In response to the call of God on his life for full-time ministry, Pastor Russ moved his family from northern British Columbia to Halifax in 1996. Russ attended A.S.K. Bible Training Centre, graduating in June, 1998 with a Major in Bible & Spirit-Filled Living and Minors in Evangelism, Christian Counseling and Ministerial Studies. Russ' past service with Youth with a Mission (Y.W.A.M.) saw him leading international short term mission assignments to various parts of the world. It was during that time that he met and married the love of his life, Yanna. Pastor Russ was hired on staff at Rock in January , 1999 and served in a variety of roles for the past eleven (11) years, first as Administrator / Assistant to Pastor Ted and most recently as the Senior Associate Pastor. In a historic service on September 14, 2009, Pastor Russ humbly received the mantle of pastoral leadership for Rock Church as Pastor Ted and Gloria step aside from that role to answer the apostolic call that is on their lives. Pastor Russ' passion is people and he receives great joy in assisting individuals in finding and fulfilling their God-given destinies and empowering them in their service to God and others. Pastor Russ and Yanna, have four sons, Garret, Morgan, Tristin, and Spencer.