Welcome to Risners Beyond Borders
“To gospelize a man is the greatest miracle in the world. All other miracles are wrapped up in this one. To convert a man, to bring him to Christ, is a greater miracle than opening the eyes of the blind.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Our approach
Our Mission
Our mission is to take the hope of Jesus Christ beyond borders by sharing the Gospel, making disciples, strengthening local churches, and equipping leaders to multiply the Gospel in their own communities and around the world.
Our desire is to build lasting Gospel partnerships through discipleship, leadership development, church strengthening, and ongoing missions engagement. By equipping and encouraging local believers, we seek to help multiply the Gospel across communities, cultures, and borders.
Our Vision
Our vision is to see lives transformed by the power of the Gospel, disciples raised up, churches strengthened and planted, and future leaders equipped to carry the message of Jesus Christ across cultures, nations, and generations.
Bryan Risner
Founder · President · Missionary
Bryan Risner is the founder and visionary behind Risners Beyond Borders, with a heart for taking the Gospel beyond borders, developing leaders, strengthening local churches, and helping people live on mission. If you were to describe him in four words, they would be Jesus, courage, leadership, and adventure!
Bryan is a graduate of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy and holds a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Ministry from Central Baptist College.
Bryan is 44 years old and has been married to his high school sweetheart, Pam, for 23 years. They have three children: Melody (21), Lindsey (21), and Landon (21).
Originally from Arkansas, Bryan served 14 years in law enforcement while also ministering bi-vocationally in student ministry. In 2018, Bryan and Pam moved their family to Romania, where they have served as missionaries for eight years. His ministry has included evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, mentoring, and strengthening churches throughout Europe, Africa, and the United States.
Bryan loves a challenge, new places, good conversations, and just about anything that turns into an adventure. Whether he is sitting in a Roma village, encouraging a pastor, training leaders, or sharing Jesus across a table, he feels most alive when he is helping move the mission of God forward.
Bryan firmly believes that God can use every season of life—even the difficult ones—to prepare us for what He has called us to do. His journey through law enforcement, ministry, adoption, family, missions, and unexpected transitions has strengthened his belief that courage and obedience often begin when God asks us to step into the unknown.
His leadership, humor, and genuine passion for the Gospel have a way of making people feel welcomed, challenged, and encouraged to live boldly on mission.
Pamela Risner
Co-Founder · Women's Ministry Director · The Bloom Initiative
Pamela Risner is the co-founder of Risners Beyond Borders and the visionary behind The Bloom Initiative. If you were to describe her in four words, they would be Jesus, coffee, people, and laughter!
Pam has an Associate's degree in Banking & Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Pam also holds certifications in The Coaching Model and CISM: Assisting Individuals in Crisis.
Pam is 43 years old and has been married to her high school sweetheart, Bryan, for 23 years. They have three children: Melody (21), Lindsey (21), and Landon (21).
Originally from the United States, they spent the first part of their marriage in Arkansas, where she worked for 16 years in banking. Bryan was a former policeman and student pastor. In 2018, they started a new adventure by moving to Romania, where they have served as missionaries for eight years. They are currently in transition and plan to move internationally again, returning to Arkansas in fall of 2026.
Coffee fuels her passion, Jesus is her foundation, people are her heartbeat, and laughter is her remedy for the soul. Add a fresh bouquet of wildflowers and sunshine, and you’ll discover one truly joyful woman!
Pam firmly believes that God orchestrates everything for good for those who love Him. She has witnessed His love and provision through every season—whether in marriage, adoption, navigating ADHD and dyslexia, battling depression and anxiety, homeschooling, living abroad, serving in missions, struggling with an autoimmune disease, or parenting children and adult children alike.
Her openness, vulnerability, and humor about her life experiences make you feel like a lifelong friend catching up over coffee.