Russ grew up in Miami, Oklahoma, the youngest of six children.  His father was the minister of the First Christian Church in Miami for 27 years.

     Russ was baptized as a child, but then as a senior in high school he really experienced a true life-change.

     He attended 
     Janna grew up in Southeastern Oklahoma.  Her dad owns a rock business and also raises Brahma bulls.

      Janna attended a Methodist church.  When her cousin was killed in a car accident at age 16 (same age as Janna was) she decided to take her faith more seriously.  She and her mother even convinced a 


Ozark Bible College in Joplin, Missouri.   He moved to Norman, Oklahoma on September 1, 1977. 

     On June 5th, 1993 he married Janna Storey.   Russ and Janna have three kids - Michael 23, 
Megan 20, and Matthew age 15. 

     Russ has been in Norman for over 42 years.   He began his ministry as youth pastor at University Christian Church.  There his gift for reaching unchurched kids resulted in dramatic growth - from 7 kids to around 200 junior high and high school kids in two years.

     In the fall of 1979, Russ was called by God to start a church that was designed to reach out to people who were far from God.  New Life Bible Church became the first contemporary-style church in Oklahoma.  The casual dress, rock and roll band, dramas, videos and relevant talks were quite a shock to some people back then.   Soon, however, they came to realize that underlying Russ' ministry was conservative theology, spiritual authenticity and living a life of integrity.

     New Life began in a warehouse, was at the Boomer Theater on campus corner for two years before moving to the corner of  Boyd & Berry (with stays at the Norman High School cafeteria, among other places, during the transition).  

     There were 85 people present, including children, that first Sunday of December 1985.  The church began to reach more and more people and developed a reputation for being "the church for people who never thought they would like church."

     About this time Russ became connected with Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago.  He had the opportunity to do a 4 month internship there in the winter/spring of 1989.  He was privileged to be invited by Bill Hybels, along with other like-minded pastors, to small retreats that eventually gave birth to the Willow Creek Association.  Today the WCA has over 12,000 affiliated churches worldwide.

     In 1996 New Life built and moved into a new 8500 square foot building, still at the corner of Boyd & Berry.  Over the next ten years God used the church to reach hundreds of people.  Between 50 and 100 people were baptized each year, the majority of them over the age of 18.  The church grew to an average attendance of over 1200.

     Today Russ is pastor of The Seeker Church.  

     Russ' primary gift has always been his love for and affinity with people who are far from God.  His speaking style has been described as laid back, relevant, Biblical, funny, transparent and compelling.
Methodist minister to baptize them by immersion in a creek!

  She went on to attend East Central Univeristy in Ada, Oklahoma.  

    After that she taught high school for a couple of years.

     She then attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and earned her Masters degree in Organizational Communication.

     Janna then moved to Norman to work on her doctorate in Communication.  It was then that she was invited by a fellow graduate student to our church.  

     She was a little creeped out when she realized that the pastor wanted to date her.  However, they began dating and were married a year later on June 5, 1993.

     For years Janna had a goal of teaching at the university level.  Once she received her PHD however, she instead went to work at the church.  She helped Russ with his speaking skills, she started a small group ministry that eventually had over 500 people in groups and she served on our drama team. 

    To say that Janna impacted the church would be an understatement.  It took us 8 years to grow to 250 people under my leadership, and then just 5 years to grow to over 1000 average Sunday attendance with her added leadership!

     Then Janna was asked to teach at the University of Oklahoma, where she has been for the past ten years.  She teaches in the Human Relations Department.

     Being a huge football and basketball fan, over the years she has enjoyed having many athletes in her classes - from Courtney and Ashley Paris, Ryan Broyles, Buddy Heild and Kyler Murray.  

     For a short time Janna even headed up the Children's Ministry at The Seeker Church, proving once and for all that she will do anything for the Kingdom!  

     These days she enjoys speaking at the church, teaching at OU and being the mom of Michael (22), Megan (20) and Matthew (15).




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