Pastor John Russell is a native of Bossier City, Louisiana; was a graduate of Airline High School in 1987; and was given the prestige honor of being named Mr. Basketball for the State of Louisiana in 1987. He attended Bossier Parish Community College for two years and later attended Park University in Parkville, Missouri, where he received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice and law enforcement. He gave his life to the Lord in 1999 and evangelized for many years, and in 2008, he became the senior pastor of Calvary Tabernacle of Alexandria in Alexandria, Louisiana. This is the story of a man who went from a promising basketball career to the depths of despair in drug addiction to giving his life to Christ. He is a trophy of grace.