Bishop D.L. Russell, Jr. is the son of the late Pastor D.L. Russell, Sr., and the late Delrea Joyce Russell of Washington, DC. His parents intentionally took him to church at an early age so he could develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That training led Pastor Russell, Jr. to accept Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior at an early age. That encounter changed his life and set him up for a worthwhile life adventure.
Bishop Russell received his formal education in the D.C. Public School System. After graduating from T. Roosevelt High School, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1980. That decision led him to Parris Island in Beaufort, SC where he received his military training.
Bishop Russell accepted the call into the ministry at the age of twenty. He preached his initial sermon in Okinawa, Japan. His text came from St. Matthew 5:48 – “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” The title of his message went something like this – “If Connected you can be Perfected.”
Bishop Russell continues to live out that initial sermon title while perfecting his gifts serving faithfully in various capacities throughout his ministry. He was a youth minister in the Gospel Spreading Church of God Organization, Pastor at Mt. Calvary Holy Church in Winston Salem, National Elder of the Mt. Calvary Holy Churches of America, Inc., and twice Pastor of the New Life Deliverance Temple on St. Helena Island.
Bishop Russell scholastic achievements have been rewarding. He received his BA in Religious Studies with a minor in Psychology, from the University of South Carolina in May of 1997; Master of Divinity in May 2005 from Wake Forest University; Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice in August 2009 from the University of Cincinnati; and in May 2013, he received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Since returning to New Life Deliverance Temple as Pastor in 2007, Bishop Russell has been at work. Under his leadership, the church created a food pantry for those in need and partnered with Beaufort County Schools to establish an After-School Program for students so they can continue their trek for academic success. Bishop Russell operates as a tri-vocational pastor. He is a preacher, reserve law enforcement officer, and realtor. Currently, he serves as a Chaplain for the Port Royal City Police Department. He also serves on the Peer Support Team with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistant Program and the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy Agency. Bishop Russell is also a National Realtor for Apex Realty Company.
In June 2013, Pastor Russell, Jr. was consecrated into the office of a Bishop with the Hispanic Reformation. Pastor Russell was also consecrated as a classical Bishop in May 2023 by Bishop Dreyfus Smith of the Faith Nation International Fellowship of Conley, Ga. The classical Bishopric status is traced to the Apostle Peter who was given the charge by the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Bishop Russell is also a part of the Beaufort Rotary Club and is a recipient of the Paul Harris Award as a Rotarian involved in national and international community service.
Out of all the accomplishments the greatest two is being married for forty-years plus to the beautiful Judith Anita Singletary, who has a million-dollar smile and the immensely proud father of Daniel Lee Russell, III, affectionately nick-named by his father as ‘3D’.
