Cris Russell became part of the New Life staff in 2000 when she was hired to work in the central accounting office. New Life Providence incorporated her into their staff in 2003. Even though Cris is not an official member of Providence due to the sensitivity of her position, she considers it her “other” church home.

Cris is originally from Connecticut, but came to Tidewater in 1981. She is a single mom with six children and eleven grandchildren. If you spend anytime talking with her, they will be included somehow in the conversation.

After becoming a single mom, Cris returned to school to finish the degree she began just out of high school. She jokes that it took her 30 years to complete it. In 1999 she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, summa cum laude.

Because her heart is for missions, she was excited to become a part of the New Life team and have the opportunity to work closely with the Missions Department. Cris has made a number of short-term trips to Mexico, Mongolia, and Argentina. Each year she returns to Argentina to work with church planting. Her goal is to someday have the freedom to spend the majority of the year traveling on missions trips and writing about them.

Cris’s responsibilities include anything to do with the financial running of the church. This does not seem to be very spiritual, but she feels God has given her a gifting in this area to be used by Him.