In the News ... "Lay minister considers Apostle Paul"

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• Russell brings business background to Christ’s Lutheran assignment

By Bob Campbell, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - The Rev. Mark Allen Russell had always been interested in pursuing the ministry and helping others but didn’t grasp the full scope of his religion until enrolling at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Parish Lay Ministry Academy in Fort Worth.

“I started in 2000 and graduated 10,000 miles later in 2002,” said Russell, minister of Christ’s Lutheran Church at 2002 N. Lincoln Ave. “There is a depth to Christianity that most people never understand. It’s mind-blowing.”

One of the lay ministry candidate’s assignments, he said, was to choose a subject and write a Scriptural defense of it. “Mine was that the Apostle Paul would be a great Texan with a cowboy hat, belt buckle, boots and spurs,” Russell said ...

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