About Ryan

My name is Ryan Dagen and I am in charge of finance and operations for Eurasia Café. Here is a bit about me, my life, my God and my wife.

I was born and raised in Amish country in Pennsylvania by an ex-Amish mom and an ex-farmer turned truck driver dad. I grew up fighting for male supremacy with my two brothers, one older, one younger…and yes, I fit the middle child stereotype. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007 where I majored in traveling, keg stands and extra curricular activities and minored in finance. After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I went searching for myself on a 3000-mile bicycle trip across the country. Turns out, I lost myself somewhere in small town America and found God…but he wasn’t quite like the fundamentalist god of my youth, this God was different; I have spent most of my life since trying to deepen my understanding of Him.

Prior to joining the Eurasia Café team in 2011, I spent my post-college years dabbling in an assortment of different career and life experiences. I worked as a project manager, got married, started a business and did shipping and receiving for a large corporation. I made a major career shift when I became the youth pastor at my church (where I learned more from the kids than I taught them). Through all of these experiences I learned a lot about leadership, authenticity and being an ambassador of love.

These formidable years molded me, changed me and grew me. They showed me who I was and who I wasn’t; they exposed my weaknesses and helped me to refine my strengths. Most of all, they prepared and guided me to where I am now…

Now…a synonym for the present. I spend a lot of time thinking about the future, but with out the effectiveness of the now, a better future cannot be attained. The future—my future, your future, our future—hinges, on what we decide to do with our lives today.

My todays are filled with serving my God and Jesus Christ, loving my wife, Janae and sinking my all into my job at Eurasia Café, a platform that I believe can truly make a difference in the lives of many across the globe. My hope is that as I spend myself in the above-mentioned present that I will not be the sole beneficiary, but that the objects of my toil will reap the harvest of my work…

…That the God I serve will be honored and pleased…

…That my wife, family, and friends will never doubt my love and devotion…

…That the weight of humanity will be lighter because I was willing to bear a small amount of the weight.

I hope that my contributions in this blog inspire thought, conversation and action in those who read. I also hope that you would share your thoughts, insights and reflections so that we may learn from each other.

I will leave you with my life’s motto,

Live a Life Worth Sharing and Adventure On…

- Ryan Dagen