In today's message, guest speaker Ryan O'Leary gives both historical perspective and encouragement in reaching out to our local Native American communities and sharing the life-changing Love of Christ.
Ryan is an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota. Ryan has an extensive leadership background serving tribal people. These roles have included the following: Assistant Executive Director for his tribe's government operations, board member and vice chairman of the board for his tribe's economic development agency for a total of 10 years, a lead pastor for 13 years Including a largely Indigenous church called "Indian Fellowship", Indigenous parachurch ministry leader for 3 years, a tribal college faculty member for 9 years, and has been serving Indigenous people in North America through his missions role for the last 8 years.
Ryan also leads The First Peoples Initiative, a ministry for all First Peoples groups in North America. Ryan holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in business management, a master's of divinity, a doctorate of ministry, and a PhD in Global Leadership degrees. Lastly, along with serving as the President of NANE (The National Association of Native Evangelicals), Ryan also serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Evangelicals.
