WELCOME TO OUR NEW PASTOR TO STUDENTS, KIDS & FAMILIES
We are excited to introduce you to our new Pastor to Students, Kids and Families — Russell Boone. Reaching and raising the next generation for Christ has always been important to us. In 2018, God put it on our hearts to invest deeply in the lives of our young people (or, as my son, Luke, calls them — “highly advanced youths”). So, we committed to invest ministry dollars where our heart is already focused. We want to add strong, focused pastoral leadership for our students, for our kids, and for their parents. So, we’ve been praying and searching for the right person(s) to lead the charge for us. This Sunday, we get to welcome Russell Boone and his family into our Redemption family.
We can’t wait to introduce you to Russell, his wife, Christian, and his son, Elijah! You are invited to celebrate their arrival in our worship gathering on Sunday, March 4th at 10:30am at Cheyenne Middle School. Then, stop by to introduce yourself to them in the Commons immediately following our service.
In his role, Russell (Russ, Booney, Boone-dog, etc.) will grow and advance our ministry to Students and Kids by coming alongside our great ministry teams to provide vision, direction, equipping, encouragement, and support. He will also develop our equipping and resourcing of parents to meet the needs of raising children in an increasingly complex world. He will be a great addition to our team.
Getting to Know Russell Boone
Tell us about your family:
I met my wife in college. We were friends for about a year before we started dating. I asked her out on our first date by smoothly delivering the line “I am digging your chili.” At the time she was confused, but it obviously worked. Christian and I have been married for 7 years, and in August 2017 we welcomed the birth our first child Elijah Wilder Boone.
How did you meet Jesus?
My parents made sure my siblings and I were in church every time the doors were open. My brother is 10 years older than me and through his investment and modeling Christ-likeness, the Lord saved me when I was 10 years old.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in “the city of a thousand magnolias,” home to Reba McEntire and Dennis Rodman…Durant, Oklahoma!
What do you do for fun?
I like to run long(er) distances, ride my mountain bike, make cold brew coffee, and drink other forms of really, really good coffee.
What are your favorite films?
Tombstone, Les Miserables, La La Land.
What music was most likely in your CD changer (you had one of those, right?) as a 16 year old student?
Yes, we were still listening to music on Compact Discs. My first two albums to ever own were Elton John and Britney Spears. Don’t judge. At 16, I was probably listening to some gangster rap that I couldn’t understand or relate with, but it was cool… right?
Favorite teams?
All the U.S.A. Olympics Teams, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, and The Thunder (of course).
What is one surprising thing about you?
I have a dent in my chest that I can eat cereal out of. In fact, Jay Leno ate cereal out of my chest on national TV.
What is one of your favorite Bible verse(s)?
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:1–2, ESV)
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
What is one thing students can look forward to in getting to know you?
I will listen. In a world that is doing a whole lot of telling and advice giving, I hope to simply listen. I think students want to be heard and I want to listen, ask questions, and understand better who they are and better understand their experience.