The work
Creating places where faith becomes real.
North & Known creates intentional environments where people can encounter God, grow through meaningful relationship, and learn to follow Him in the midst of real life.
How we work
Transformation rarely happens in a hurry.
We believe meaningful change grows through relationship, truth, and lived experience. That is why much of North & Known happens intentionally in small groups, relational environments, and over longer periods of time. We create opportunities where people can be honest about where they really are, encounter God together, and respond to what He is doing.
We create places where what God begins in a moment can take root in a life.
01 Discipleship Communities
Building places for relationship to thrive.
We believe some of the deepest growth happens when people choose to keep showing up—with God and with one another. Our discipleship communities create consistent rhythms for honesty, prayer, friendship, Scripture, and learning to recognize what God is doing in the middle of everyday life.
These groups are intentionally relational and often small. The goal is not simply to complete content, but to become increasingly known, formed, and responsive to God together.
Current expressions
- God Chasers
- A committed yearlong discipleship journey for leaders who want to pursue deeper relationship with God alongside a small group of other men.
- Weekly Reset
- A regular virtual gathering for leaders around the country to slow down midweek and get honest about what’s really going on in life, listen to God, and return to what is true.
- Maine Mornings
- An ongoing in-person gathering built around friendship, Scripture, prayer, and helping one another follow Jesus through the realities of everyday life.
- More Connection
- A monthly gathering in Connecticut for men centered around a shared meal, Scripture, and honest conversation—creating space to go deeper with God and one another.
- One-on-One
- Personal conversations for people who want focused support in their relationship with God and the challenging realities we all go through. These sessions may include pastoral coaching, prayer, inner-healing ministry, discerning what God is doing, and working through places where someone feels stuck.
02 Retreats & Adventures
Encountering God. Leaving changed.
We believe shared experience can open us to God in ways that information alone cannot. Our retreats and adventures intentionally bring together challenge, beauty, friendship, reflection, prayer, and room to listen.
The goal is not simply to have a memorable experience. It is to encounter God in ways that reshape how we understand Him, ourselves, and the lives we return to.
Current and future expressions
- The Katahdin Experience
- Baxter State Park / Maine / 45°54′N 68°55′W A multi-day experience in the north woods of Maine built around challenge, brotherhood, honest conversation, and intentional encounter with God. The mountain becomes more than a destination—it becomes part of a shared journey where truth can move from something understood to something lived.
- Other Immersive Experiences
- Other experiences are created around particular groups, relationships, churches, and seasons—using shared experience as a catalyst for deeper connection with God and one another. North & Known plans to have an adventure for every season: summer hiking, spring fly fishing, fall golfing, and winter skiing and snowboarding.
03 Leaders & Churches
Serving leaders. Partnering with churches.
Leadership can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be isolating. We come alongside leaders in churches, businesses, sports, nonprofits, and other organizations—creating space for honest conversation, encouragement, spiritual formation, discernment, and the kind of relationships where leaders can be known beyond the roles they carry.
We also partner with churches to serve the people and communities they are called to lead. Sometimes that means helping shape a retreat, gathering, or discipleship experience. Other times it means speaking, investing in leaders, or simply coming alongside what God is already doing. Our hope is to strengthen the people carrying responsibility so they can lead from a place of connection, health, wisdom, and closeness with God.
Current expressions
- Chaplaincy
- Ryan currently volunteers as the chaplain of the professional soccer club Hearts of Pine. Serving alongside the players and coaching staff by offering a consistent pastoral presence, spiritual care, prayer, Bible study, and a space for honest conversation.
- Youth Pastor Network
- Relational gatherings where youth pastors and ministry leaders can step out of their roles for a moment, connect honestly with one another, and be strengthened for the work they are carrying.
- Church Partnerships
- Collaborative retreats, gatherings, and discipleship experiences shaped around the people, relationships, and needs of a local church or community.
- Team Formation & Training
- North & Known works with teams, churches, nonprofits, and other organizations around spiritual formation, emotional growth, healthy relationships, and deeper self-awareness. These experiences may include teaching, guided conversation, spiritual direction, prayer, and training in practices such as inner healing prayer.
04 Speaking & Resources
Speaking in the context of relationship.
Speaking and teaching are one way North & Known comes alongside churches, schools, teams, leadership communities, and other organizations. Rather than simply filling a speaking slot, we want to understand the people, the moment, and what God may already be doing—and serve in a way that genuinely fits.
The themes we return to are the same ones that shape the rest of North & Known: knowing God personally, identity, discipleship, honest relationship, and learning to follow Jesus in real life.
Over time, we hope to extend those conversations through writing, podcasts, and other resources that can serve people beyond a single gathering.
Current expressions
- Speaking
- Ryan regularly speaks and teaches as part of North & Known’s work with churches, teams, schools, retreats, and other organizations. These opportunities are shaped around the people involved, the purpose of the gathering, and the relationship with the organization—often as one part of a broader partnership.
Connection begins with a conversation.
Much of North & Known grows through relationship, invitation, and partnership. If something here resonates with you—as an individual, ministry leader, or church—we'd love to hear your story and explore what connection could look like.