Matters of Faith

A practical application of the Word of God for everyday issues.

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James ‘Loren’ Russell was born in Harlem, New York, and raised in the Bronx, where he and his wife (Evelyn) of thirty-eight years currently reside. Loren began his professional career as a life insurance agent, quickly rising to sales manager and then senior management. To fulfill his entrepreneurial ambitions, Loren established The JLR Company/J Loren Consulting, LLC to provide financial planning services in general, “Biblical Economics” services to the religious community, and motivational and developmental seminars and workshops. He served 7 years with the Southern Baptist Convention as the Northeast Strategy Coordinator, Regional Church Finance Consultant, and Church Planting Coordinator for NYC. Loren earned the Master of Divinity degree from Drew Theological Seminary and received an Honorary Doctor of Ministry from the Virginia University of Lynchburg. Through J Loren R Consulting, LLC, Loren provides financial, strategic planning, and business consultations to churches, not-for-profit organizations, and businesses nationally, with a specialization in urban church strategies. Loren’s spiritual and civic commitment keeps him busy. He is currently providing pastoral leadership to The Evangelical Church of God and continues as an Associate Minister and former Sunday School teacher at his home church, Goodwill Baptist Church. He is the founder of the Back In Stride Ministry, a ministry designed to help ex-offenders to establish their businesses; past President of the John L. Scott Associate Ministers Auxiliary of the United Missionary Baptist Association; founder and Chief Chaplain of the New York State Chaplains Workers Task Force, Inc; President of the 42nd Precinct Community Council, Clergy Liaison, and Moderator for the Ceasefire Initiative all for the New York Police Department; President of the Home/Simpson Street Homeowners Association, Bronx, NY; Board member of Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI); 3 times past President of the Yonkers-East Yonkers Rotary Club, NY, and past District Governor for Rotary District 7230. Loren has a chapter capturing parts of his life in the book, Children of the Dream – The Psychology of Black Success by Audrey Edwards and Dr. Craig Polite. He also helped establish and provided voice-overs for the Speaking Community Calendar at Bronx Net Cable, Bronx, NY. Rev. Dr. Russell is an author who writes a weekly column called “Matters of Faith” that appear in several publications, Yonkers Insider, Better Mag magazine, Positve Community Magazine, and Pamela’s Big Heart Newsletter, and on his social media outlets. In addition, he hosts a weekly internet radio talk show, “Matters of Faith: The Radio Show” (Matters of Faith YouTube channel), and authored and published Matters of Faith: The Book. Loren is a frequently sought-after preacher, keynote speaker, motivational instructor, workshop leader, and Master of Ceremonies for a variety of programs. Loren’s favorite quote is by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. which epitomizes his philosophy on life. It states, “We must all learn to live together as brothers, or we will all perish together as fools.”

“Stress Less and Be Blessed In 2026!” 

Reverend J. Loren Russell

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

There is a famous poem entitled “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”, penned by Paul Laurence Dunbar and inspired a book of the same name written by Maya Angelou that has become a literary classic. 

Birds were not designed to be caged; they were designed to sing and to fly. But in man’s quest to harness nature, we create cages to hold birds for our pleasure. Yet, despite their restrictive and limiting environment, their resiliency allows the caged birds to defeat their frustrations, vent their misery, express their excitement for life, and create beauty through the gift of song the Lord has placed in their heart. Paul Laurence Dunbar heard the songs of joy from the caged bird and discovered, despite the turbulence of his era, that he too could sing and fly from the gift the Lord had given to him…, writing poetry.

Caged birds have only artificial restraints because their song and their flight are not dependent on their environment. Caged birds have the ability to sing and the audacity to fly because both were given to them by God, who did not say where to use them, only that they were gifts to be used. Just like caged birds, we have God-given ability to sing and the capability to fly. 

The dawn of a new year challenges us to stress less and change our limitations into strengths by recognizing we were designed by God to sing and to soar. Every one of us has limitations and restrictions that challenge our God-given abilities. So, every new year, we are offered the chance to alter our perspective of our cages. We are given the opportunity to sing the song we have in our hearts, and to use the wings on our backs that we haven’t even noticed were there.  

Whatever song the Lord has placed on your heart, it needs to be sung, no matter the cage you find yourself. Singing your song and using your wings frees you from the confines of the cage of social, financial, familial, or spiritual bondage that may have been imposed on you, as well as those manufactured by your own choices. Jerry Dunn said, “challenge your limits, don’t limit your challenges”. Stress less and be blessed in 2026! 

Be Blessed! 

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