Dr. Herldleen Russell
Supervisor of Women- Greater Maryland First Jurisdiction

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Herldleen Russell has traveled to Africa, Central and South America, Europe and throughout the United States as a speaker and teacher. She is an International Evangelist for the Church of God in Christ, Inc.  Evangelist Russell is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois and has a Doctorate of Divinity from Trinity Hall College and Seminary.

Dr. Herldleen Russell is the wife of Dr. Herbert J. Russell, Pastor of Ridgley Church Of God In Christ in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.  She is the mother of five and the grandmother of 14.  Drs. Herbert and Herldleen Russell were directed by the Lord to relocate from Illinois to Maryland to begin a work, which has resulted Ridgley COGIC.  She oversees the Women’s Ministries of Ridgley.  This work has birthed multiple outreach ministries.

The focus of her most recent ministry has been on the continent of Africa.  After speaking at Women’s Conference and conducting revivals for over 7 years, the Lord told her to “Ask for Africa.” She was then requested by Pastors in Uganda to conduct a Pastors Conference.  This has turned into an annual event.  She organizes and takes teams twice a year.  Dr. Russell initiated the first Church of God Christ in Uganda, East Africa.  Now, the Jurisdiction of the Republic of Uganda Church of God in Christ has begun of which she has been selected the Supervisor of Women.  Bishop Bobbie R. Henderson is the prelate. The first Women’s Convention in 2006 had over 3,000 women in attendance.

From the pastors conference came the birthing of the Dr. Herldleen Russell School of Ministry. In June 2007, 19 senior pastors successfully completed the course work & graduated. In 2008 an additional 27 pastors successfully completed the program and graduated. The government in Ibanda offered land to Dr. Russell to construct a permanent school there. Other land has been donated & a permanent school will be built.                

Dr. Russell and her team have taken hundreds of pounds of clothing, shoes and school supplies to the orphans of Uganda, along with bibles and literature for the pastors & churches. In addition, over 700 pounds of medical supplies to hospitals & clinics.

The construction and completion in 2008 of the Dr. Ada D. Powell Marshall Orphanage & School, which houses 100 orphans, was directed by Dr. Herldleen Russell. In June 2008, Dr. Russell and her team broke ground for a new orphanage/school named in honor of Mother Gladys Lyles, along with a new church in Buyala. 

In the United States, Dr. Russell has served faithfully in the Greater Maryland First Jurisdiction where she was recently elevated to the position of Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women in January 2008.  The department has grown considerably during this short time. She is humbled and yet excited about this new opportunity to work with the Lord’s people as a servant leader.  In just these few words she summarizes it all…TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

CONTACT DR. RUSSELL