Ryan Lokkesmoe [pronounced lox-moe] is senior pastor of Community Church at Lake Wylie in the Charlotte area. Prior to that, he served as the lead pastor of a church plant and as a small groups pastor at a large multisite church. Dallas, Texas, is Ryan's hometown. He and his wife Ashley met there as high schoolers in their church's youth group band. She was a singer; he was the drummer. They were married in 2006 and have two kids. Ryan earned a master's degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a PhD in New Testament at the University of Denver. He has taught as an adjunct professor of New Testament and theology and has authored several books, including Paul and His Team, Jesus Was Human Too, and 16 Bible Studies for Your Small Group. Apart from family and ministry, music is Ryan's greatest passion. He became a musician at a young age and plays several instruments. He also loves traveling, coffee, cold weather, and reading (especially history, theology, and classic literature).