|
|
| Meet Assistant Pastor Gary Russell and his wife Trish |
|
Gary was born Dec. 2, 1967, and was reborn, Dec. 12, 1992, the Lord Jesus Christ delivering him from the futility and darkness of a life apart from fellowship with God and His people. He began attending Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque, where he had been led to the Lord. In Feb. of 1996 he met Trish Sanchez through friends at church, and shortly after knew she was God's choice for his bride. They were married in Dec. of that same year. "I don't know where I would be without her, literally. She has brought love, strength, and stability, along with practical life wisdom and common sense into my life, giving a wonderful sense of purpose to our marraige."They served together in the Children's Ministry of Calvary Abq.
Gary and Trish joined CCEM in Aug. of 2000, when the fellowship was still meeting in the elementary school. When they asked Pastor Terry if they could serve in the Children's Ministry, he said that he had been praying that God would bring a couple to lead the Childrens Ministry. After praying about it they concluded that this was where God wanted them to serve. "In those days we only had one service, and we would set up our classes in the hallways of the school. We started with about 12 children, some of whom we have watched grow up to teenagers and young adults. It was a wonderful time, incredibly rewarding, serving our kids, watching the Lord grow the Ministry, bringing more families to the Church, and thus, more children. Such a blessing."
In May of 2004, Pastor Terry asked Gary to become his assistant Pastor, and after prayer, he concluded that it was God's will. He was ordained on June 12, 2005. "Serving with Pastor Terry has been so fulfilling, so often my wife and I sit back and say, I can't believe God is using us like this, we are so undeserving to be blessed this way. When we moved to Edgewood in 1999, we didn't know anyone, and God has blessed us with this wonderful, loving church family. He has blessed us with two wonderful children, Jared, age 6, and Erin, 5 months. They are so precious, they have brought us so much joy. In the short time I have been serving as Pastor Terry's assistant, with him essentially mentoring me, giving me on the job training, I have learned so much, things I didn't learn in books, about ministry. I hope to be a faithful assistant, like Jonathan to David, or Timothy to Paul. God has made us like-minded in so many ways."
"Chuck Smith has placed great emphasis on the grace of God. Well, when I look back on the last 13 1/2 years, it has been nothing but the wonderful, overflowing grace, of our loving Heavenly Father. And looking back at what God has done with CCEM in the past years causes me to wonder with great anticipation what His future plans are for this congregation."
Pastor Gary can be reached by e-mail at pastorgary@calvaryeastmountain.org. |
|
|
|
|
