Resume and Letters of Reference
***You may access and download my full resume at Ryan Reed - Pastor to Students and Families Resume
***You may also access and download the following reference letters:
AB College Chaplain and Professor Letter of Reference
Young Life Mentor Letter of Reference
A Friend's Letter of Reference
Urban Promise Supervisor Letter of Reference
Youth Ministry Colleague and Friend Letter of Reference
ORB Community Church Pastor Letter of Reference
Princeton Seminary Professor and Mentor Letter of Reference
Profile
- Spiritually mature individual, who has been journeying with Christ and under the discipleship of others since I was 14
- Experienced serving adolescents, working with various organizations and schools, as well as earning a Master’s Degree in Youth Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary
- Called to serve people who live in impoverished environments, acknowledging that all people have been created in the image of God, even those deemed the ‘least of these’ by our society
- Inspired by a Baptist heritage, raised in an American Baptist (USA) church and appreciative of Baptist ideals and theology, especially doctrine concerning mission, the priesthood of all believers, and the autonomy of the local church
- Studied under Reformed theology, upholding the theological continuance of great theologians past and present throughout the history of the Church
- Husband to Stacy, who teaches me more about the love, grace, and mercy of God than anything I could read or study in a book
- Father to Hannah Grace, an adorable, wonderful girl who radiates the image of God
- In love with life, living into the words of Jeremiah, “But if I say, I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:9)
- Servant of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Skills
- Strong and effective communicator, utilizing both written and verbal mediums, frequently speaking at youth retreats and other religious and non-profit functions
- An interpersonal and socially aware leader, facilitating discussion among both small and large groups, utilizing various learning methods and philosophies, while also maintaining an awareness of various cultures, races, and ethnicities present in discussion
- Leader-maker, investing time, energy, and resources into individuals who desire to lead others
- Relationship builder, placing a high importance upon the individual, as a uniquely created, gifted, and loved child of God
- Visioneer, arousing ideas, creativity, and imagination among those with whom I serve and work
- Driven, focused on maintaining my commitments – persistent to complete my goals and objectives no matter the level of difficulty, orienting myself and others toward particular goals, directions, and outcomes
- Team player, serving with humility and energy alongside my fellow co-workers, always looking for ways to build them up for continued service
- Innovator, implementing diverse forms of thought, media, cultural scripts, and perspectives into both my work and teaching
- Academician with strong reading comprehension, writing, and verbal skills
- Life-long learner, acquiring knowledge that prepares me to equip others
- Called to discipleship, forming individuals within their unique talents and abilities to serve Jesus Christ in the world
Experience
Pastor to Students and Families, Hillside Church of Marin, Corte Madera, CA, August 2011 - Present
- Served on the Lead Pastoral Team, Teaching Team - Preach once per month
- Created high school and middle school environments that serve more than 80 students per week - roughly 35% of the total church attendance - started with 7 total students
- Created a relevant, in-depth discipleship environment for both middle and high school students on Sunday mornings
- Provided the teaching each week for more than 90% of the weekly and weekend programs for the church's middle and high school environments
- Actively recruited and managed an adult volunteer leadership team of 20 adults - started with none
- Developed a missional strategy for our student ministry that has involved student-driven trips to India and Mexico
- Planned and led numerous contact work and outreach events for teenagers in the county
- Participated in developing a front-end assimilation strategy for our adult attenders
- Successfully implemented the Orange strategy for our student ministries to align with the church's children and adult ministries
- Led the entire Sunday main worship services when the Lead Pastor was away
- Successfully managed budget and stayed within designated amount each year
- Led more than a dozen off-site trips, retreats, and camps
Media Specialist, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, Fall 2006 – Spring 2010
- Assisted faculty, staff, and students with audio/visual needs
- Worked with seminary staff to develop a strategy for equipping faculty to better use educational equipment
- Taught seminars for faculty and staff on programs, such as Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and Safari, Mac Operating Systems, and Mixer Sound controls.
6th and 7th Grade Director, YMCA, Parkersburg, WV, Summer 2002-2004, 2006-2009
- Planned and structured a 10 week Day Camp for middle school students that included specialized courses on science, reading, fitness, and reading
- Created and implemented summer education curriculum, utilizing various educational philosophies and approaches for middle school students
- Supervised 5 counselors in the care and instruction of over 30 children.
