Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Russo.
Hi Chris, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Chris Russo and I’m originally from West Hartford, CT. I left CT to go to college with really only golf and girls on my mind. Then, through a crazy experience on December 12th of 2000 during my freshman year, I became a follower of Christ and my life was completely transformed. I stopped the drug and party scene and decided I wanted my life to count for something.
When I graduated college in 04 with a political science degree, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do, but in August of that same year I came on staff with Seacoast Church and I’ve been serving in a pastoral role ever since. While at Seacoast, my wife Abbi and I got married and had 3 sons who are now 15, 13, and 9. I graduated from Liberty with 2 masters degrees and worked in a number of interesting roles. In 2023, I left Seacoast and became the lead pastor of Riverland Church in Summerville, SC and have greatly appreciated the experience so far.
Pursuing my call to follow Christ has led me to Kenya, Togo, Nicaragua, Israel, Cuba and Honduras. I love serving people in need both locally and abroad. I’ve led all kinds of different groups, officiated tons of weddings and am thankful God is using me for a purpose that is far greater than myself.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road. When I was 27, I was diagnosed with OCD and while I’m doing much better now than I was then, it had been a battle to say the least. Through God’s help, approximately 10 years of counseling and the right medication, the struggle has been greatly reduced but it hasn’t gone away. There have been numerous panic attacks and many moments lost to a very challenging mental health struggle. I’ve written 3 books that are on Amazon and in my latest one, Room to Breathe, I discuss the struggle in more depth.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
While I came on staff at Seacoast in 2004, I was ordained as a pastor in 2010. While I’ve preached sermons on different continents, ministered in hospitals and in a prison ministry, what I love most are the innumerable coffee meetings I’ve gotten to have over about 20 years. I’m relational to the core and being a pastor has a lot to do with getting to know people. It’s cheesy to say but people genuinely “don’t care what you know until they know you care.” I’ve gotten to build tons of meaningful connections with so many interesting people and I’m deeply grateful for that.
How do you think about luck?
I wouldn’t call it luck, but God’s providence has played more of a role in my life than I can possibly articulate. For example, at one point I encountered an individual who owed $3700 to drug dealers (we’ll call him Mike). Mike and I had coffee outside a bagel shop in Mt Pleasant and while I had an opportunity to pray with him,, he had gotten a text message the night before that if he didn’t have the money within 48 hours, a hit was going to go out on his name. The very next day I was scheduled to meet with a manager from Blackbaud who I regularly met with. During our meeting I mentioned Mike and his situation. The manager (we’ll call him Bob) stopped me mid sentence and told me that 3 months ago God had impressed it upon his heart to set aside exactly $3,700! I went to Bob’s apartment, he gave me the money and by the grace of God, I was able to help pay off Mike’s debt. Years after that miracle, Mike contacted me to do his wedding because of how special that experience was. I have plenty more experiences that can make only be attributed to God’s providential care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Riverlandchurch.com
- Instagram: @pastorrusso
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-russo-7b706153?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: @pastorrusso
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chrisrusso1982?si=ocxwdWNLPGTjdJ7S
