Greater Praise Church of God In Christ

Elder Joshua L Russell Sr was born in Milwaukee WI in May of 1983. He is the 2nd oldest son of Supt Lincoln E Russell Sr and District Missy Betty D Russell. Bro Joshua is the proud Father of 5 young men Darian Russell, Joshua Russell Jr, Evan Russell, Xavier Russell, and Ethan Russell. He is a product of the Milwaukee Public School educational system and graduated with his degree in Business Administration from Carthage College in 2005. Brother Joshua accepted Christ in a January Revival at his home church Little Community COGIC in 2008. In 2009 He was appointed to the Deacons Board at Little Community Church before He accepted his call to the ministry and became a licensed minister in the COGIC in 2013. After faithfully serving as a minister, he was recommended to the “Bishop JC Williams School of Ministry in 2016 and graduated as Valedictorian in his class in 2017. Then in 2018 – he was consecrated by the laying on of hands by the late great Bishop JC Williams of the WI 3rd Jurisdiction – and was promoted to the title of “Elder” in the Church of God in Christ. Bro Joshua did his best to serve his Pastor and local assembly working as Action Ministries President, LC Men’s Dept Chairman and Group Captain, Praise and Worship Team, Finance Committee, and whatever his hands found to do. At a jurisdictional level, he served as the secretary of the Elders council of the 3rd Jurisdiction of WI and Chairman of the Missions Dept in both the Wisconsin 3rd and Wisconsin 1st Jurisdiction – under the irreplaceable leadership of World Missions President Pastor Jerome Smith Sr. In March of 2021 – due to health challenges – He was asked by Pastor Jerome Smith Sr, to assist in the ministry of Greater Praise Church where he was Founder and Pastor, until his health challenges improved. It was the prayer of the Lords people that Pastor Smith would make a full recovery and return to resume his duty as Pastor. However, the will of our Lord differed from ours, and God called Pastor Smith home to be with him on April 27, 2021. After his passing – at the approval of the founding Pastors Wife Lady Markeitha Smith, and with the recommendation of his Superintendent – Pastor Lincoln Russell Sr – the Honorable Bishop Sedgwick Daniels, General Board Member- assigned Bro Joshua as Interim Pastor of the Greater Praise COGIC on Sept 11, 2021. Bro Joshua loves the Lord and intends to serve Him and His people as God would give him the breath and the strength to do so.