South Brunswick Police Veteran Turns Life-Threatening Emergency Into Ministry Of Hope

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – A health emergency in November 2024 became a spiritual awakening for Deputy Chief of Police Jim Ryan. What began as an ordinary day ended with Ryan hospitalized locally before being airlifted to Philadelphia as his condition deteriorated.

"Throughout the whole experience, I really began examining everything in life. I was just so thankful that I got to a hospital. But then two weeks later, I was angry – at the doctors, at the situation, for putting my family through this scare," Ryan recalled. "And then this epiphany came to me: that's exactly where God wanted me to be."

The revelation prompted Ryan, a 30-year veteran of the South Brunswick Police Department, to transform his decades of law enforcement experience into a message of faith and hope. Having witnessed everything from drug confrontations to near-death situations, Ryan decided to share how divine intervention has shaped both his professional and personal life.

"We don't know the hour or day for any of us, so don't waste it on something that's not going to really help God or deliver his strength and his message to people," Ryan explained. "I thought that by sharing stories of how God works around all of us every day, maybe that would strengthen other people's faith."

Earlier this year, Ryan began speaking at St. Cecilia's Church, delivering talks about faith's role in his life and encouraging audiences to recognize everyday miracles. Titled "Miracles Around Us," his first presentation drew a standing ovation, surprising the humble deputy chief.

"I was really surprised and uncomfortable, too. I'm just doing what God asked me to do – share my stories and experiences. By doing so, I bring hope to people and strengthen their faith," he said.

Fellow police officers attended his talks, many connecting with his professional experiences. Ryan recounted one particularly harrowing moment during his detective years when he found himself in a standoff, frozen just five feet from an armed suspect.

"He had the biggest gun I had seen, and we're stuck at this spot – him with his gun and me with mine. At the end, it all worked out and I came out unscathed. But in those moments, internally, I was screaming to God for help. Sometimes it's not luck, it's divine intervention."

Ryan's journey to public speaking has been supported by his wife, whom he credits as his "rock and faith partner," and inspired by a layman he met 15 years ago who shared similar testimony. A graduate of the FBI National Academy with degrees from Kean University and New Jersey City University, Ryan believes his entire career prepared him for this calling.

"All my life, it seems like I was preparing for this – spreading the message of hope and belief. Over the years, through my police work, I've learned how to leave my ego at the door and what it means to truly serve the community. I could not have gotten here without the support of my faith."

Looking ahead, Ryan hopes to expand his speaking ministry beyond South Brunswick. "If someone reaches out, I'll be there. God's given me this great life, and I've been blessed a million times over," he said. "But my stories aren't just about successes alone – they're also about failures. What we should take from it is that we are on this journey and God is walking with us."

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