In this episode of The Calling’s radio show, uncover the special story of Ryan Helfenbein from his roots in Texas to his influential role at Liberty University. Explore the heart of his passion for life, liberty, and truth, as Chrysandra navigates through Ryan’s insights on leadership, cultural engagement, and serving as a transformational figure within the community. Perfect for anyone feeling the call to live out their dreams, this episode encourages listeners to take hold of their God-given purpose.
00:25:30 Invitation to Engage with the Freedom Center
00:26:26 Closing Remarks and Call to Action for Dreamers
CHRYSANDRA :
Welcome everyone to The Calling’s radio show to all the dreamers. I’m your radio host, Chrysandra Brunson, founder and CEO of The Calling. And it is such an honor to be with all of you today. You know, at The Calling, we have realized that so many people are afraid to go after the dreams that God has put inside of their hearts because they are afraid to fail. And that is just plain wrong because if God has given us a dream and we’re not living it out, we are wasting it and we do not want to die with regret. That’s why the calling loves to inspire, empower, and equip people to go after God’s dreams on their lives, to be able to have everlasting impact, eternal impact on themselves and their families, to be able to reap the best kind of harvest and legacy. We love to do this through conferences, workshops, and being able to give people the tools and confidence to go after what God is calling them to, especially through this radio program to all the dreamers and having awe-inspiring and world-renowned guests like we do today. And we have the one and only Ryan Helfenbein, and we’re so glad that you’re here.
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
Hey, Chrysandra, great to be with you. Thank you for having me.
CHRYSANDRA :
We are so honored and we’re so thankful, Ryan, for your leadership. And can you just tell everybody some of the roles that you are playing in humanity right now, starting off with husband and father?
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
So I have been happily married for 15 years. My wife and I, Lauren. Lauren is from Tennessee. I’m actually a Texas native. We met in seminary in Kentucky and started a family there. I had anticipated and started a family of three beautiful children. They’re 11, 10 and five. And we homeschool. And so our purpose and priority starts as a family, just, you know, husband and wife. And then, of course, our responsibility as as father and mother.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, Ryan, you are you are leading the march in the charge. Can you just tell us your role right now at Liberty University?
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
Yeah. So I’m senior vice president of communication. So communications, public engagement, forward facing for the institution, you know, speaking in to a lot of different cultural matters. But we I am the executive director of the standing for freedom center. And we, we are a biblical worldview center that is charging on issues of life, liberty and truth. And we say to ensure that the foundations of freedom exist for that next generation. So one of the things you mentioned marching just recently, Chrysandra, I met you in DC, saw you in DC with Chrysandra, basically 100,000 other people out there. We had over 500 Liberty students carrying the banner for the March for Life this year, the 50th anniversary of that march. And what an amazing historic event. We had the honor, the organizers of that march had reached out to us and said, hey, would Liberty like to carry this banner? And the answer is, of course, you don’t even have to ask. We absolutely wanted to. So I was so proud of our students and there was no any, there was not any arm twisting to get them on those buses and to get them out there in DC.
CHRYSANDRA :
Wow. Well, and Ryan, you were leading the march literally out of all of those 100. Was it over 100,000 people that were there that day? I…
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
I don’t know. Depends on who you ask. I think there are those in the secular media that say, no, it’s closer to 50,000. And some people were saying hundreds of thousands. I don’t know what the official number is, but I can tell you how many we had. Yeah, it was a lot. We had over 500.
CHRYSANDRA :
So that is remarkable. It’s just such an honor, Ryan, to get to know your heart. And it was really special to be on that march with you, to get to know you more. And with the Colters, Sherea and Scott,
CHRYSANDRA :
That was just so special to be able to stand for freedom. And right. You have such, so you have such a heart for Jesus, for communications, for politics, culture. When you look back on your life, how do you see God interweaving all these different pieces? That was your God. This is your God-given calling. You can see that your passion comes through so vividly. And how, what was that like when you were little as a little boy?
