Derek Ryan Standing in the Fire

Derek Ryan (AKA Vito OT) has been involved in music for over two decades. Ryan is an artist that lives boldly for Christ and creates music that shows others they can be set free in Christ, just as he was. In 2023, he was the opening performer for Grammy-nominated Christian artist Andy Mineo in Idaho.

Ryan told me he lives boldly for Christ because he can look at his life and see where he is at now, in contrast to where he was previously headed. 

"I see what God has done in my life and in the life of my children and those around me. I see how it has affected other people. I am commissioned and commanded to be bold, but I want to be bold because I want other people to see that God can deliver them and set them free," he said. "I was set free from things that had me in bondage, and they can be set free, too."

Ryan continued to explain that he knows he does not deserve the freedom and life he has been given, but that he is thankful for that new life in Christ. Ryan explained that because although we did not pay the price, it was not for free; the blood of Christ is a Costly thing. 

"It is my responsibility to not just take that freedom and keep it to myself. I must let other people know they can have freedom, too."

The artist told me he has always known and believed in Christ. He said he believed but he just did not fear God as he should. Throughout his spiritual journey, Ryan found himself at times lost in moments of doubt concerning the church. 

"To believe in Christ--well, even demons believe and they tremble. But to love, follow, and obey God; that has been calling me my whole life. I've been convicted my entire life, but this is my fourth year seeking Him with my whole heart and pursuing a relationship with my Creator.”  

Ryan explained that during his first year he fell quite a few times. In his second year, he stumbled a few times. The third year, although he missed the mark in some kind of way daily, Ryan walked in victory. The fourth year was a sanctification year for the artist. He is entering his fifth year, and believes he is in a stewardship season. 

I asked the rapper when he knew that living for God was the right path to follow.

"I felt like atheists knew the Bible more than I did, and they could pick me apart in arguments. I didn’t know if I was standing on firm ground or if I was believing in something my parents gave me,” he recalled. “I told God I wanted to live in His will; and that when I changed, everyone would know it was only God who changed me.”

Ryan then read the Bible front to back. He asked God to tell him if the Bible was real and to show him the truth. The artist told me that God has confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Bible is the Living Word of Christ. Ryan reads the Bible daily, and has read it every day for over four years.  

"I believe the Bible. I have tangible proof of God, using the word to speak to me. I can confirm this with irrefutable evidence. This testimony has increased my faith to continue this walk, as well as, even turned some atheists into believers. Through studying the Word daily, I can see what God is saying to me from season to season. There’s definitely a difference between believing in God and following Him,” Ryan explained. 

Ryan has released one faith-based album and multiple videos on YouTube.

A 2023 social media post showed Ryan snow tubing down a hill while rapping and recording a music video for his song, 'Hello.' (It is on Spotify under the name Vito OT.)

Ryan has a strong, unique tone to his voice that makes you sit up and listen as he glorifies God with his talent. But even though I was drawn into the lyrics and beat, my curiosity wanted to know if it was the most adventurous music video he had recorded.

"The tubing was not dangerous. It was extremely fun; it was fast, a pretty big hill. I was at Cascade (Idaho) at a youth group that I was serving at with my children. But let me tell you about the ten day challenge," Ryan offered.

For ten days in a row, Ryan would show up to the studio, the producer would make a beat from scratch, and Ryan would record it. The team would then shoot the video and release it within twenty-four hours for those ten consecutive days.

The ten day challenge was a collaboration with Ryan and executive producer Michael Prentice. It was mixed and mastered by Michael Ricer, and featuring Dom P. 

"We were seeing what God would do with us when we stepped out in faith everyday," he said.  

Ryan said the ten day challenge alone was adventurous, but on day six, even more stepping out in faith occurred.

"On day six, I took my wife's blankets and during a song called ‘Rose of Sharon,' I formed the sheets in a circle around me, poured gasoline on the sheets and lit them on fire,’ he reflected. “I was in the middle of the fire.”

After hearing Ryan describe his walking in faith encounters, I knew I was speaking to an artist who is zealous for the Lord.

It was clear to me that if you can stand in the middle of the fire (literally) for God, that you can also walk through the fire with Him by your side.

And through that fire, others will see the glow, the burning love of our Lord for them all.