John Risner

John Risner discovered his love of acting at a young age. At age seventeen he won a talent competition for a short comedic sketch. He acted in many church skits and plays, but never expected to star in Christian film. However, he landed the lead role in the 2011 Bridgestone Multimedia release Redemption Ride. The film was nominated for Best Feature Film at the 2010 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (as The Free Ride) and John was thrust into the national Christian film spotlight. In 2012 John performed a monologue from the Book of Jonah, acting out the entire Biblical book in the first person in two shows for an audience of over five hundred people at his home church. Shortly thereafter John had his first opportunity to work on a major film project, being cast as an extra in both Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier and Draft Day. John is also an experienced musician as a singer/songwriter and worship leader. He has performed in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Florida, and California. He played with the Christian rock band The Peppermint Readers for two years from 2003-2005 as guitarist and backing vocalist. John works as a full time pastor and is a graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. John and his wife Rachel have been married for ten years and have five children. They reside in Ohio.