Work Group Coordinator Intern, Urban Promise Ministries (UP), Camden, NJ June 2008 – August 2008
- Administered and organized the daily function of the Work Group program at UP
- Authored UP workgroup manual - still used today
- Guided weekly panel and dinner discussions between workgroup participants and adolescent and community leaders who reside in Camden
- Led weekly tours through Camden for the workgroups to bring about awareness of both the history of the City of Camden and the harsh reality of urban poverty.
Student Ministry Intern, Outreach Red Bank (ORB), Red Bank, NJ, September 2007 – May 2008
- Studied closely with the lead pastor and planter
- Served as a volunteer leader with the high school group and led a 9th grade boys small group
- Mentored a college student who became a small group leader and took over my group after I graduated
Senior Volunteer Leader, Young Life, Grafton, WV, August 2002 – May 2006
- Commenced and led a weekly Young Life program comprised of more than 80 students
- Offered the weekly talk – cultivated skills in verbal, large group communication during this time
- Managed and facilitated a bi-weekly leadership meeting consisting of 10 volunteer college leaders
Interim Student Minister, First Baptist Church, Williamstown, WV, May 2005 – September 2005
- Provided guidance over the Student Ministries program of a local church (averaged over 1,000 adults and 100 students each Sunday)
- Initiated small group mentoring projects and volunteer opportunities for high school students.
- Served alongside of 7 other staff personnel.
Education
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, September 2006 - May 2010
- Master of Divinity, Missional Theology, Practical Theology
- Master of Arts, Adolescent Development and Spiritual Formation
- *GPA: 3.4 on 4.0 Scale
Alderson Broaddus College, Philippi, WV, August 2002 – May 2006
- Bachelor of Arts – Christian Studies
- Minor - Education
- *GPA: 3.8 on 4.0 Scale
Professional-Related Activities
Winterfest Camp Speaker, Heavenly Hills Christian Camp, January 2015
Tier 1 Orange Blogger, January 2013 - Present
Promotional Strategist, Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit, August 2014
Short Term Missionary, Door of Faith - Orphan Car, La Mision, Mexico, July 2014
Orange Conference, Atlanta, 2013-2014
Growing Healthy Churches Celebration Conference, Northern California, 2012-2014
Catalyst One Day Conference, Saddleback Church, August 2013
Short Term Missionary, Freeset International - Sex Trafficking Research, Kolkata, India, July 2013
Orange One Day Conference, San Jose, November 2012
Short Term Missionary, City Impact - Urban Poverty, San Francisco, August 2012
Short Term Missionary, Casa De La Esperanza - Orphan Care, Tijuana, Mexico, December 2011
Short Term Missionary, Living Water International – Clean Water Drill Trip, El Salvador, December 2010
License to the Gospel Ministry, First Baptist Church, Parkersburg, WV, January 2010
Together in the Lord Conference, ABC-USA, Orlando, FL, January 2010
Princeton Forums on Youth Ministry, Princeton, NJ, Spring 2008 – 2009
One-Day Youth Specialties Event, Queens, NY, Fall 2007
Short Term Missionary, Urban Promise Ministries, AB College Spring Break 2002-2006
One-Day Youth Specialties Event, Huntington, WV, Fall 2005
Student Teacher, Math, Phillip-Barbour High School, Philippi, WV, Academic Years 2004-2005
Awards and Honors
Outstanding Young Alumni Award, Alderson Broaddus College, Philippi, WV, Forthcoming October 2014
Bryant Kirkland Excellence in Practical Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, May 2010
Alderson Broaddus College Graduate with Honors, May 2006
Magna Cum Laude, Alderson Broaddus College, Philippi, WV, May 2006
Outstanding Senior Award, Alderson Broaddus College, Philippi, WV, May 2006
Outstanding Senior Male in the Humanities Division, Alderson Broaddus College, May 2006
Appalachian College Association Citizen-Scholar Award, Alderson Broaddus College, May 2005
Morris-Tippens Scholarship, Full Tuition, Room & Board, and Book Waiver, Parkersburg H.S., May 2002