The Rev. Nim Russell.

The Mother Easter Baptist Church family and their pastor, the Rev. Freddie L. Castle, invite the public to fellowship with them in their fall revival on Monday, Oct. 7, through Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 7 o’clock nightly. The  Rev. Nim Russell, a native of Hurtsboro, Ala., and senior pastor of Thankful Missionary Baptist Church in Rome, Ga., will be the guest revivalist.

Russell was called into the ministry of Jesus Christ in December of 1982. He served as pastor of The Second Missionary Baptist Church in Wetumpka, Ala.  While there, Russell organized a food closet that served an average of 1,500 pounds of food a month in the Wetumpka community; a Food Share Program that served approximately 300 people a month, and a Food Share Transportation Program that carried food for seven different agencies. Under his leadership, an abandoned building was renovated to become an adult day-care site. The Adult-Day-Care Program began functioning in October 1989. The Future Leaders of Elmore County was organized and incorporated under his leadership. Gov. Guy Hunt of Alabama appointed him for the Governor’s Conference on Parenting and Prevention in September 1990.

Russell has a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Interdenominational Institute of Theology in Montgomery, Ala., and a Master of Divinity from Covington Theological Seminary of Rossville, Ga. He attended Southern Union State Junior College, majoring in social science and Chattahoochee Valley Community College, majoring in pre-law. He also has received certificates in the areas of drug prevention, volunteerism, and volunteer recruiting.

He was pastor of The Second Missionary Baptist Church for six years before being called to the pastorate of Thankful Missionary Baptist Church in 1991.   He appointed the first youth minister to staff at Thankful Missionary Baptist Church. His spiritual inspiration has produced 16 sons and six evangelists with 12 sons serving as pastors of their own churches.

The Russell Life Center, a $1.2 million building, was completed in 1994. The church participated in the Mission Exchange Program and took a youth group on an international trip to the former East Germany. A second location for Thankful Baptist was established and called Thankful Baptist Kennesaw (TBK).  A house at 212 Grady Ave. in Rome, Ga., was purchased and many physical improvements were made to its structure.  Thankful’s After School Care Program with 501-C (3) status was established in 1998. Under Russell’s tutelage, The Thankful Mass Choir has released its first album, “Happy in My Home.”

Russell has numerous affiliations with religious, community, and civic endeavors: GMBC State Congress of Christian Education and North Georgia Association instructor; chairman of the Christ Builders Cooperation Board; Georgians for Prosperity (G4P) board member; and vice president of the North Georgia Region for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc.

He is married to the former Julia Pink. They have been married 35 years and have three children — Octavious, Nichole and Rachael — and nine grandchildren.

The revival will also include guest churches. The Rev. Willie Love and the First African Baptist Church ushers, deacons, choir, and congregation of Doerun, will be the guest church on Monday. Mother Easter’s congregation will be in charge of the order of service on Tuesday, and the Male Chorus of Mother Easter will provide the music. The Rev. Jeremy Rich and the First Baptist Church family of Thomasville will conclude the revival services on Wednesday.