Alumnus of the Year

It was a humbling honor to be awarded “Alumnus of the Year” by Regent University. Both Bethany and I are graduates of this incredible Christian university. We returned from a west coast adoption conference, sponsored by the Christian Alliance for Orphans, where I was invited as a guest speaker to share my story of adoption and Purpose. We flew back early so we could be a part of Regent’s most recent graduation, on my birthday (May 5th, or as we call it–El Cinco De Ryo!), to celebrate with thousands of others Christian leaders who will change the world.

I share this honor with my wife who is my partner in this journey we’ve been on for the past few years through The Radiance Foundation. We have seen God do the impossible throughout our lives, and never stop marveling at how he orchestrates the miraculous.

We are humbled to have been acknowledged by the school, fellow alumni and, in particular, Dr. Pat Robertson and Regent’s new President, Dr. Carlos Campo. It was such a surreal experience to stand there during the introduction and remember that I first shared my story, publicly, on this very campus during a graduation commissioning service. It was a full circle moment.

From someone who “should have been aborted” to an adopted child loved by Henry and Andrea Bomberger (two parents who could never be repaid enough for their love and sacrifice) and 12 siblings to a very happily married man with an awesome wife and four children who are loved like crazy. God will always confound those who think they know the end before one’s beginnings.