Hi, my name is Chuck Russell and as the Executive Director of Bethlehem Youth Ministries (BYM), I would like to share a brief history of what has led me to start this nonprofit organization in 2012. To understand and gain insight into how BYM came to fruition, it is important to hear about some of my previous childhood, adolescent, and adult experiences. I was raised in the inner city area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by a single parent (my loving mom). I had 3 siblings, my younger brother who sadly died as an infant from SIDS. My older brother spent 6 years in a boys home where I was able to visit regularly with my mom and older sister on the weekends. Today, he totally understands why being placed in the boy’s home was necessary at the time and is grateful for the decision that my mom made to give him a better life opportunity for himself as well as to have a beautiful family of his own.

 

During my early childhood, I did not have a father figure. The closest positive role models in my life were a few different fathers in the neighborhood who mentored me and seldom invested their time by interacting with me through sports activities, inviting me to family dinners, amusement parks, and camping, etc. At the age of nine, my mom opened up our two-bedroom home to a homeless family of five (mother and four teenagers) for approximately one year. About one year later, my mom again opened her home to another homeless family. This time, it was to my Aunt and five cousins (three children and two teenagers).

 

Many years later, when I was just out of high school and in my first year of college, my older sister gave birth to her first and only child. I took a major interest in my fatherless nephew. For sixteen years, I did the best I could to remain involved in his life without having any experience as a father myself. I tried to help her raise him until he went to college. God placed many people in my life who were instrumental in helping me steer my nephew through many obstacles that he was faced with and helped create opportunities in his life. Although I could not control all of the changes that he encountered, I believe the Lord knew I could provide stability and consistency as an Uncle until he was old enough to be on his own and playing baseball in college.  

 

At this time in my life, I redirected my time and energy to serve the Lord in a new capacity which included four short-term, youth sports mission trips to the Dominican Republic between 2007 and 2017. The primary focus of the visits was to share the love of Jesus Christ in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. This took place through coordinating free baseball clinics, feeding families in various villages and visiting orphanages. With this memorable experience, I observed many children and families suffering in deplorable living conditions.

 

Several years ago, I worked at a children's home as a Recreation Specialist which has caused me to frequently revisit my own childhood experiences. I currently work as an Educator/Case Manager/Support Coach for a diverse group of adults preparing them for the workforce using emotional intelligence and job acquisition workplace skills. I believe that with a combination of these life and work experiences, I have been called to start Bethlehem Youth Ministries as an avenue where youth will be given the opportunity to engage, relate, and connect socially in the community as well as develop Christian values as they enhance life skills and build characteristics to thrive in a constantly changing world.

 

Ephesians 5: 1, 2 "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

 

In His Service