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.”

“Go Back and Make It Right!”

Reverend J. Loren Russell

Luke 19:1-8 NKJV 

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today, a person has been saved in this house. This man is a Jew also. 10 For the Son of Man came to look for and to save from the punishment of sin those who are lost.”

I went to a fast-food drive through the other day. I was somewhat distracted as I listened and spoke on a conference call while ordering. I thought the voice on the other end of the order kiosk said $7.62. I prepared myself as I approached the mobile window with the exact change, only to be told that I misunderstood. The actual amount was $17.62, not $7.62. While my hands-free phone was muted, I snapped at the young lady, “I only ordered a salad and chicken tenders”! “What do you mean $17.62”? “How much does 4 tenders’ cost”? “I don’t want that”! “Give me the money back”! 

I fumbled to find a $20 bill to replace the $5 bill I initially gave her. As I impatiently handed it to her, she accepted it with a puzzled look on her face. After all I had said, “I don’t want that”! “Give me back my money”! She politely handed me back five single dollar bills, to which I said, “I want a five-dollar bill, not five singles. That’s why I gave you two single dollars”. After handing me my salad, and me snapping, “Where are the tenders?”, she reaches behind her and hands me another bag with the tenders inside. She asks, “barbecue sauce”?, to which I respond, “No! Honey mustard”! 

This very patient and accommodating young lady looks at me and says, “You don’t have to be so mean”. I looked closely and saw a tear roll down her cheek. 

I drove out of the line, unmuted myself, resumed my participation in the meeting, and proceed to my destination – home. But the Holy Spirit was not pleased. I felt this strong compulsion to find a place to park in the snow-filled street and go back to apologize to that young lady. I thought otherwise and kept on my way. Traffic in the accumulated snow of the city streets was very heavy. I was delayed significantly, and a car traveling in the wrong direction almost hit me. It was then that I realized this was more than a feeling, it was an order. I had to go back and apologize. I had to go back and see if I could make it right. 

When I got back to the restaurant, I found a parking spot, sat in the car another 15 minutes until the meeting was completed. I took a picture of a beautiful drawing of a child named Faith from my trunk, rolled it up, and went into the store. I motioned to the young lady to speak with her. Before she got to the counter, I was apologizing. She came around the counter, thanked me, and extended her arms to give me a hug. I gave her the picture and asked her to please accept it as my way of saying that I am so sorry to have behaved so ignorantly and to have hurt her feelings. She graciously accepted the gift and the apology. 

This may not have been as dramatic as Zacchaeus’ commitment to give half of his wealth to the poor or restore fourfold to anyone he may have overcharged on their taxes, but it was just as transformative for me. There is nothing like being convicted of having done something wrong and going back to make it right…, not to make you feel better, but because it is the right thing to do.   

Be Blessed! 

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