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
Okay, I’m glad you asked that question. That’s always a little… So I was definitely one of those kids that was pretty boring by probably most people… So many people that I’ve talked to that have kind of grown up maybe in church life and were raised in a Christian family where that was very central, you know, to their to their growing up, you know, church on Sunday, maybe even on Wednesday night. We’re very active and involved in the church. A lot of them would say, yeah, you know, I came to faith in an early age, but I really I’ll tell you around 14 or 15 is when it was. it was about taking ownership and making decisions. We were met with a big life event in our family. My parents got a divorce that was very hard on me and my sister. And at that moment, I had to make many decisions. My parents were, I love both my mom and dad, great parents, but they were struggling in their marriage and they were asking a lot of questions and they kind of had their own little crisis. And so for me, you know, there was a lot of decisions I kind of was on my own to make. And at that point it was like, no, I’m going to be involved in church because I want to, and I wanted to live out my faith. And so when I was about 14 or 15, I developed this apologetic kind of muscle, if you will, because I wanted to share my faith with others. I knew that that was something that, I was called to do literally. I think a lot of times people debate about that theoretically, but then just going out there and actually just sharing the gospel, you know, and I didn’t know what to do. I just started passing out tracks and things like that. And it was during that time that I developed kind of this Berean aspect of studying the scriptures so that I could explain and present the gospel to other people. Like just that simple. I didn’t follow like a particular program. I was just like, I want to be able to share Jesus with as many people as possible. And many of those conversations were embarrassing. It’s not like I had a lot of supervision. I went to area malls in the Dallas area. And I kid you not, with me and a group of friends, we used to go every Friday night and evangelize. And that was my favorite. 15, 16, 17 year old experience. And so I probably looked, I was in sports and did other things, but it was during that, that I learned how to speak with my own voice. It was that moment. So you talk about communications, like I didn’t know what God was doing in my life, but he was challenging me by putting things in my path that I hadn’t experienced before. And I had to make decisions like those decisions on my own and taking initiative. So, fast forward, I did not pursue a career in communications I went to school for economics at the University of Texas at Austin, and then I was like, I’m going to go into the ministry I felt like I was called to be a pastor and that’s when I decided to go to seminary and move 1100 miles away from home. To go all the way to Louisville, Kentucky for seminary and enroll there at 21. And it was during that time that I learned a lot. And I learned a lot about what my desires really were. It was during that time that as opportunities were put in my way, Chrysandra, I… I felt less of a call to the vocational church life inside the church as much as a salt and light ministry in the public arena. It was, it was kind of in that, that I was working all that out while in seminary. So I had opportunities to engage in the political arena, which I was, if you had asked me that in high school or in college, I was like, yuck, who wants to do that? You know?
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
You know, young Republicans, who wants to be a part of that? Just that at the college level, I just had no desire. And I’ll say this, when it comes to that stuff, I’m still very much like most people. I don’t want to have anything to do with stuff political. What I care about is life. What I care about is educational freedom. What I care about is the health of the family. I care about stuff like that. And that’s when I think about people, when I think about people, I think, oh my goodness, there are policies over here affecting the people that I love. And those policies matter. And that is kind of the stuff that I hate. I hate talking about that, but I do care about people. And that’s then why I think politics matters even more because you recognize that those outcomes, what’s happening in that political arena, think about Jeremiah 29, 11, where I know the plans I have for you to prosper you, not to harm you, but to give you hope in the future. God says that to us. Well, guess who else has plans? and they are not for you and they are not to give you a hope and a future. And people are trying to plan and scheme and make those plans for you. And either you can be a part of that conversation or you can be absent from it, but make no mistake, those plans are coming. So that’s, I think it’s kind of full circle. That’s but I want to say this and I definitely want you to get other questions in, but I’ll just say this. I did not begin this journey by planning out my story. I didn’t start in an age. And I think a lot of people that you interview could say the same thing. I did not start out and say, Oh, I’m going to one day be vice president of communications at Liberty university. No, I just, I just had what was in my path. And I said, yes. When things were put in my way, I didn’t always obey when the call of God came upon me. But I will say there was an internal call that the tug at my heart where the Holy Spirit is calling me to something and to obey him and serve him. But then there was the external call. And I think a lot of people that you talk to would say probably something similar. You know, I had people that kind of helped me. They recognized where I was gifted and they spoke into my life and helped to kind of steer me. You know, you’re really good at X. And, you know, I didn’t have a desire for X, but people are like, you’re really good at X. I think God is telling you that you’re good at it. And that’s where you kind of recognize, oh, well, that’s not what I wanted to do, but maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do. And I hope that makes sense. Maybe that resonates to certain people. Oh, yeah. But our dream, I think about Mike Rowe, where he talks about dirty jobs and people who were placed in a particular position where, like this one guy, for example, cleaned out septic tanks. And so he’s literally dealing with something. His profession is literally dealing with things that nobody wants to deal with. And he became rich, literally that turned to gold because he found himself doing what needed to be done, not at the moment what he wanted to do, but recognizing what needed to be done. That’s calling. And oftentimes I think vocation comes that way is recognizing this needs to be done. And if we can, our heart can then align with that. Oh, there you go. It’s a match made in heaven, literally.
CHRYSANDRA :
It is. And we just need to take a short break, Ryan. We thank everyone for tuning into all the Dreamers radio show. And it is a match made in heaven when we find a cause that we know in our hearts is burning inside of us that we’re meant to be able to take action in. Stay tuned. Twist and Shout with Lee & Co. They are the premier oldies band delivering the rock and roll vibes you’ve been missing. Great songs, great memories. Book them at LeeAndCo.com. Hi guys, this is Chrysandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com. Continue to grow in the calling God has for you through ORU Online.
