Staff
Lainey Kabat, Office Administrator
lainey@waccelyria.org
Lainey joined the staff of Washington Avenue in December 2023. She moved from Sheffield Lake to Elyria in September of 2014 after retiring from the Sheffield-Sheffield CSD. Lainey then worked 6 years as a Ministry Assistant at Westlake Christian Church, nesting in the building with Dover UCC.
Lainey enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren who live in Avon and Amherst. Favorite activities include working in her yard and attending school activities of her grandchildren as they participate in band and various sports. Her only granddaughter, Cassidy, plays softball for Indiana University.
Rev. Nathan A. Russell, Senior Pastor
nathan@waccelyria.org
Rev. Nathan A. Russell (He/Him) joined the staff of Washington Avenue Christian Church on September 1, 2018. He graduated from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University with a Master of Divinity (Biblical Studies) in May 2014 and was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In March 2016, Morehouse College in Atlanta inducted Rev. Russell into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers. In April 2024, he was elected to the Board of Trustees at Brite Divinity School and serves on the Executive and Advancement Committees. As a hymn text writer and publisher with One License, his lyrics have been sung throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Prior to attending seminary, Rev. Russell earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at West Texas A&M University and completed post-graduate work in choral conducting and music education at Michigan State University. He taught choral music at the high school and collegiate levels for seven years. In August 2012, Rev. Russell participated in the summer theological program at Christ Church, Oxford University. He also completed coursework toward a Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies at Texas Christian University.
Apart from his ministerial work, Pastor Nathan enjoys an active life of music, exercise, and travel. He sings with The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and has previously served as Vice Chair of the Chorus’ Operating Committee. In November 2021, Nathan became a dog-dad to a German Shepherd named Thunder, who takes her name from the protagonist in Sue Monk Kidd’s novel The Book of Longings.
Phil Smith, Custodian