John Risner(I)
- Actor
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.