1000’s Gathered at The ’23 SoCal Men’s Conference | Anaheim Convention Center
Photos by Tom Price & Mark Meizner
In an especially poignant moment of the 2023 SoCal Men’s Conference, participants gather to salute the U.S. flag.
Speakers: Ryan Ries, co-founder of the Whosoevers; Art Reyes of CC Downey, CA; Al Pittman of Calvary Worship Center, Colorado Springs, CO; Skip Heitzig of Calvary Church in Albuquerque, NM, Bobby Hargraves of CC Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie, NY; Ken Graves of CC Bangor, ME; Don McClure, Calvary Way.
“I want to Live a Life that is pleasing to the Lord”
Ryan Sheckler | Professional Skateboarder
Skateboarding legend Ryan Sheckler first stepped onto an old skateboard belonging to his father at just 18 months of age. He took the board with him everywhere he went for the next three years. In 1995, he came across his first quarter pipe at a buddy’s house in his hometown of San Clemente, CA.
“I think about the passion and pursuit of skateboarding in my life. As you can see, I’m willing to die for skateboarding,” Ryan reflected after a video showing him as a young boy and young man practicing his craft, falling off the board as much as demonstrating athletic prowess. “One wrong step on a lot of the tricks I try, and it could be the end for me. Shouldn’t I have that pursuit, drive, and passion for following Christ?”
Ryan, 33, was a guest speaker at the 2023 SoCal Men’s Conference, in addition to eight Calvary Chapel pastors teaching on the theme of “The Pursuit.” About 7,000 men attended the popular one-day conference held at the Anaheim Convention Center on September 23; they were captivated as Ryan continued to share his testimony. “I can’t tell you guys how crazy it is that I’m standing up here—with the life that I have lived … a life in sin,” Ryan expressed.
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
After a series of unique childhood experiences, including fame and wealth at a young age—he turned pro at age 13—Ryan turned to alcohol to ease his nerves. “I got to start traveling the world, … hanging out with adults. I was watching adult behavior as a young kid,” he explained. “I believed since about 7 years old that Jesus was real, and that He did die on the cross for my sins.” But there was a disconnect; his faith was lukewarm: “I wasn’t following the Lord, … [or] reading the Bible.”
When Ryan was 17, he was devastated by his parents’ divorce. “I became an alcoholic and started throwing my life away,” he admitted. For the next almost 13 years, he “chased the things of the world—money, accomplishments, girls,” he added. He also endured six different surgeries, and physical and emotional trauma. At age 30, in rehab for the second time, he decided he had had enough.“My alcoholism was going to kill me.”
The first step was to get his relationship with Jesus right. “I knew that no matter what program I was in, if I didn’t put Jesus Christ first, it was never going to succeed,” Ryan recalled. Eventually, he found Calvary Chapel South OC and Pastor John Randall, then meeting at the Outlets at San Clemente. “He took me in, started ministering to me on Wednesdays,” Ryan shared. “I learned about the Bible; I’d go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays. It’s been the absolute game-changer.”
On March 3, 2022, Ryan and his girlfriend, Abigail, were married; one year later, their daughter Olive was born.
Ryan now owns Sandlot Times Skateboards, a company committed to positively inspiring and influencing the modern-day culture of skateboarding. “If you would’ve asked me five years ago if I would have a wife, a clear head, a child, a business, I would have told you, ‘No way! Not in my own power.’ But with God, anything is possible … and nothing is impossible,” Ryan joyfully declared.
“God took my life that was a self-run riot,” Ryan confessed. “I was running it directly into the ground. But I took a big leap of faith and asked Jesus Christ to come into my life.” The men at the conference applauded loudly as Ryan marveled, “He put me on a stand, in front of thousands of men, talking about Him. My life is full!”
John Randall, pastor of Calvary South OC in San Clemente, CA, teaches on “The Pursuit of God” at the conference.
During a teaching, men attentively open their Bibles and take many notes. The conference theme was “The Pursuit.”
Men were urged to earnestly pray for each other’s needs at different times at the conference.
Between teachings, men relish powerful worship opportunities.
Young men from Godspeak Calvary Chapel in California enjoy the worship time together.
Conference Speakers for this year.
Watch promo video for 2025 SoCal Men’s Conference.
SPONSOR MESSAGE: The SoCal Men’s Conference is a place to rally the troops. For men of God to stand together and declare their faith and strengthen themselves in their walk with Jesus. Our hope is that those who come to the conferences will leave changed, with a desire to grow deeper in their walk with Jesus from this point on. We pray that you will be encouraged knowing who your Savior is and know that we can be strong and courageous because our God is with us wherever we go. God bless you.
© 2025 Calvary Chapel Magazine (CCM). All rights reserved. Articles or photographs may not be reproduced without the written permission of CCM. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.® Used by permission.