Rev. Allen Russell joined the staff at CBAmerica in January 1993, as
the Director of Chaplaincy and Treasurer. Within a year the treasurer's
job was transferred to Mrs. Kathy Winter and Al became the Director of
Chaplaincy/Church Ministries.
Al grew up in a pastor's home in Canada. He came to the Lord at the
age of six. Between his junior and his senior year of high school he
recommitted his life to the Lord. He attended a Christian high school
for his senior year then attended Briercrest Bible Institute where he
met Carol. They were both committed to missions. They were married in
1965 and moved to the States to attend Bethel College and Seminary.
During these early years of marriage Al was a youth pastor, and an
associate as well as working a full time job in several factories and
carrying a full load of classwork. In 1972 the Russells were appinted
to CBFMS (CBInternational) as missionaries to Hong Kong. They worked on
the field from 1974-1978 organizing and planting churches. On their
return to the States they spent a year travelling for CBFMS speaking
and recruiting new missionaries. In the summer of 1979 they were
appointed as church planters with CBHMS (Mission to the Americas) and
began a new work in Arcadia, WI. During his ministry in Arcadia, Al was
appointed by CBAmerica as an Army Reserve Chaplain. They served there
six years and turned the church over to another pastor and moved to
Peoria to become Senior Pastor at Bethany Baptist Church. This was a
ministry that was in decline and they were called to do a turn around
ministry. After six and a half years the church had more than doubled
and the Russells resigned and took a year away from active ministry due
to some health problems.
In the summer of 1992 the Board of CBAmerica approached Al with the
offer to become the new Director of Chaplaincy/Treasurer. He began this
work in January 1993. Due to budget cuts the church ministries part of
the job was eliminated by the Board in June, 1996. Al was working with
a church in Chicago as interim pastor. When they realized he would be
available full time he was called and in July 1996 he and Carol moved
into Chicago to do another turn around in a declining church. He has
maintained his part-time ministry as Director of Chaplaincy with the
church giving him time to travel and minister to our chaplains. Al
became full-time Director of Chaplaincy in November 2000, lives in
Minnesota and works out of his home.
Al is probably the only pastor appointed by all three CB agencies in
Wheaton and has a good working knowledge of our movement. His church
ministries position enabled him to develop a good working relationship
with the Regional Directors of our different regions.
RUSSELL, Allen Edward
Lieutenant Colonel, Chaplain USAR, Retired
Date and Place of Birth: 24 October 1943, Swan River, Manitoba, Canada
Civilian Occupation: Director of Chaplaincy
NEW Address:
CBAmerica Chaplaincy
PO Box 68
Clearbrook, MN 56634
NEW OFFICE PHONE: 218-776-2813
FAX: 509-356-7112
E-mail 
Source and Date of Commission: Direct, 18 August 1982
Years of Active Duty: N/A
Total Years of Service: 21 years 2 months
Military Education:
Chaplain Officer Basic Course (Resident) 1983
Chaplain Officer Advanced Course (Correspondence) 1986
Introduction to Hospital Ministry (WRAMC) 1988
Command & General Staff College (50%) 1991
Civilian Education:
Briercrest Bible College, Caronport, Saskatchewan Diploma/Pastoral
Studies 1965
Bethel College, St. Paul, MN BA Psychology 1968
Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN M.Div 1972
Chinese University, Hong Kong, Diplma/Cantonese, 1976
US Decorations, Service Medals, and Badges:
Army Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Armed Forces reserve Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
National defense Service Medal
Chronological List of Appointments:
1LT WIARNG 18 Aug 82
CPT WIARNG 26 Oct 83
MAJ USAR 12Dec 87
LTC USAR 15 Dec 94
Chronological List of Duty Assignents:
WIARNG - Not on Active Duty, 732nd Maintenance Battallion, Tomah, WI
AUG 82 - Jun 85
USAR - Not on Active Duty
303rd Ordnance Group, Springfield, IL Jul 85 - Mar 89
900th MASH, Peoria, IL Apr 89 - Sep 91
801st Combat Support Hospital, Ft. Sheridan, IL Oct 91 - May 2000
330th Med Bde, Ft. Sheridan, IL May 2000-Oct 2003
Civilian Occupation:
Rev. Russell has pastored churches in Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Illnois. He served as a missionary with CBInternational in Hong Kong
from 1972 - 1979. As the Pastor of Baptist Church, Peoria, IL from 1985
- 1992. In January 1993, he began as full-time director of
Chaplaincy/Church Ministries at CBAmerica. He has served as senior
pastor of Galilee Baptist church in Chicago from July 1996 to the Nov
2000. Now the full-time Director of Chaplaincy.
Nature, Scope, and Extent of Responsibilities as endorser for
CBAmerica:
As Endorser for CBAmerica, I oversee all chaplains and their
activities. I recruit, approve applications to various chaplaincy
ministries, and hold chaplains accountable for their ministries
representing our denomination. I provide pastoral care to them and
their families. CBAmerica endorses some 200 chaplains who serve in the
military, civilian hospitals, VA hospitals, prisons, law enforcement,
nursing homes, industry, and other specialized settings.
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