419-862-3417
Pastor Ryan Shields began serving Trinity UCC in 2019.
A native of Northwest Ohio, Pastor Ryan was raised at Mainstreet United Brethren Church where he served as a praise band leader and youth volunteer. Coming into his 20s Pastor Ryan felt a strong call for youth ministry and began serving at St. John's UCC in Genoa, Ohio as youth director before God called him to the role of Assistant Pastor. After 12 years of service Pastor Ryan was happily called as Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ.
Pastor Ryan attended Lake High School (Class of 2003) before receiving an Associate
Degree from Owen’s Community College and a Bachelor of Biblical Studies from the
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. Because of his long history in our area, Pastor Ryan feels a deep
calling to this region and enjoys getting to know families from Genoa, Oak Harbor, Millbury, Elmore, and all the surrounding areas.
Pastor Ryan married to his wife Holly in 2014 and welcomed a daughter, Skylie, in 2019 and a son, Riley in 2022. He cites his role as a husband and father as among the greatest joy he's ever known. Along with a dog, Balor, they make their home in Elmore, Ohio. Pastor Ryan enjoy playing guitar and currently plays in an acoustic two-piece band called the Quiet Things with another pastor from our area. In his spare time he enjoys walking the dog, listening to a variety of podcasts and audiobooks, cooking, watching football and taking in our local sports teams the Toledo Walleye and Toledo Mud Hens. Pastor Ryan has been involved in a variety of youth education programs including the TNT Mentoring Program and being a Guitar teacher.
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:4-6