From Prison to Preacher
God
Born in Port Arthur, Texas and raised Catholic, Rusty's passion in life was football. This passion and ferocity led to a football scholarship at Louisiana State University. In 1973, Russell joined the LSU Fighting Tiger football team.
His life’s highest and lowest points occurred on the same day. In 1976, LSU opened the season against the top-ranked, Nebraska Cornhuskers. Near the end of the game, Rusty blocked a critical, field-goal attempt by the Cornhuskers. The block preserved a 6-6 tie for the LSU Tigers.
“To celebrate the game, I went to a bar near the campus,” he remembers. “I took more drugs after the game. This time downers. After leaving the bar, I got into a conflict. I was arrested and put in jail for attempted murder. I was later convicted of attempted manslaughter, which brought a sentence — five years probation, one year in a state correction home and one year working with teenagers in New Orleans.”
While in confinement, Rusty began begging God to release him from the confinement home. Four months later, the home closed and instead of moving Rusty to another institution, he was released.
Saves
After being released, Rusty was miraculously re-admitted to LSU. He was also invited to the Chapel on the Campus to hear Billy Graham’s associate, Cliff Barrows.
Before the message, the pastor of the church invited everyone to stand and pray out loud. Not even realizing what he was doing, he stood up and said, “Lord, forgive me for what I did and I ask that these people forgive me.” Instantly, Rusty knew that he had been born again.
Rusty began growing in God, and after completing his studies at LSU, decided to attend Bible college in Dallas, Texas. In 1983, Rusty returned to Baton Rouge to minister at Christian Life Fellowship.
Until early 1996, Rusty served at CLF as both Associate Pastor and as Spiritual Life Director for the Christian Life Academy. During his association with the church, he led mission teams to India and Africa. In June 1996, Rusty and his family moved to Nairobi, Kenya to serve as missionaries.
After spending 2 years in Nairobi the Domingue’s returned to Baton Rouge where they base out of as the minister to the world.