Palm Beach Atlantic University Inc.

09/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/25/2026 08:04

Alumnus of the Year Believes Kingdom Impact is Generational

Menu

Menu

Youth ministry is more than offering an inspiring speech to young people. It's about equipping the next generation to make an impact.

At least, that's what Ryan McDermott believes. The Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) 2026 Alumnus of the Year, who currently serves as a teaching pastor and the senior executive director of family ministry at Christ Fellowship Church, is committed to supporting young people on their faith journey.

After all, he knows how important this work is. Though McDermott is a seasoned leader, he didn't grow up in a Christian home, and came to faith around middle school. While he sensed a calling to ministry, he didn't know how to articulate it. So, the Wellington-area native briefly attended the University of North Florida in Jacksonville for engineering, but just couldn't shake the desire to pursue ministry.

"My parents by that point were kind of soft enough to the idea of it," he shared. "Things aligned where I could come back, be at home, I could serve in my church, and I could study this thing I felt God had called me to."

And PBA welcomed him with open arms.

Stepping into Ministry Life

"[PBA] was the first time in my life that I was formally studying anything related to faith," McDermott recalled. "I remember the first time somebody prayed in class, and I was like, 'What just happened?' The professors were just incredible. The sense of belonging was really incredible. Those relationships made all the difference."

McDermott graduated in 2007 with a degree in Christian Leadership and a minor in Youth Ministry. Throughout his time at PBA, he built a strong community and had the opportunity to apply those class concepts, working with the high school youth pastor at St. Peter's United Methodist Church in Wellington, where he'd come to know the Lord.

During his junior year at PBA, that dedication was put to the test. The youth pastor moved on to another assignment, and McDermott was the only person around who knew how things ran. So, he jumped in to help keep things going. 

"From that moment, [I learned] to be faithful in the small things," he shared. "I didn't plan to be a full time employee my last two years of college, but the Lord opened the door, and I'm super grateful for a church that gave me a shot."

A Generational Mindset

After serving there for five years as the youth director, he and his wife, Christine, knew their season was coming to an end. They began attending Christ Fellowship and decided to make it their church home.

Sixteen years later, McDermott has served as a worship leader, a middle school pastor, and a high school pastor. Now, he regularly teaches on the weekends, supports sermon series and weekend planning, oversees kids, students, and young adults teams for all 13+ campuses, and serves on the church's senior leadership team.

Some people might be skeptical about the next generation, but McDermott is not. In fact, he believes it's critical that Christians think generationally.

"I think the reason it's so important is because it's biblical," he said, "I think about Psalms, one generation declaring the good works of God to the next… You have Paul mentoring Timothy. I think it's a tragedy when believers don't think about how to make an impact on the next generation. I think it's woven into the fabric of how God has designed the church and His people to be."

And while he's grateful to receive PBA's Alumnus of the Year Award, he says the work is far from over.

"This is sort of an affirmation to keep going," he said. "I am honored, I am humbled, but there's more work to be done." 

Even Bernie Cueto, PBA's campus pastor and associate professor of biblical and theological studies, said "You got it, great. Now get over it," to McDermott-as if to lovingly affirm his sentiments.

And McDermott is ready, while keeping Christ at the center of everything.

"At the end of the day, what's more important? Is it the impact we desire, or is it being more like Jesus? What the Kingdom values is faithfulness in the small things. When you make Jesus the priority, following Him and God's plan and purpose for your life naturally leads to Kingdom impact."

Ryan McDermott will be honored for his contributions at PBA's Founders Day Chapel, taking place on Friday, October 2, 2026 (11-11:45 a.m.) at Family Church Downtown (1101 S. Flagler Dr., West Palm Beach) during the University's Homecoming and Family Weekend (October 1-4, 2026).

To learn more about Homecoming and Family Weekend, click here. To learn more about the School of Ministry's programs, click here.

Palm Beach Atlantic University Inc. published this content on September 25, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 25, 2026 at 14:04 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]