accept the truth of the gospel. Almost immediately thereafter Ryan began to attend Community Bible Church in Nashville. Ryan desired to preach from the very beginning of his faith in Christ, and after serving three years at Community Bible in high school and other various ministries the elders affirmed that desire. In 2007 he enrolled at The Master’s Seminary and began to attend Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. While at Grace Community he was hired to serve as the vice-principal and junior high Bible teacher of the church’s Christian school, and he served in this capacity for four of his five years in seminary. Ryan graduated from The Master’s Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in the summer of 2012, and he accepted the call to serve at Cornerstone Baptist later that summer. He was ordained to the gospel ministry by Grace Community Church in the winter of 2012. Ryan met his wife, Emily, while attending Community Bible, and they married in 2006. The Lord has since blessed them with five children, Daniel, David, Ruth, Elijah, and Evelyn.