Mark and Kris Ryan Biography

 

Mark was born and raised in Decatur, Ill. As a Roman Catholic, Mark attended Catholic schools and church until at the age of 19, when he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Later, making a total commitment to God and His will for his life, Mark felt called to preach the Gospel. He received the B.A. Degree in Religion and M.A. in Theology from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, where he met Kris. After pastoring in Illinois, Mark and Kris with two small children moved to Kansas City where Mark received a M.A. in Missiology from Nazarene Theological Seminary. It was during those Seminary years that God called them to missions.

 

Kris was born in Lansing, Michigan and attended the Church of the Nazarene from birth, accepting Jesus as a child. She committed her life to God as a teenager. While at Olivet, she ministered in the Philippines and the Caribbean. She graduated on Monday with a BSN in Nursing and married Mark on Saturday. God has blessed them with three children, Jodi- 27, Matthew- 25 and Jonathan-23. They also have a wonderful son-in-law Nick and grandchildren- Jake Michael (6/06) , sister Katelyn (2/08)!

 

In 1985 the Ryan’s were appointed career missionaries. They arrived in Costa Rica to study Spanish. One year later, they were in Colombia helping with new church evangelism, bookkeeping and pastoral education. Due to political unrest and insecurity, the family moved to Ecuador for four months in Sept, 1989. Following a year of furlough, the Ryan’s went to Chile to work in theological education as Bible Institute Director.

 

The Ryan’s accepted the appointment of Central Field Director on the MAC Region in 1992. They were involved in various aspects of ministry including Compassion, Education and Leadership Training. After 12 years as Field Directors of Guatemala-El Salvador-Honduras, they felt God’s direction to leave Guatemala and missionary service April 1, 2004.

 

The Ryan’s moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where Kris’s family and their children Jodi and Jon were living. Kris worked as and RN full time at a local hospital, while Mark concentrated on a PHD program and part-time work.

 

After 3 years of God directions to WAIT ON HIM, January 2008 God asked them to BE SERVANTS, WHERE NEEDED within a week they were asked to consider serving in Spain. They were re-assigned April 1, 2008 and have been serving in Spain since August 2008. Visit their website for more information www.spain24-7.net