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     Bishop Russell Ronell Jenkins Jr. was the Senior Pastor of the New Day International Kingdom Ministries in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was born the second oldest of five children to Russell Ronell Jenkins, Sr. and Thelma V. Jenkins on January 13. 1962;and was the recipient of a multigenerational heritage and legacy of Apostolic Pentecostal Holiness. As the grandson of the late Bishop Myles Meredith, Sr. and Mother Janie Meridith. Pioneers of the Apostolic faith in the city of Harrisburg and the founders of the New Day Way of the Cross Church of Christ. Bishop Jenkins was reared in the warmth of a Godly home and experienced the love and delight of his siblings and family. He was educated in the Harrisburg School District where he graduated from Harrisburg High School. During his youth, Russell enjoyed sports, music, auto, mechanics, and friends. 

 

       As a young lad, Russell was baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Ghost under his grandfather’s ministry. He was very active in the youth ministry, church choirs and served as organist for many years. In 1979, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served four years traveling throughout the United States and many foreign countries after which he was honorably discharged. In 1983, Russell returned to Harrisburg to assist his father in the family business, Jenkins Fuel Oil. At this time in Russell’s life, he was able to establish three successful businesses in the metro Harrisburg area: a Trucking company, a Sound company and a Recording Studio. Although God gave him success in the secular world, that would not be his ultimate purpose. While his late grandfather’s work went through transmission, Russell found himself serving as a Minister of Music under a number of different Pastors.

 

         During this particular time, Russell had grown madly in love with his high school sweetheart, Lisa A. Chambers. Marriage was inevitable!! In 1989, Russell wedded his longtime friend and soulmate. They are the proud parents of three great children, Gray, Russell III, and Charniece. Now armed with a friend and partner for ministry, the time (1999) had arrived that the Spirit would lead him back home to his grandfather’s ministry, New Day Way of the Cross Church of Christ. Hearing and acknowledging the call of destiny from the lord upon his life, he said “Yes” to God, and began to prepare for the labor of which he was assigned. Picking up the mantel that was divinely bestowed upon him by God, he began to rebuild the church where he had been raised. Like Nehemiah the Lord used hi to restore and renovate the physical building, working with his own hands to accomplish the task alongside his dear mother, Evangelist Thelma V. Jenkins. Initually it was the  Lord’s Prayer Chapel, but after being commissioned by the Lord to establish his home church, he was appointed as the Senior Pastor of the New Day Way of the Cross Church of the Christ, and ordained an elder by Bishop LeRoy H. Cannady, presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Way of the Cross Church of Christ International, Inc.

 

        Under his visionary leadership and anointed ministry the church blossomed and flourished tremendously. Within a short five years God had blessed the work in such abundance that it was time to move out of the totally renovated buildings to a large edifice. Bishop Jenkins had a vision for a facility which could house the ministry and accommodate its growth. The lord granted his request and miraculously led him to the specific location and building which would become our new home. Bishop led the New Day congregation into the new church, laboring untiringly once again with his own hands in order to complete the work. Guided by the Holy Ghost, he began to equip the church to fulfill the destiny to which it was now called, as he recognized the congregation to achieve a higher level of  effective ministry with a global focus in the Kingdom of God, and enhance the name of the church as: New Day International Kingdom Ministries. It was his faithful and dedicated leadership, along with the labor and sacrifice of many other wonderful saints,  which brought the vision of the restored New Day into fruition, and God is continuing to do great and wonderful work. 

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Upon the unction of the Holy Ghost and the manifestation of the Apostolic and Episcopal ministry upon his life, it was now time for Pastor Jenkins to be elevated to the Office of Bishop.  Thus, he was consecrated to the Bishopric in a solemn ceremony of affirmation by Bishop Larry J Baylor, Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of Higher Ground International Ministries. Upon his consecration, Bishop Jenkins was assigned to the East Coast jurisdiction, where he served as Jurisdictional Prelate. He also served as the president of the Apostolic Fellowship Alliance, which is a local fellowship of churches in the Harrisburg area. Bishop Jenkins served in many capacities in the body of Christ both nationally and internationally, helping churches and leading many people to the Lord. Multitudes of souls were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and were saved, Healed and Delivered under his powerful and anointed preaching ministry. Time will not allow us to tell of the many lives he has touched within and outside of the church. He was a profound teacher of the word, and was a mentor and role modle to many. A dedicated Man of God, he leaves a living legacy as a true father, a loving husband and devoted Shepard. He believed as Jesus said, " let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven" Matthew 5:16.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents: Russell R. Jenkins Sr. and Mother Thelma V. Jenkins of Harrisburg. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife of 31 years, Mother Lisa A. Jenkins; sons, Elder Gary E. Napper and wife Tara, Pastor Russell R. Jenkins III and wife Ashanta; only daughter Charnice Jenkins; 7 grandchildren; sister Rose M. Jenkins; brothers, Bishop Michael A. Jenkins Sr. of South Carolina, Robert Jones and wife Heather of Etters, PA, and Elder Mark T Jenkins and wife Bessie of Steelton, PA; a brother of heart, Dr Richard Evans of Dallas TX; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved ones, many friends; and his beloved New Day Family.

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Bishop Russell R. Jenkins jr. believed that "FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN" Philippians 1:21

often quoting that "THE RECORD IS WRITTEN ON HIGH"......

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Lovingly submitted, The Family