Apostle Andrea Russell is a native of Logan, West Virginia.  She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at the age of 7 and was baptized by the late Rev. L.H. Richardson, Jr., pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and her loving grandfather.  After receiving her high school diploma from Oxon Hill High School, Dr. Russell completed a BS in Math at Bowie State University; an MS in Management of Information Technology from Rensselaer; a Master of Divinity (MDIV) from Howard University, and a doctoral degree in Ministry (DMIN) at Andersonville Theological Seminary.

Dr. Russell was a member of Southern Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for over 20 years under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Welton Fields, Jr.  There, she faithfully served as the Ministerial Lead for 16 ministers; taught Sunday School and Bible Study; served as a Youth Leader; facilitated the Marriage Ministry; and was the Lead Counselor of the Pastoral Care Ministry.  

Dr. Russell received her call into the gospel ministry in 2000.  She was licensed to preach the gospel by the Southern Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on November 14, 2004 and ordained on June 23, 2007.  She is a past Vice Chair of the Associate Minister’s Division of National Capital Baptist Convention (NCBC) and has served on the NCBC’s Pastoral Care and Counseling Commission.

Dr. Russell is an engineer, wife, and mom.  She has a wonderful husband, Wendell P Russell, Jr., and children – Ariel and Philip, her nephew TJ and niece Zoe.  Dr. Russell enjoys spending quality time with her family; but, her greatest love is mining the scriptures and discovering the treasures within God’s word. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Dr. Russell is passionate about pastoral care. Her desire is to achieve healing in the Body of Christ.  Dr. Russell passionately shares the good news of God’s love, encourages purposeful engagement with the Lord, and nurtures spiritual growth. Her deepest longing is for everyone to tangibly experience the transformative power and intimacy of a daily encounter with God.

Dr. Russell is the founding pastor of New Way Pentecostal Church, established January 13, 2024. New Way strives to be a covenant body of believers, “Seeking God’s heart, Knowing God’s word, Loving God’s People.”