Meet the Elders
Russ Fuller
Elder
Can you tell us a little about your family, your work and your journey with Jesus so far?
I have been married to my beautiful wife, Colleen, for 30 years. We have two older children, Jenna and Jaydon.
Since arriving in Australia in 2000, I have worked at the Fraser Coast Anglican College as a teacher in the Upper Primary area and as Director of Grades 3 to 6. At work, my goal has always been to be salt and light to the school community of children, parents and teachers. I have had the freedom there to live out my faith and be a godly influence to those around me.
I became a Christian in 1989 while at University and was baptised in a Baptist affiliated church in South Africa. There, I served as a deacon, where Colleen and I started and led the Kids Club at that church.
How long have you attended HBBC, and of that time, how long have you been serving on the Eldership?
When we arrived in Hervey Bay in 2001, we were welcomed by the people of Hervey Bay Baptist Church, and you became our extended family.
What drew you to being part of the Eldership?
I became an Elder three and a half years ago. I have seen God working in our church in amazing ways. I know that God is currently moving in our church to have a greater impact on our Hervey Bay community. There are people in our community who are broken, and the solution is Jesus (Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free [NIV]). I believe that God called me to be an Elder just before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. When nominated previously, I had always declined, but this time things were lining up; my job circumstances had changed, and I was ready to use my gifts to serve the congregation and further His Kingdom at HBBC through the Eldership. It was just a matter of responding.
What is the best part of being on the Eldership for you?
Being one of the Elders, overseeing the congregation is a big responsibility that is not always easy, but I believe that God has used each one us and our specific gifts to lead the church through this time. We have an amazing group of godly people on the Eldership, who first and foremost seek God’s will in all decisions that we make. God has grown us as individuals and as a unified whole to serve our people.
Most church-goers are passionate about something within Christianity. What is it you’re passionate about?
Ministering to children has always been a passion of mine and I have been involved in Kids Club and Kids Church through the years. They really are the church’s future. I also believe that prayer is essential and being a part of the Elders’ prayer team has been rewarding as we see God at work in people’s lives.
I believe that every single person in our congregation has something important to give, and if you don’t know where to serve, it is just a matter of time until God reveals that to you. I believe that God is “doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18) in our church and I can’t wait to see what the future brings!
I have been married to my beautiful wife, Colleen, for 30 years. We have two older children, Jenna and Jaydon.
Since arriving in Australia in 2000, I have worked at the Fraser Coast Anglican College as a teacher in the Upper Primary area and as Director of Grades 3 to 6. At work, my goal has always been to be salt and light to the school community of children, parents and teachers. I have had the freedom there to live out my faith and be a godly influence to those around me.
I became a Christian in 1989 while at University and was baptised in a Baptist affiliated church in South Africa. There, I served as a deacon, where Colleen and I started and led the Kids Club at that church.
How long have you attended HBBC, and of that time, how long have you been serving on the Eldership?
When we arrived in Hervey Bay in 2001, we were welcomed by the people of Hervey Bay Baptist Church, and you became our extended family.
What drew you to being part of the Eldership?
I became an Elder three and a half years ago. I have seen God working in our church in amazing ways. I know that God is currently moving in our church to have a greater impact on our Hervey Bay community. There are people in our community who are broken, and the solution is Jesus (Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free [NIV]). I believe that God called me to be an Elder just before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. When nominated previously, I had always declined, but this time things were lining up; my job circumstances had changed, and I was ready to use my gifts to serve the congregation and further His Kingdom at HBBC through the Eldership. It was just a matter of responding.
What is the best part of being on the Eldership for you?
Being one of the Elders, overseeing the congregation is a big responsibility that is not always easy, but I believe that God has used each one us and our specific gifts to lead the church through this time. We have an amazing group of godly people on the Eldership, who first and foremost seek God’s will in all decisions that we make. God has grown us as individuals and as a unified whole to serve our people.
Most church-goers are passionate about something within Christianity. What is it you’re passionate about?
Ministering to children has always been a passion of mine and I have been involved in Kids Club and Kids Church through the years. They really are the church’s future. I also believe that prayer is essential and being a part of the Elders’ prayer team has been rewarding as we see God at work in people’s lives.
I believe that every single person in our congregation has something important to give, and if you don’t know where to serve, it is just a matter of time until God reveals that to you. I believe that God is “doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18) in our church and I can’t wait to see what the future brings!