Pastor Ryan Macdonald doesn’t believe in shortcuts—especially not when it comes to faith. As the Lead Pastor of The City Church & St. Anthony’s in Batavia, New York, his approach to life and leadership is all about consistency.
For Ryan, faith is less about big, flashy moments and more about steady, small steps taken every single day.
“I don’t think real growth happens overnight,” he says. “It’s the quiet, faithful routines that shape us.”
Ryan grew up in the nearby town of Bergen. His ministry started in the simplest way possible—by setting up chairs for church services on his family’s lawn. It wasn’t glamorous, but it stuck with him.
“I was just a kid helping out, but I remember feeling like I was part of something important,” Ryan says. “That’s where it all began.”
Leading with Consistency
Now with over 20 years of ministry experience, Ryan leads a multi-campus church with a clear focus: helping people follow Jesus through simple, steady habits.
“My goal isn’t to impress people,” he explains. “It’s to help them follow Christ in a real way—every day, not just on Sundays.”
He says it starts with the basics. Prayer. Scripture. Showing up for others.
“Before I check my phone, before I answer emails, I sit with God,” he says. “Even ten minutes makes a difference.”
Ryan believes consistency builds strength, especially when life gets hard. “When the storms come—and they will—it’s the habits we built before that carry us through,” he says.
Family as Foundation
Faith and family go hand in hand for Ryan. He met his wife Samantha at The City Church. They’ve now been married for 21 years and have two sons who serve in ministry with them.
“Our family is my first ministry,” Ryan says. “If I’m not leading well at home, I’m not leading well anywhere.”
They eat dinner together most nights. They serve together. They keep each other grounded.
“We try to make sure our kids don’t just hear us talk about faith—they see it in how we live,” he adds.
Real Estate and Real Impact
Outside of ministry, Ryan has a strong interest in real estate. While it may seem unrelated, to him it’s deeply connected.
“Real estate is about building foundations,” he says. “It helps families find stability, and that matters just as much as anything else I do.”
He sees the crossover between helping people build physical homes and helping them build spiritual ones. Both require care, patience, and a plan.
Ministry in the Small Moments
One thing that makes Ryan stand out is how much he values the unseen moments. He doesn’t measure success in likes, shares, or audience size.
“Some of the most powerful ministry I’ve done happened in quiet conversations or short prayers behind the scenes,” he says.
He reminds people that faithfulness in small things matters. “You don’t need a platform to make a difference. You just need to be present and willing,” he adds.
Empowering the Next Generation
Ryan is passionate about giving young people a voice in the church.
“They’re not just the future—they’re the present,” he says. “They want something real. They can spot a fake a mile away.”
At The City Church, he makes space for youth to lead, ask questions, and grow. He doesn’t expect them to be perfect—just honest.
“If we don’t invest in them now, we miss a huge opportunity,” he says.
Lessons in Leadership
Ryan admits that his biggest challenge in ministry was learning not to do it all himself.
“I thought being a good leader meant carrying everything,” he says. “But I burned out.”
The turning point came when he realized the importance of trusting others. Delegating. Building a team.
“Ministry is a team effort. You can’t pour into people if you’re empty,” he adds.
Final Thoughts
When asked what advice he’d give someone struggling in their spiritual life, Ryan keeps it simple:
“Start small. Pick one thing—maybe five minutes of prayer each day—and commit to it. Don’t wait until you feel ready. Just start.”
For Pastor Ryan Macdonald, faith isn’t a performance. It’s a pattern. A life lived in quiet obedience, one day at a time. And through that simple approach, he’s making a steady, lasting impact.
“You don’t have to be perfect,” he says. “You just have to be available.”
Read more:
Rooted in Routine: How Pastor Ryan Macdonald Lives His Faith Daily
