Timothy Russell is the lead pastor at LIFT Ministries. Tim has been ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ for over 28 years. Tim is the Apostolic Father to many men and women throughout the Bay Area and has launched several individuals into their purposed ministry and he has authored books "Conquer or Be Conquered!" and "Coffee with God...A 40 day Journey with God".

Professionally, Tim is the Program Director of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, responsible for overseeing program staff, consultants, and operations on the Peninsula and in the East Bay. Tim’s experience includes serving as Education Director and Dean of Students for the National Training Institute and Sequoia Institute respectively. In addition, Tim also serves on the Community Advisory Board of Union Bank.

  

Vanessa Russell has been a lover of Christ since 2000. She surrendered her life at Faith Fellowship church in San Leandro and served in several ministries including Women’s, Childcare, Singles, Praise Dance, Celebrate Recovery, and Choir. She has also hosted several workshops focused on healing, restoration and workforce development. Since 2000 Vanessa has developed children in the area of dance, teaching hundreds, ages 3-25, lyrical, flags, hip hop, mime, etc. In 2010 one of her 15 year old dance students was sold into human trafficking. Although she was eventually located and is now being restored, Vanessa encountered many others who, like her student, were US born women, men and children trapped in modern day slavery. Her response was to launch Love Never Fails http://www.loveneverfailsus.com/, a non-profit dedicated to the restoration, education and protection of people at risk or currently being exploited. Since launching the program Love Never Fails has educated thousands of children and community members and opened two homes for women and children.

Vanessa is an accomplished Sr. leader at Cisco Systems; working 20 years in the IT industry leading technology and sales organizations. Her professional hope is to inspire and motivate people to develop business and themselves. Vanessa graduated from University of San Francisco with a BS in Information Systems Management and hopes to pursue a Doctorate in Psychology in the future. Pastor Timothy and Vanessa Russell are blessed to have seven children, ages ranging from eight to twenty-six. As a family they enjoy serving the community, sports, music and traveling.    

 

pastortim@lift-ministries.com

vanessa@lift-ministries.com

 

 

 

 

     
Bill & Shirley are one of the founding pastors of LIFT Ministries and after years of leading this ministry, they have now taken the position of supporting the lead pastor.  Bill & Shirley were marred in 1961 - They have raised 3 sons. Bill & Shirley attended Shiloh Bible College receiving their Bachelor's of Theology degree. They are now Pastoring together at Living In Fellowship Today (LIFT).

 

Bill & Shirley have served as Elders, Care Shepherds, youth leaders, and served as missionaries to Mexico, Fiji and Uganda, teaching and preaching His word.

 

Known to many as "Mom & Dad James", their ministry can be described as coming along side and being supportive of both saints and leaders for the, 'equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for edifying the body of Christ' - Eph 4:12

 

pastorbill@lift-ministries.com

pastorshirley@lift-ministries.com

 

    

 

  

Sheryl Ann James was born March 7th 1958 to Emil & Margo Luque. She went to Tennyson High school in Hayward Ca. Sheri has been involved in Children ministries, serving as a Sunday school teacher, youth leader, women's ministry, worship leader and involved in the prophetic ministry. Sheri traveled to Uganda with her late husband, Tim James, in 2009 to minister at the Pastors conference at Gaba Community Church, held at Bethany.

 

Sheri was ordained March 23, 2007 as a Pastor into Lift Ministries.

 

pastorsheri@lift-ministries.com

 

 

 

     

     

Sharon comes to us with over 25 years of experience in facility and operations management, as well as business operations analysis. She has managed teams of up to 50 employees in many cross functional departments from operations print production, facilities management, and legal production.

sharon@lift-ministries.com

Bricie Byars-Randolph was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.   From the age of 9, she has served in many church/district/state choirs and as a children's choir director. Bricie has studied, trained, recorded and sung professionally as a background singer for William Murphy, Fred Hammond and other gospel recording artists on the Verity Records label.  

Recently, Bricie served as the Musical Director for "Celebrate Recovery" (at the Faith Fellowship Campus), before arriving in 2015 to serve as the Worship Director at L.I.F.T. Ministries.

Bricie believes that when God calls a worship leader to worship before His people, they are responsible to offer nothing but their excellence so that His people can be edified and God glorified.  She states "God expects us to operate only in the Holy Spirit and anything less than that is just a performance....."

bricie@lift-ministries.com

Joshua is a native New England-er and is not afraid to let you know it.  He moved to the Bay Area in May of 2006.  Then he started being involved in the Audio and Video ministry in a small church in San Leandro.  He quickly developed his skills in the A/V dept and helped enhance the worship during service and assisting the Pastors or guest speakers by providing scripture to be displayed on the screens. Joshua came to Lift Ministries in the winter of 2014 and is hoping he will help make an impact with Lift Ministries in making a difference in the local community as well as the spiritual community.  

He is also co-owns a Bridal Consultant & Event Planning business with his wife called Brides & Events on a Budget.  During the day he works at a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless in San Mateo/ Santa Clara Counties.  Joshua enjoys helping people within the community.  

josh@lift-ministries.com