Ryan Ritchey is an example of faithfulness, obedience, and serving where the Lord puts you. He was first hired as a worship director at Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church in Western Pennsylvania in 2013. Ryan began volunteering with the youth worship team, building relationships and training students to lead. When the church was without a youth pastor for several years, Ryan offered to step into that role more formally.
This summer Ryan received the Youth Pastor of the Year Award from Momentum Ministry Partners. The award is presented at Momentum Youth Conference with the goal of honoring a youth pastor who is faithfully discipling the next generation and investing in the lives of students. This person is selected by a panel of Momentum staff, based on meeting certain criteria.
Eric Miller, executive director of ministry at Momentum, presented the award. Eric said, “Ryan joined a Momentum PRO Student Ministry Cohort in order to learn as much as he could. We’ve watched him thrive as he’s become a sponge taking in everything he could and even integrating students into his regular rotation within the worship team. He’s raising the bar on both levels and God is blessing what Ryan’s doing. Their student ministry is growing as students are leading, being equipped, and bringing their friends.”
“I started going to Momentum 12 years ago and have built relationships with some great youth pastors,” Ryan said. “My honest thought when they started presenting the award was, ‘I hope one of my buddies gets this!’”
When asked how it felt receiving it, Ryan said, “The reaction from my students was probably the biggest highlight. It was also a really cool moment for Eric Miller to be the one to hand it to me. Eric was our speaker at Camp Mantowagan 15 years ago and we bunked together. I had a cancer diagnosis that summer and was undergoing chemo treatment at the time. He’s been a constant source of encouragement ever since then!”
Ryan described his work at the church as a team effort. “We have an incredible team of about 30 volunteer adults who are hands-on with the students. Also, since I work in a dual-role (youth and worship) our church has allowed me to hire several young adults in part-time roles to make sure things run smoothly. Many of them came up through our youth ministry and it really is a joy to now serve together.”
Not only is Ryan an integral part of ministry at his home church, but he is also active in the Charis Fellowship. Each summer he serves as a program director at Camp Mantowagan in Western Pennsylvania, and several times he has helped lead worship at the East Focus Retreat in Ocean City, Maryland. In both roles, just like at church, Ryan is intentional about bringing people into the leadership process with him and creating space for people to use their gifts.
