Students
CONNECT is our ministry to 6th-12th graders with the purpose of fostering a community of students passionate about being and building the Church.
When We Meet
Sunday Mornings
We worship together with the gathered church on Sunday mornings either at the 9am or 11am service. We believe that it is important for students to be a part of the church body, whether it's worshipping with their family or using their gifts to serve in various ministries.
Formation
Formation takes place each Sunday morning between 10:15-11:00am and classes are divided into MS + HS groups, where students will dig into Scripture with their teachers.
MDWK
On the second and third Wednesday of each month, we meet as a large group for MDWK from 6:00-8:00pm for worship and teaching before we break up into smaller groups for discussion.
YTH NIGHT
The first Wednesday each month is called 'YTH NIGHT' and we encourage students to invite their friends out for a night of dinner, fun, fellowship, and games! 6:00-8:00pm.
Life Groups
On the fourth Wednesday, students will meet in homes with their Life Groups (gender + age based) to build deeper relationships with one another.
Camps
Students are invited to participate in annual Fall Retreat and Summer Camps. These are great opportunities for students to grow in relationship with God and each other.
Ryan serves as Student Ministry Director at Portico Church, where his passion is helping students know Jesus and discover that the Bible is one unified story centered on Him. He finds great joy in walking alongside students and leaders as they come to know Christ and make their faith their own.
Ryan is pursuing a Bachelor of Divinity at Grimké Seminary and holds undergraduate studies in Christian Leadership and Business Management from Liberty University. He is also a graduate of Portico’s Pastor, Planter, Elder cohort, part of his preparation for pastoral ministry.
Before transitioning to vocational ministry, Ryan spent over a decade as an intelligence analyst, including service in the United States Marine Corps, where he developed his commitment to excellence and passion for leadership development.
When not at church, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, grilling, camping, and being outdoors at the lake or beach with Elizabeth (his bride) and their five daughters.