The Rev. Russell Nebhut, who was the pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church from 2014-18, has returned to Odessa to open a non-denominational church.
Having recently served at St. Mark’s UMC in El Paso, the Rev. Nebhut said he was asked by friends to start a church here and the result is the Spirit and Truth Church at 3102 E. University Blvd.
Noting that his favorite scripture is Genesis 3:8, “To walk with God is my goal for today and for eternity,” the pastor said, “We are Bible-based, historically and doctrinally traditional and conservative.
“ The Bible is the Word of God. Jesus Christ really did live, die and rise again. There is salvation only through faith in him.”
Nebhut is a 58-year-old native of Garland who worked as a cowboy and in a Home Interiors and Gifts warehouse for five years before enrolling at Dallas Christian College for a bachelor’s degree in New Testament and at Concordia Seminary in St Louis for a master’s of divinity. He was a Lutheran pastor for 18 years at churches in Parkers Prairie and Miltona, Minn., Hillsboro, Hamilton and Midland and he served as pastor of Visionary Hollowell Community UMC in Midland before coming to Asbury UMC.
An average of 35-40 people attend his church at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. He and his wife Stephanie have five children and three grandchildren.
“ If there is ever a time when you come to our church and do not hear that Jesus died for you and is your savior, then you will have to hold me accountable because I will have failed as a pastor,” said Nebhut, whose book about child sexual abuse, “I’m Still Here by the Grace of God,” was published in 2019 by Emerge Publishing of Tulsa, Okla.
Tim Jones, one of Nebhut’s members, said he “doesn’t just make a reference to something, he gives the historical background and then relates it to something modern so it’s easier to get a correlation.
“ When it’s about something that happened 3,000 years ago, it can be hard to understand,” Jones said. “Russ is a great guy and as a preacher he is outstanding. His knowledge is incredible. I was in the congregation when he was at Asbury and he has gotten me back involved with church again. He is that good.”
Jones said Nebhut’s hobbies include woodworking and hunting.
