The membership at First Baptist Church, in Freeport, Grand Bahama, should expect to see their church's outreach ministry taken to the next level behind their new pastor, Reverend Keith Alton Russell.  Rev. Russell will be installed as pastor on Sunday, September 25 at 3 p.m. at which Rev. Shelton Higgs, pastor at New Lively Hope Baptist Church will preach.  Rev. Timothy Stewart, second vice-president, Progressive National Baptist Convention and pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, New Providence, will conduct the installation ceremony.

Rev. Dr. Russell succeeds Rev. Dr. George L. Cumberbatch, the first Bahamian pastor of the church, who passed away in May of this year. He is taking over a church which has a strong legacy and foundation in place left behind by the deceased Reverend George L. Cumberbatch.  Under Rev. Russell's guidance, he wants more interaction with the community, expansion of the evangelism ministry and for church members to join him in having his vision become a reality with God's help.  The new pastor has adopted a three-year plan to accomplish this under the theme: "Transforming the Jericho Road. To God be the glory, great things He has done."

In November 1975, while attending a revival service at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Hawksbill, where the late Rev. Cumberbatch preached, Russell, as a teenager, committed his life to Jesus as his soul was stirred by the powerful sermon delivered that night: "The Power of Forgotten Prayer," deduced from Luke's Gospel 1: 57-66.

In 1977, after having a mystical experience with God, Russell acknowledged and accepted the call of God on his life to the gospel ministry.  He was licensed as a minister at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Hawksbill, by Rev. Nathaniel Mackey, and was encouraged by Rev. Cumberbatch to pursue ministerial studies at American Baptist College, Nashville, Tennessee.
With the guidance and encouragement of Rev. Cumberbatch, Russell joined Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church of Nashville, where Rev. Cumberbatch served while matriculating at college.

Rev. Russell was ordained at Ebenezer in 1979.  Upon graduating from college with a bachelor of arts in theology and philosophy, he spent a year studying in the master's program in English language at Tennessee State University before heading to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he earned a master of divinity degree with concentration in theology and literature.

Rev. Russell preached the gospel throughout Tennessee and Georgia, winning souls for Christ and becoming acquainted with the struggles of ordinary people.  While in Atlanta, he completed clinical pastoral training at Georgia Retardation Center, learning compassion for broken and challenged human beings.  In addition, he served as an advocate at the Peace and Justice Department in Georgia, championing the cause of the least, the last, the lowest, the left-out and the left-behind.

 He served as president of the student body at American Baptist College and was instrumental in organizing students in Historical Black Colleges in the city, and led a massive march to Capitol Hill in Nashville, petitioning for Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday to be declared a national holiday in the state of Tennessee.

In 1985, Rev. Russell returned home to Grand Bahama and became an associate minister at First Baptist Church, assisting Rev. Cumberbatch, who at the time was leading the congregation in the completion of the new sanctuary. Rev. Russell also joined the faculty at St. Paul's Methodist College, teaching religious studies.

  In 1987, he was asked by Rev. Dr. Charles Saunders and the Bahamas Baptist Union to establish a Union Baptist Church in Freeport.  This was their third attempt, two previous attempts having failed.  In November of 1987, Fellowship Union Baptist Church held its first service in the King Henry Room at the Bahamas Princess Hotel.  

There they remained for three years.  In June of 1990, on property received from the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Rev. Russell led the small congregation in a ground-breaking ceremony.  Three months later, on the third Sunday in October 1990, Rev. Russell marched the congregation into the new sanctuary.

The membership grew and the ministry expanded.  While with the Bahamas Baptist Union, Rev. Russell served in a variety of leadership positions, including president of the Northern Bahamas District, assistant superintendent, director of the congress of Christian education, and preached and lectured throughout the length and breadth of The Bahamas, equipping the saints and leading the lost to Christ.  In 1993, to keep on the cutting-edge of ministry and to be even better equipped for the Master's service, Rev. Russell enrolled in the doctor of ministry program at United Theological Seminary, Dayton Ohio.  He graduated in May of 1995.

Dr. Russell's first sermon preached in 1977 was titled, "I Am With You," taken from Isaiah 43: 1-3a, with particular emphasis on the words: "When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."  He had to cling to these words during the demise of his first marriage, which produced two daughters, Jeboria and LaVonda. On October 13, 1997, Rev.  Russell married Deltalee Abigail McKinney ("D.D") and they have two wonderful sons, Keith Jr. and Kyle.

Rev. Russell has several publications -- "Passage of a Native Son" (a collection of short stories); novels, "The Disappearance of J.D. Sinclair"; "When Doves Cry"; "Hezekiah's Independence"; and "In Memory of Agnes" (which is currently in production).  He has also written a play, "Let Freedom Ring," which was performed in Freeport, as well as in New York.

Rev. Russell has several short stories published in the Cave Hill Literary Annual. "Poui," produced by the Department of Language, Linguistics, & Literature, University of the West Indies: "Hibiscus Dancing" and "Great White Fish," "Poui 2006" and "A Fairy's Tale," Poui 2010.  Also, a research essay, "Race in The Bahamas: A Dysfunctional Narrative," published by The College of The Bahamas Research Journal, 2009. Rev. Russell serves as Adjunct Professor in Literature and Theology in the Schools of Social Science and English Studies at The College of The Bahamas.

After serving faithfully for 23 years as pastor of Fellowship Union Baptist Church, God, in His infinite wisdom, decided that Rev. Russell's work was completed in that vineyard and orchestrated a move, through his servant Rev. Cumberbatch, to call Rev. Russell back to First Baptist Church.

 On February 1, 2011, Rev. Russell began serving as associate pastor.  Upon the passing of Rev. Cumberbatch in May of this year, as directed by God and pre-arranged by the late pastor and congregation, Rev. Russell assumed the leadership as pastor of First Baptist Church, facilitating one of the smoothest leadership transitions in the history of Baptists in The Bahamas.

Rev. Russell was born in Pineridge, Grand Bahama March 18, 1956 to Joseph Alton Russell and Myrtle Bootle.  He began his education at the All-Age School in Hepburn Town, Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama before moving to New Providence, where he attended Southern Junior, Eastern Senior, and Highbury High schools.  He returned to Grand Bahama in 1972 and graduated from the Grand Bahama Catholic High School in 1974.

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