Ben was born and raised on a farm in rural Pennsylvania. He is a middle child of a large family who grew up in church. He attended college in east Texas where he met his sweetheart, Alison. In his late teens and early twenties his eyes were opened to the grace of Jesus in his life and he got baptized. He married Alison and moved here to Cottonwood. They are raising five wonderful children. Their older three boys have, or are, attending Grand Canyon University and their two younger girls are in high school and middle school.
Ben began his career here in Cottonwood as an elementary school teacher. He later earned a master's degree in leadership from Northern Arizona University and began to lead schools as an assistant and then a principal. In 2010 Ben was called to Verde Valley Christian School (now Verde Christian Academy- VCA) to lead. The Lord blessed VCA with growth during that time, from a beginning of about one hundred students to about two-hundred and fifty at the beginning of this school year. The Lord blessed VCA four years ago with a great leader in Dr. Justin Hartman. Ben and Justin discipled together for several years and both grew in passion for the service of the Lord. With strong leadership in place, the Russel's stepped away from VCA at the beginning of the 24.25 school year to seek and grow and serve in the Lord, and to spend time with their girls on the road. Recently the Lord has called the Russels back to Cottonwood and Ben is currently serving as the interim pastor of Verde Community Church.
What is your favorite book?
Mere Christianity [CS Lewis], The Boys in The Boat [Daniel James Brown], Rescue the Captors [Russell Stendahl], Celebration of Discipline [Richard Foster]
What or who is your most influential book or author?
CS Lewis, Henry Nouwen, Francis Chan, Paul David Tripp
What is your favorite food?
Funghi Pizza at Bocce
What is something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I love pickleball, cold-plunging, saunas, and playing games with my family
What is the most exciting thing for you to see God do in the lives of people?
I love to see the Lord take men who have been broken by sin and struggle and give them a light of freedom and a call to leadership through the gospel and his sanctification
