Ryan has a rather unique perspective of the innate nature of Purpose. His biological mother was raped yet courageously gave him a chance to live and the beautiful gift of adoption. He was adopted at 6 weeks of age and grew up in a loving, multi-“racial” Christian family of 15. With siblings of varying ethnicities, he grew up with a great appreciation for diversity. Ten of the thirteen children were adopted in this remarkable family. His life defies the myth of the “unwanted” child as he was adopted, loved and has flourished.
Today, he is an Emmy® Award-winning Creative Professional who founded The Radiance Foundation (TRF), a life-affirming 501c3, along with his wife, Bethany. He is a factivist, international public speaker, columnist, educator, broadcast media designer, producer and author of the powerful book, Not Equal: Civil Rights Gone Wrong.
From congressional briefings on Capitol Hill to launching billboard campaigns (see our latest Life Has Purpose campaign) in major cities across the country to advocating for adoption (see our AdoptedAndLoved.com initiative) to inspiring youth & adults with their one-of-a-kind multimedia presentations, Ryan has had incredible opportunities to address hundreds of thousands in live events across the country.
The first Radiance billboard campaign was launched in Atlanta, GA.
He was the creative force behind the first ad campaign to expose abortion’s hugely disproportionate impact in the black community. The bold TooManyAborted.com billboards/web campaigns made an unexpected impact in the pro-life movement. The effort received massive media coverage from The New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, CNN, MSNBC, the Associated Press, Washington Times, Fox News, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, and across the blogosphere. The extensive media attention enabled The Radiance Foundation, and Ryan’s personal story of adoption, to reach millions. Working in conjunction with noted national civil rights leaders like Dr. Alveda King (niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), Ryan is involved in national efforts to expose and defund Planned Parenthood by illuminating this human rights injustice. He has also traveled the country helping pregnancy help centers raise millions of dollars at fundraising events to support women and their children (born and unborn).
His regularly published articles address the cultural dynamics of abortion, adoption, eugenics, fatherlessness, natural marriage, racism, #BlackLivesMatter, poverty, LGBT and judicial activism, free speech and religious liberty. Sometimes his thoroughly researched and pointed remarks rile establishment folk, like the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, the NAACP. The nation’s oldest civil rights organization sued Ryan and The Radiance Foundation for exercising their First Amendment right to parody the organization’s name. With the incredible help of Alliance Defending Freedom, Radiance was victorious after two years in federal court!
Through Radiance, Ryan has worked with organizations around the world to illuminate the truth about human dignity. Ryan earned his Masters in Communications from Regent University where he was named an Alumnus of the Year. He and Bethany also received the Messiah College Christian Stewardship Alumni Award. Ryan was recognized for his leadership on pivotal social issues by Star Parker and given C.U.R.E.’s inaugural Lion Chaser Award (based on 2 Samuel 23:20). In March 2017, Ryan was honored to be given the Ignite Courage Award by the Delaware Family Policy Council for his courage in standing for the truth in love (I Corinthians 16:13-14). The Institute on Religion & Democracy also named Ryan as one of the 100 Influential Protestants You Ought to Know.
Ryan has several decades of experience in leadership as well as in mentoring and educating young people. As a creative professional who loves to educate he has been able to share with diverse audiences about core identity issues (life, “race”, sexuality). Through creative ad campaigns, powerful multimedia presentations, fearless journalism, and compassionate community outreach, The Radiance Foundation addresses a myriad of social issues in the context of God-given purpose. As Chief Creative Officer of The Radiance Foundation, Ryan hopes to continue to impact millions to embrace their intrinsic value and the incredible possibility with which we are all created.
Ryan is happily married to the love of his life, Bethany. They are the proud homeschooling parents of four amazing children, two of whom were adopted. They are his daily inspiration in illuminating that every human life has purpose.
