At age 22, Bob Russell became the pastor of a small congregation of 120 people called Southeast Christian Church. By the time he retired from Southeast 40 years later, it would become one of the largest in the United States, with 18,000 people attending services every weekend.
Growing up, Russell intended to become a high-school basketball coach in his Philadelphia hometown. His plans changed during his senior year of high school when he realized a desire in his heart to enter the ministry; he enrolled in Cincinnati Bible Seminary and graduated in 1965.
Through Bob Russell Ministries, he continues to preach at churches and conferences throughout the country, guiding and mentoring younger church leaders. Russell has also written more than a dozen books, and creates Bible study videos for use in small groups.