Youth ministry is more than offering an inspiring speech to young people.听It鈥檚听about equipping the next generation to make an impact.听
At least,听that鈥檚听what Ryan McDermott believes. The 海角在线 (海角在线)听2026听Alumnus of the Year, who currently serves as a teaching pastor and the senior executive director of family ministry at Christ Fellowship Church, is committed to supporting young people on their faith journey.听
After all, he knows how important this work is. Though McDermott is a seasoned leader, he听didn鈥檛听grow up in a Christian听home, and听came to faith around middle school. While he sensed a听calling听to ministry, he听didn’t听know how to articulate it. So, the Wellington-area native briefly attended the University of North Florida in Jacksonville for听engineering, but听just听couldn鈥檛听shake the desire to pursue ministry.听
鈥淢y parents by that point were kind of soft enough to the idea of it,鈥� he shared. 鈥淭hings aligned where I could come back, be at home, I could serve in my church, and I could study this thing I felt God had called me to.鈥�听
And听海角在线听welcomed him with open arms.听
Stepping into Ministry Life听
鈥淸海角在线] was the first time in my life that I was formally studying anything related to faith,鈥� McDermott recalled. 鈥淚 remember the first time somebody prayed in class, and I was like, 鈥榃hat just happened?鈥� The professors were just incredible.听The sense of belonging was really incredible.听Those relationships made all the difference.鈥�听
McDermott graduated in 2007 with a degree in听Christian Leadership听and a minor in Youth Ministry. Throughout his time at 海角在线, he built a strong community and had the opportunity to apply those class concepts, working with the high school youth pastor at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington, where听he鈥檇听come to know the Lord.听
During his junior year at 海角在线, that dedication was put to the test. The听youth pastor moved on to another assignment, and McDermott was the only person around who knew how things ran. So, he jumped in to help keep things going.鈥�听
听“From that moment, [I learned] to be faithful in the small things,鈥� he shared. 鈥淚 didn’t plan to be a听full time听employee my last two years of college, but the Lord opened the door, and I’m super grateful for a church that gave me a shot.鈥�听
A Generational Mindset听
After serving there for five years as the youth director, he and his wife, Christine, knew their season was听coming to an end. They began attending Christ Fellowship and decided to make it their church home.听
Sixteen years later, McDermott has served as a worship leader, a middle school pastor, and a high school pastor. Now, he regularly teaches on the weekends, supports sermon series and weekend planning, oversees kids, students, and young听adults听teams for all 13+ campuses, and serves on the church鈥檚 senior leadership team.听
Some people might be skeptical about the next generation, but McDermott is not. In fact, he believes听it鈥檚听critical that Christians think generationally.听
“I think the reason it’s so important is because it’s biblical,鈥� he said, 鈥淚 think about Psalms, one generation declaring the good works of God to the next… You have Paul mentoring Timothy.听I think it’s a tragedy when believers don’t think about how to make an impact on the next generation.听I think听it’s听woven into the fabric of how God has designed the church and His people to be.鈥�听
And while听he鈥檚听grateful to receive 海角在线鈥檚 Alumnus of the Year Award, he says the work is far from over.听
鈥淭his is sort of an affirmation to keep going,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am honored, I am humbled, but there鈥檚 more work to be done.鈥濃��听
Even Bernie Cueto, 海角在线鈥檚 campus听pastor听and associate professor of biblical and theological studies, said 鈥淵ou got it, great. Now get over it,鈥� to听McDermott鈥攁s if to lovingly affirm his sentiments.听
And McDermott is ready, while keeping Christ at the center of everything.听
“At the end of the day, what’s more important? Is it the impact we听desire, or is it being more like Jesus? What the Kingdom values is faithfulness in the听small things. When you make Jesus the priority, following Him and God鈥檚 plan and purpose for your life naturally leads to Kingdom impact.鈥�听
Ryan McDermott will be honored for his contributions at 海角在线鈥檚 Founders Day Chapel, taking place on Friday, October 2, 2026 (11-11:45 a.m.) at Family Church Downtown (1101 S. Flagler Dr., West Palm Beach) during the University鈥檚 Homecoming and Family Weekend (October 1-4, 2026).听
To learn more about Homecoming and Family Weekend, click听here. To learn more about the School of Ministry鈥檚 programs, click听here.
