Hi team, my name is Ryan Hurd. I am a 24 year old college student at the University of Memphis studying business management. I am the son of David and Rhonda Hurd and have one older brother, Aaron, who is a missionary at Youth With A Mission. I went to Middle Tennessee State University for 3 years until God called me to go on The World Race. I am now at the University of Memphis trying to finish my degree but I am putting it on hold again because God has called me to lead the Nicaragua team this January!

                                                                  My mom and dad

I went on The World Race in September of 2010 and was a part of R squad. I am blessed to say I had an amazing squad who I consider my family now. We are all still very close to each other and have an amazing bond. We arrived back in America this year at the end of January.

I accepted Christ when I was 17 years old. However, I backslid for a while and didn’t start following Christ full heartedly until I was 21. For around 3 years now I have been devoted to God looking for opportunities for God to use me for His purposes.

                                                    Me and my former WR teammate Bonnie

God changed me in so many ways while I was on The World Race. Two of the main things He taught me were about my identity in Him and how to slow down to spend intimate time with Him. He taught me so much more but those are two things that really changed the way I live my life now.

I am very much an extraverted person who loves to have conversations with anyone. I love activities outdoors. Canoeing, white water rafting, football, baseball, camping, hiking, frisbee golf, golf, etc. The list could literally go on and on. I just love to experience the adventurous side of life. I want to experience as much as I can on this side of heaven.

I really value relationships with people because there is so much to learn about each other. I look forward to getting to know each one of you as we embark on the amazing journey together. There is a lot more about me that you will learn while we are together on this journey.

I leave you with a quote from Matthew 28: 18-20:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God has given us the authority to change the world through Him and we are about to do it together!