Michael E. Ryer: A Life of Service, Vision, and Building Hope

From small beginnings in Texas, Michael E. Ryer has forged a life defined by faith, compassion, and the conviction that even one person can shift the world by choosing well, over and over. As President and CEO of Amigos Internacionales, Michael has spent decades turning that conviction into concrete, sustainable action—bringing hope, dignity, and transformation to the world’s most vulnerable.

Early Life and Call to Service

Michael’s journey in ministry began while he was still a student in Commerce, Texas. His first role was as Music and Youth Minister at Boyd Baptist Church in Bonham, an experience that opened his heart to the power of community, mentorship, and service.

Over the years, he held a variety of roles across North and East Texas: minister of education, music, youth, and administration. These varied responsibilities laid the groundwork for a leadership style rooted in humility, versatility, and connection.

Parallel to his church work, Michael engaged in academic ministry: teaching at Navarro College, and online instruction for Grand Canyon University, in subjects including Old Testament studies, New Testament, and the History of Christianity. These academic roles refined his ability to communicate, teach, and inspire.

Broadening the Mission: Service Beyond Borders

From church pews in Texas to missions across the globe, Michael’s heart has always been with people facing need. His missionary work has taken him to places like Israel, Guam, Belize, and Ukraine. In Belize, for example, he helped organize a “mobile kitchen” project, aiming to meet both physical hunger and the dignity of giving.

In addition, Michael served on nonprofit boards dealing with teen pregnancy, poverty, and housing for those in need. He learned crisis response hands-on during efforts like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita relief—coordinating volunteers, medical relief operations, and emergency shelter support.

Leadership at Amigos Internacionales: Growing with Purpose

Michael became President and CEO of Amigos Internacionales in 2009. Under his leadership, the organization has evolved—not just to provide relief, but to build long-term, transformational partnerships with communities.

Some of the hallmarks of his leadership:

Moving beyond immediate aid to infrastructure: building clean water systems, schools, healthcare, and life-skills programs.

Focusing on sustainability and local empowerment—working with local teams, respecting cultural contexts, and training for long-term resilience.

Using faith as a foundation: for Michael, service and spiritual care go together. The organization’s name—“Amigos Internacionales”—and its work echo a belief in friendship, compassion, and shared responsibility.

Under his tenure, Amigos Internacionales has expanded reach significantly. Projects include the establishment of mission points, development of schools in Uganda, clean water access, major medical camps (including partnering with the Ugandan Heart Institute), and more.

Vision and Legacy: Building Lasting Change

Michael’s leadership is not content with temporary relief; his aim is generational transformation. He has often spoken about giving opportunities, restoring childhoods, and making communities safe, healthy, and hopeful places to grow.

A prime example: Amigos recently moved its headquarters to Whitehouse, Texas. More than a relocation, Michael calls it a sign of growth and a strategic step to better coordinate efforts—locally and globally.

EIN Presswire

Recognition has followed: Michael has been named among The Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs (Top 100 Magazine, 2024) and “One of the Most Transformative Leaders in Non-Profit Leadership” by Enterprise World. These accolades reflect both what he has achieved and the hope people see in the vision he carries forward.

Person Behind the Leadership

Behind the public roles and global programs, Michael is guided by personal convictions and grounded in his relationships.

He’s been married to Dana Buhman Ryer for over 40 years; they share two children and several grandchildren. Family and faith are cornerstones of his life.

He believes in transparency, open door leadership, mentorship, and in identifying the strengths in people—helping them grow rather than imposing leadership from above.

Looking Forward

Michael’s next chapters are taking shape in expansion and deeper community development:

More MissionPoints, especially in places like northern Uganda, where the need is great.

Increasing medical outreach—including specialty care such as heart health in underserved rural areas.

Strengthening education infrastructure, clean water, and life skills programs so that communities don’t just survive—but thrive.

Michael E. Ryer’s story is one of persistence and purpose: a person shaped by ministry, educated in both faith and service, touched by global need, yet anchored always in the belief that sustainable, dignified change is possible. Today, under his guidance, Amigos Internacionales is more than a nonprofit—it is a movement toward lasting hope.