Ryan grew up in Amarillo, TX. Ryan started in ministry as a youth pastor at North Beacon Church of the Nazarene in Amarillo in 2007. Ryan and Serina served as youth pastors from 2007-2013. In 2013, Ryan and Serina were installed as Lead Co-Pastors of North Beacon Church of the Nazarene in Amarillo, TX. Ryan and Serina served in this role until December of 2018. Beginning in January of 2019 Ryan and Serina were installed as Lead Co-Pastors of Church St. Church of the Nazarene in Carlsbad, NM.
Ryan worked for Amarillo Independent School District from 2007-2018. He served as a tutor, an after-school program coordinator, after-school program director, special education teacher, and physical education teacher.
Ryan loves any sports. His two favorite sports are baseball and college football. During college football, you will often see an Oklahoma Sooners flag flying as the Nelsons are huge Sooner fans. Both Ryan and Serina are avid softball players. If they are not at home, they are either at church or the softball fields.