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
You can earn your degree without changing your busy schedule. 100% online and 100% on your time. Learn more today. ORU.edu slash calling.
CHRYSANDRA :
At Ignite Brilliance Coaching, you will get 34 years of science teaching, a decade of university-level instruction, and over 10 years of instructional coaching to empower educators with the tools, mindset, and confidence to thrive. Contact Ignite Brilliance Coaching on Facebook. We are back. Thank you for tuning in to all the Dreamers radio show. We have the one and only Ryan Helfenbin. And we are just so honored to be able to have you, Ryan. And you are just sharing so eloquently the nature of our callings and how God is able to steer us and lead us. And you were just sharing about Mike Rowe and others. And you have said yes. ryan over this time and so you were in the school of theology and you met you you met your bride there that’s right okay did you guys move to virginia soon after that
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
no we were there like we it’s funny chrysandra we ended up uh going through i went through my um master’s degree i started a phd and then as our all three of our children were born there and so we stayed several more years uh and i ended up working in sort of political life worked on a senate campaign a congressional campaign and ended up working for the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. So we moved to Virginia back in 2019. So we’ve been here about four years now at Liberty University.
CHRYSANDRA :
Wow. What a neat adventure. And you guys just being obedient to the next step and the movement that you are leading at Liberty University and just within culture, Ryan, is phenomenal. And just hearing these conversations, Ryan, um you know the our radio headquarters is in denver colorado but we so we have a close relationship with colorado christian university and jeff hunt and yes centennial institute and just to see the stirring that the lord is doing through all these like with jeff with you um What would you say is your pulse, Ryan? I think that you guys have been around for quite a while and are kind of leading the charge in an essence of being able to show that as Christians, we need to be able to get involved. If we love life, if we love our families, if we love what God is, all those values that he’s stirring inside of us, we can’t help but get involved in politics.
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
Yeah, that’s right.
CHRYSANDRA :
What is your pulse on everything that’s going on in the world right now?
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
You know, it’s really interesting. We were actually, we were in a meeting this morning, our staff meeting here for the Freedom Center. And, you know, something I’ve been ruminating on recently is out of Matthew chapter 24, where Jesus talks about the days of Noah. He says the coming of the son of man and he’s talking about the future will be a lot like those days of noah and if you read back in genesis you look at the utter wickedness of man in genesis chapter six you know he even says there’s this language in scripture it’s one of the worst passages in all scripture that the language is god regretted making mankind that’s the language Now, God makes no mistakes. That’s not what the scripture is saying. What it’s saying is that in that particular moment, there was such darkness over the face of the earth. I think this is one of those things you have to be reminded of, that nothing is new under the sun. The times that we’re experiencing are not unlike times that have been experienced before. And during that moment you know humanity is just an utter wickedness and god comes to noah i mean there’s like none righteous on the face of the planet other than noah and he tells him you’re gonna go build this ark right everybody go see the ark encounter in kentucky he’s telling him this is gonna be a moment of judgment judgment’s coming and and look god is incredibly patient that thing takes over a hundred years to build. And you think about the patience of God.
CHRYSANDRA :
I don’t think we realize that a hundred years.
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
Yeah. A hundred years. So they would have seen this and would have had every opportunity to mock obviously Noah, but then at the same time, people had the opportunity to repent. People had their opportunity. You know, I’m reminded of that passage out of Romans chapter two. It’s the kindness of, of the Lord that leads to repentance. God is kind. He is patient. He is, he is long suffering when it comes to his name being mocked and being reviled. You know, I think we have to remember in these times, you know, looking around, Yes, there’s a lot of destruction. There’s a lot of doom and gloom and devastation. There’s all of that. There is this pernicious evil. Absolutely. But there’s also reasons to be hopeful and reasons to rejoice and reasons to have every bit of confidence and courage to speak the truth. out of not out of fear of the culture, but out of, out of love and fear for God and to call this generation to repentance and to faith in Jesus Christ. And so in that, in that moment, he says in Matthew 24, that when he comes again, The question is not, what are they going to be doing? The question is for his children. What are we going to be doing? Are we going to be found faithful? Are we going to shrink back and be faithless in those moments? So it’s not about, oh my gosh, I can’t believe what they did to the granny bees. That’s one part. Yes, of course. Call that out. Call out that evil for what it is. Well, what are you and I going to do in response to, And I would say that we have to have our story right. When it comes to the gospel, it’s that much more critical that we have the truth, that we’re armed with the truth, that we know the truth, and we’re able to speak that in love to a lost and dying generation, not to forfeit the gospel, not in any way to twist it and to comport it with, what the world would deem acceptable. And so I’m seeing a lot of compromise today in churches across the country where they’re trying to mix worldly thinking with the gospel itself, and it will not work. It’s