Corben M Russell

Phone (724) 539-2259

3007 Sierra Court

Latrobe, PA 15650

Bethany U M Church
Senior Pastor

Bio
        Corben Russell is from Northumberland, PA where he graduated from Shikellamy High School in 1993. He attended Clarion University of PA, transferred to Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian ministries with a concentration in pre-seminary in 2005.  He graduated in 2008 with a Masters of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. He believes strongly in life-long learning and participates in continuing education every year.   
        Before entering into ministry as a youth, he worked as a Red Cross Certified Lifeguard. After graduating high school, he worked for Weis Market Distribution in Milton, PA.  He has worked for Resilite in Sunbury, PA.  He was employed by Owens Corning working on the line making double pain windows. After this he worked for 84 Lumber as co-manager at the Falls Creek, PA location before becoming a nationally certified optician. He transitioned to reference librarian in a special connection between Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) and Beaver County at CCBC. During this time, he was a youth volunteer working primarily with sixth graders at Concord UMC of Beaver Falls, PA.
        His first appointment as a student local pastor was with Bridgewater UMC and Zion Rochester UMC in Butler District in August of 2006.  In 2008, he was interim pastor at the Timblin Charge (New Salem, Porter, and Timblin UMCs).  He has served at Fairall Charge (Claughton Chapel, Fairall, and Mt Morris UMCs).  He served at New Covenant Charge (Callensburg, Parker, Perryville, & West Freedom UMCs).  He served at Mt Zion UMC of DuBois, Pa in the Indiana District from 2016 to present. 
        Corben has served throughout the conference and district in a variety of capacities.  He has served on the conference anti-racism committee, the Commission on Equitable Compensation (CEC) as well as serving as CEC Chair, is a primary legislation writer for the committee and participates in the national level known as NACEC. He has been a candidacy process guide group mentor helping people discern their call and enter into ministry.  He teaches at lay servant ministries schools.  He serves on Indiana District dCOM, Indiana District Lay Servant Ministry board, and Indiana District anti-racism committee. He has served on the board of Cherry Run camp and is currently serving on the board for the conference camp, Wesley Woods. He is the founding dean of Lego Camp for Wesley Woods which began in 2019 and continued to dean Lego Camps for Wesley Woods in 2020.
       Corben is an elder in full connection.  He has an amazing spouse, Brenda, and is a father to two wonderful children: Isaac, age 8 in third grade, and Pearl, age 15 in ninth grade.  He is a volunteer fireman, a former 4-H sharpshooter volunteer, a former NRA certified rifle instructor, and a former cub scout leader for Boy Scouts of America. His hobbies include: having fun with his children, playing guitar, and wood working.
        His personal mission statement is “changing the world for Christ one person at a time”.   His vision is “loving God and neighbor so extravagantly the lines blur where the church ends and the community begins”.  He believes that the church, which is a people not a building, need to be deeply committed to truly living out the greatest commandment from Matthew 22:37-39 of loving God and neighbor so differently the rest of the world will have no choice but to take notice. He believes the church will set the model of excellence in our community and strives to better live out the great commission, of “making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20; NIV, 2011).