Who is this guy?

Welcome. I’m Dr. Ryan J. Pelton.

I’m a writer, pastor, and creative who’s learning how to live with faithful presence in a world that’s often anything but.

I write about the intersection of faith, creativity, leadership, and the quiet, ordinary ways God renews the world through people who simply show up.

I’m not interested in chasing fame or fighting for power. I’m interested in learning how to be present—to people, to places, to the slow work of love.

Now in my mid-40s, I’ve been obsessed with one big question:

"What does it mean to be faithful in our generation?"

“Faithful presence” is a phrase I borrowed from sociologist James Davison Hunter. He describes it as the call for Christians to live out their faith not through withdrawal or control, but through humble presence—serving, creating, and renewing the spaces we inhabit. This idea shapes everything I write, teach, and create.

But, I've taken this idea of "faithful presence" and swapped out "presence" for "attention."

Attention is our greatest gift to the world, and without tending to this precious resource, we can never live as God intended in a distracted world.

The poet Mary Oliver said this about living, "Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

I'm merely trying to pay attention and share what I find (*all opinions are my own.)

Whether I’m writing about art or business, prayer or purpose, I keep returning to this conviction:

We don’t change the world by shouting louder.

We change it by being faithfully attentive to the one in front of us.

So here you’ll find essays, stories, and reflections about what it looks like to live with faithful attention in a distracted world—to create without ego, lead without control, and love without condition.

If you’ve ever felt weary of the noise, cynical about faith, or hungry for a more grounded way to live and lead, you’re in the right place.

Let’s learn how to live faithfully attentive together.

-Dr. Ryan J. Pelton

Writer • Pastor • Creative