incompatible. For your sake, I won’t name names on your program, But I know your listeners will probably will think or come to mind. Yeah, I’m aware somebody who has this very large platform and they have been speaking compromise over these cultural issues. And instead of confronting that. With biblical truth. Instead, they’re doing it hopefully to win acceptance or to gain followers or likes or retweets or what, you know what I’m saying? All the ways in which the love of man and the fear of man leads many. to compromise the truth of the gospel and the truth of God’s word. So I think right now we do need to be salt and light. I would say to, you know, I think you had the opportunity more recently to go, you know, to on invitation to go to the Grammys. yeah, go to the belly, you know, like if Christians, you, you know, you need to be in the marketplace and you need to have opportunities to get out there and, and to share the love of Christ and the truth of God’s word. Like don’t retreat from those, those opportunities at all. Yeah. But engage it without compromise.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. Yeah. Well, I’m grateful, Ryan, that you’re on with us. And we want to have you back sooner than later. But on this topic, I think because it’s stirring, you know, the Grammys, it is something that I think that we can all even get launched from of what it can do for us. That there were believers there, you know, Louis K. Blow, Maverick City Worship, different, I mean, for King and Country, here and there. But for the majority, it was the world. And the world wants to be able to feed off. of satan the flesh and so i think this is a charge for us to be ready that any moment you know i had no idea where they were going to place me where i would be or what i was going to see at any given time and you know just like you’re sharing right that we need to be we need to be ready to speak the truth and be the truth at any second and for us to be able to be fed the gospel of jesus christ and so Thank you for that inspiration and for you being that at all times and with your amazing family and amazing community at Liberty University and the global platform that you guys have. Thank you for being such a strong pillar. Brian, we’re coming up towards the end of our show, but can you tell our listeners, someone’s tuning in, they don’t know how to go after, they hear Jesus’s voice of what they’re supposed to do next. What would you tell them to do?
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
You know, I think, and this is what I want to encourage, like the basics, like you’ll never outgrow the basics, Chrysandra. So I would just tell people, I would encourage people, absolutely listen to the voice of God. How are you hearing that voice though? Are you check it, test those things by the word of God? Yeah. You know, I would be, I would be reading the Bible regularly. I’d be in regular community with other Christians who are like-minded, who can encourage you and spur you on to greater good works. And so I would be in a regular community, pray daily. Prayer is a discipline. It’s not about changing our circumstances. It’s really about changing our hearts. I guarantee you, every listener who’s listening has a unique calling. God has placed a calling on their heart, but that calling is going to look more like work and a whole lot less like the job of their dreams. It’s going to be a lot of work. And that’s the thing. It’s the dream comes, the vision comes when we change our hearts and align our hearts with God’s will. That’s where it, that’s where the magic happens. Like I said earlier, the match made in heaven. So my encouragement is, is keep your hand to that plow, serve the Lord, love him, follow him, read God’s word, be devoted to prayer, be in constant community, and then live it out. You need to be willing, committed to action. I think the most important thing is find opportunities to serve.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yeah. Couldn’t have said it better, Ryan. And we just know that everyone wants to be able to be part of the movement that you are leading, that Jesus is leading through you. How can they get in touch with you to be a part of it?
RYAN HELFENBEIN :
So the Freedom Center exists on the campus of Liberty University. Our website is called standingforfreedom.com, standingforfreedom.com. We have a whole series called devoted to this movement. Politics in the Public Square called Theology of Politics. So we’re dealing with all of these issues from a biblical worldview. We also have podcasts. You can download our content there. In the past, we’ve had fellows like Eric Metaxas, Jenna Ellis, who’s no stranger to the Centennial Institute out there in Colorado, a mutual friend of ours, and so many others. You can check our original content there at standingforfreedom.com. I’d encourage your listeners to find us there.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes, and I highly encourage everyone to go right now. Go Google Ryan. Download the podcast. Stay in touch with them. Go to their incredible events. Be a part of the march next year. And we’re going to stand together. And just thank you so much again, Ryan, for being such a leader, a hero of the faith. And so we just honor you. And we thank everyone for tuning in today to All the Dreamers radio show. You can go to the calling’s website, thecallingnonprofit.org to stay in touch with Ryan and others to be encouraged and empowered to know that you can go after Jesus’s calling on your life. What would you do if you knew you could not fail? When you delight in the Lord, he gives you the desires of your heart and you are meant to be able to be obedient for such a time as this. Till next time, dreamer. Keep dreaming big.
In this episode of The Calling’s radio show, uncover the special story of Ryan Helfenbein from his roots in Texas to his influential role at Liberty University. Explore the heart of his passion for life, liberty, and truth, as Chrysandra navigates through Ryan’s insights on leadership, cultural engagement, and serving as a transformational figure within the community. Perfect for anyone feeling the call to live out their dreams, this episode encourages listeners to take hold of their God-given purpose.
