Episode 53: When a Post-it Note saves your life; meeting God at the right place and the right time with Ryan Risselman

We have a powerful testimony of God's literal saving grace to share with you today. We're talking with our friend Ryan Risselman and we think this is an episode you're definitely going to want to share with those around you. 

⚠️ Before you listen, we do want to give you a trigger warning for this episode. Suicide and suicide ideation/idealization are discussed throughout this conversation. ⚠️

We teased this episode with Ryan back in November 2022 when Kevin Wilkinson in Episode 40 shared about a time when he was able to help lead someone to the Lord. We're looking forward to sharing it with you today! Those of you who have been at Desert Springs for a few years may remember when Ryan was featured in a testimony video in our 2020 Christmas Eve services. Ryan and our host Sarah Schalow begin their conversation talking about the pop punk music scene as that was a big part of Ryan's life living in Chicago. He worked as a tour manager for a band and spent years traveling with them on the road. Growing up as a child of divorce Ryan remembers always having a desire to feel like he belonged. That was tough as he was going back and forth between homes, schools and friend groups. Church was not at all a part of his upbringing. In some ways the road life provided stability and Ryan was all in with everything that the music scene brought. Ryan met his wife Erica at House of Blues in Chicago and they married in 2009. After Ryan and Erica got married they moved out to Arizona and Ryan's focus shifted to being a husband and soon-to-be father. Finances began to overwhelm Ryan and it was something that he felt he had to handle all on his own. The pressures of life and a few cross country moves were weighing heavily. Ryan began to drink to cope with the pressure and felt he was living a double life in trying to provide for his family. He was hiding all of his struggles and felt incredibly alone. He was beyond depressed describing himself as without hope. In September 2019 it all became too much and Ryan had made plans to take his own life. But God in His saving grace used a Post-It Note to stop that from happening. We encourage you to listen to this miraculous story as Ryan describes when he first BELIEVED God was real, how Dave Ramsey's ministry got him and his family connected at DSCC and what life has looked like since choosing to surrender to Jesus. You will truly be amazed when you see where Ryan was and where the Lord has brought him to. Our God is real and He is working; there isn't a moment He misses. That is seen so clearly in Ryan's story.

Christmas 2020 Testimony Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwplGDZvbXM

Email Pastor Trevor at trevor@dscchurch.com for information on FPU at Desert Springs

Learn more about Dave Ramsey: https://www.ramseysolutions.com

Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Text HOME to 741741to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Wednesday to hear another story of God’s faithfulness!