Ryan Christian

I married my beautiful wife, Kelly, in 1995. We have two children, Maddie and Ethan. We love creating Friday night dinners together, working out and, of course, our annual shaving cream fight. My faith was especially shaped by growing up in a family that loved the Lord. Church and family were greatly valued. A specific event that helped shape my faith was singing at missionary churches across eastern Europe during college. It gave me a love for people of different cultures, an understanding of the worldwide church and thankfulness for the commonality through Jesus we have with others different from me. I love the passage in Romans 5:6-8 which explains the gospel so well. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We can’t be made right with God on our own. In fact, we’re completely powerless. As I dwell upon the holiness of God, the fact that his surpassing greatness is set apart from anything or anyone, I’m thankful all the more that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” After four years in the banking industry and already being a member of The Hills, I joined the staff in 1997 as the church’s first full-time worship minister. Thankfully, the staff and elders were patient with me as I had no clue what I was doing. I was allowed to grow with the role, which has changed drastically over the years. My prayer is that The Hills will grow wider and deeper. Wider because there are so many in Tarrant County who don’t understand the love of God and who aren’t going through life in a Christ-centered community. We want to share the good news with these folks. Deeper because wherever people are on their journey with the Lord we want them to grow deeper in surrender to Him. That includes living a life of worship, generosity, service, and spiritual disciplines. My hope is that The Hills will continue to grow in its kingdom impact locally and around the world.