OUR PASTOR

Meet Pastor Jonathan Russell & Family

Pastor Jonathan Russell loves God and loves people. He holds a degree in Bible & Theology from Indiana Bible College and is a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church International. He loves the people of Ashe, Wilkes & Watauga County, and plans to grow old preaching God’s Word here.

He and his wife Dottie were married in 2005 and have five kids, Kaitlyn, Timothy, Braden, Chase & Adalyn. Together they have years of experience in various types of ministry and have a desire to see revival and to lead people to Christ.

They are passionate about the apostolic doctrine, sufficiency of Scripture, transforming power of the Holy Ghost, and the importance of the local church.

Life & Ministerial Highlights

  • June 20, 1989, Jonathan received the Holy Ghost at the Indiana District UPC Junior Camp and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ the following Sunday.
  • Jonathan’s parents and siblings served as Global Missionaries, 1987-1993. Traveling and serving in France; Benin, Togo, Nigeria & Cameron, West Africa.
  • April 11, 1997, God called Jonathan into the ministry at the North Central Bible Quizzing Extravaganza Rally Service, Herrin, IL.
  • Graduated from Indiana Bible College in May 2003 with a Bachelors of Arts in Bible/Theology.
  • From 2003 to 2009, Jonathan served in youth ministry at the First United Pentecostal Church of Pana, IL.
  • January 2005, Married his Alabama sweetheart, Dottie Michelle (Braden) Russell in Montgomery, AL.
  • Daughter, Kaitlyn McKenzie was born June 2006.
  • Licensed with the United Pentecostal Church International in July of 2006.
  • Son, Timothy Alexander was born January 2009.
  • Moved to Kernersville, NC in February 2009. Served as Student Pastor to an awesome group of young people at New Life Tabernacle dubbed “The CORE” until November 2014.
  • In 2009, Jonathan was elected to the NC District Youth Committee, where he served for 9 years..
  • Son, Braden Jonathan born November 2012.
  • Son, Chase David born August 2014.
  • With our Pastor’s blessing, My wife and I followed the Lord’s leading to plant a church, New Life, in Wilkes County, Wilkesboro, NC.
  • Sunday, September 13, 2015, we celebrated our 1st Church Anniversary Service with 40+ people from our community and 80+ friends and family that came to celebrate with us! #SomethingGoodIsAboutToHappen
  • October 17, 2016, we launched a daughter work of New Life, Victory Pentecostal Church, Ashe County, West Jefferson, NC.
  • August 6, 2017, New Life celebrated moving to our new church location (1103 Walnut Circle, Wilkesboro, NC).
  • Daughter, Adalyn Michelle Rea born October 2017.
  • In January 2018, he was asked and elected to serve on the Board of Directors of Anchor Ridge Ministries (who provide Appalachian families with groceries and other supplies while showing them the love of Jesus. From volunteering at the distribution center, joining mission trips, winter coat drives and sponsoring financially; New Life is committed to bringing change to the Appalachian Mountains and our community!)