A conversation about calling & settling in to a new community
At the beginning of the fall 2025 semester, Olivet Nazarene University announced the appointment of Ryan Green as the new University Chaplain. He gave his first chapel message on October 1, but due to the fact that he and his family had to relocate from Eugene, Oregon, his official start date wasn’t until November 3. Even with bouncing back and forth before their cross-country move, over the past few months Ryan, his wife Kylie, and their three kids quickly became familiar fixtures around campus.
Olivet Marketing recently sat down with Chaplain Green for a casual conversation about faith, family and his vision for his new role. The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
Olivet Marketing: What prompted you to get into ministry?
Chaplain Green: In fifth grade, I received a call to ministry. At the time, I would not have framed it that way, but as I look back, I know it was a clear call. I remember that I heard a voice saying, “Ryan, I want you to preach and teach my word like that guy on the stage is doing.” I think I turned around looking for where the voice was coming from. I gave my life to Christ at that time, but then, from sixth-twelfth grade, I lived a very secular life.
Right after high school, I joined the U.S. Navy. During my first year, I had my big salvation moment — the moment when it all clicked for me. At 19-years-old, I had just got to my first duty station and at a Bible study, I met a pastor who turned my world upside down. He taught me that faith is about understanding that Christ is in you, not about what you can do for God. The love between him and his wife, and their love for me, was something I had never experienced. I thought: whatever he has, I want that.
God reminded me of that moment of “calling” in fifth grade, and I knew that after serving my six-year contract in the military, that I wanted to work in ministry. While I was still in the service, I did a series of online trainings through Cross Style Ministries. Shortly before it was time to get out of Navy, that same pastor I met in my first year invited me to work with him as an associate pastor. I got out in 2008 and have been doing vocational ministry ever since.
What has kept you motivated to stay in ministry over the years?
Multiple times in the past few years, I thought about doing other things. I could do a lot of other things, and probably do them well. But, I have also felt the gripping nature of the call, which has resulted in a vitality and fresh intimacy with Jesus each day.
I think that a call is for a person, not necessarily to a particular job or activity. The way mine has manifested itself has looked different over the years — I’ve replaced windows, driven a school bus, opened a thrift story and food pantry. But regardless of what I’ve done, it has all come from an outpouring of intimacy of relationship with God and commitment to seeking the Kingdom. Stacking the spiritual disciplines day on day, week on week has also certainly helped me stay focused on whatever work is in front of me.
Share a bit about the decision to move across the country to work at Olivet.
For the year before I received a call about the chaplaincy, I had been interacting a lot with the local Christian college, based on our church’s philosophy that “we’re all in this together” as part of the relational web of followers in Eugene. I got invited to speak in chapel, participate in their spiritual renewal services, partner with church projects and play in volleyball games. Each time I was part of the campus, something came alive in in my spirit, and my heart kept growing for the generation of college-aged students. God was stirring my heart and giving me a dream, with passion and a vision. I lived it out the best I could where I was at.
Changes in ministry most often come through invitations. I had received other invites over the years that were easy no’s, but when I got the call about Olivet, I immediately recognized God had been stirring my heart for this as I had already been doing the activities of a chaplain, to a small degree, for a year.
My family was deeply invested in our community in Oregon — we had a house, rental properties, and full lives there. The beauty of this transition is that Kylie and I brought our kids in on the opportunity very quickly to discern together as a family. One of our core family beliefs is that our kids can hear God’s voice as clearly as we can. Everyone was excited about the potential and peaceful about the move. So, we uprooted it all and moved across the country all on a collective sense that God was calling us here.
What do you think college-aged students need to be encouraged about the most?
Who they are and who they are becoming — our students are facing major identity issues. Before we talk about doing, we have to address who you are becoming. I hope students find their identity in Christ, as a child of God.
Why is a Christian liberal arts education relevant (and important) in today’s society?
There’s an assumption that the value comes in having Kingdom-minded, Spirt-filled, Jesus-focused mindset when graduates go out into the world. I want to help young people reframe their vocation not just into work, but how they’re going to bring the Kingdom of God on earth. No matter what field they’re going into, I hope they see the importance of carrying the Spirit of God in them, which impacts how they serve the people they connect with.
What are you most excited about for your role as University Chaplain?
Connecting with students. I’m excited to live life with them — showing up in their spaces, going to their activities, supporting them at their games, concerts and events. Beyond that, I’m excited to breathe into and shape the chapel experience to be more anticipatory and expectant for God to do something. My overarching motto for ministry is: “Hope, healing and wholeness of Jesus.” I’m excited to see students really experience the love of God and the hope of Jesus. I hope that they leave their four years more healed and whole than when they came in.
In the first 50 days of my job, I’m also hoping to have 50 conversations with campus leaders about their Olivet insights and what they see as strengths and obstacles for spiritual formation on campus. I’m excited to get my feet underneath me and learn the ropes. I feel like this job is an open canvas for God to paint something beautiful, and I’m looking forward to the adventure.
Bonus round — just for fun topics
Enneagram: 7 wing 8
DiSC: 55i 45d
Family time: We all really enjoy a family movie night or going to see a movie in theatre. We also love a family scooter ride.
Books: I mostly listen to audiobooks. Right now, it’s Lead with Prayer: Spiritual Habits of World-Changing Leaders (Skoog, Greer, Doolittle); A Non-Anxious Presence (Sayers); and a few C.S. Lewis classics.
Starbucks order: Black coffee, although I’ve also been enjoying the protein cold foam.
Food: I eat multiple cans of tuna every day. It’s the cheapest way to get in some protein. Often, I’ll mix a few cans with some eggs and cook the tuna. I also really love Burgers & Beer in town. Have you seen how big their giant soft pretzel is?
Travel: My happy place is Navarre Beach, Florida; right on the Panhandle. I love sitting in a lawn chair with my feet in the water.
Season: Summer, by far
Holiday: Christmas
Chapel services are streamed live each week on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and Thursday at 9:30 a.m., and the message portion can be replayed on-demand. Visit Olivet.edu/Chapel for more information.
