Glen Podd – Senior Pastor
Tell us about yourself
I was born in 1958 in Basseterre, St Kitts, West Indies, as the youngest of six children. My family moved to England when I was two years old. Having built up a life in the UK I became a committed Christian at the age of 19.
Once graduated from Leeds Polytechnic with an HND in Business Studies in 1979 I started working as a Company Secretary in retail clothing and during this time I began attending my local Elim Church in Leeds. It was here that I met Gill; we married in 1985 and now have three gorgeous daughters: Hannah, Sarah and Rachel.
For my full biography click here.
How did you end up in your current role at the church?
In 1988 God called us to attend Elim Bible College, where I completed three years of study before becoming Assistant Pastor at the Elim Church in Ilford. Ten years later we moved on for me to become Senior Minister to Romford Elim Church.
What do you love doing in your spare time?
Like most people, I love watching movies. Having an ever so slightly nerdy side to me as well, I also happen to be an avid collector of Marvel Comics and Napoleonic military figures, and find history fascinating!
Music is my passion. I do gospel song writing and have produced two albums to share the good news of Jesus Christ. To me there is nothing better than sharing gospel truth through song in churches, bars and coffee shops…basically whenever the opportunity arises.
What is your favourite song, bible verse or quote?
Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." It was the key verse in my conversion, believing that if I put God first then the rest of my life would fall into place...and it has!
My favourite quote is "keep doing what is right"!
Gill Podd – Senior Pastor's wife
Tell us about yourself
I was born in Leeds in 1963 to Dennis and Beatrice Rawnsley, and have two sisters and one brother.
After finishing school I became an office junior for a Solicitors firm, eventually working my way up to become a Secretary for one of the Solicitors. I then moved on to Yorkshire Bank to work in a typing pool.
Although I wasn’t brought up in a Christian family I attended Sunday School at Sunshine Corner in Bridge Street, Leeds because the Church would send buses around the estate on a Sunday and a Wednesday. I became a Christian at the age of 14 at an Elim Conference at Clacton. I joined the youth group and served on the youth team for a number of years – here I also met Glen.
How did you end up in your current role at the church?
In 1988 Glen and I left Leeds for him to study at Elim Bible College in Nantwich, Cheshire while I worked for three years. Since 1991 we have been serving within the Elim movement, starting in Ilford, London, where Glen assisted for seven years, and then in Romford Elim, Essex, until today.
What do you love doing in your spare time?
I love cleaning and keeping the house in order. My favourite social activities include eating out and shopping!
What is your favourite song, bible verse or quote?
One of my favourite songs is Dance Again. After going through breast cancer in 2014 this song became very special to me because no matter what you go through you can still praise God in your situation. Your tears will dry, your heart will mend and you will dance again.
One of my favourite verses is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." It was this verse that was very instrumental in leading Glen and I to Bible College.
Michael Gana – Associate Pastor
Tell us about yourself
I was born in 1978 in Northern Nigeria. My Mum ran a local Sunday School in her home every Sunday morning. At the age of eight, I was introduced to Jesus through my Mum, and was baptised when I was nine years old. At the age of 12 I had a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ, and it was at this time that I knew I would be called to Christian ministry.
My family moved to the UK in 1994, and in 2000 with the support of my local church at the time – Southport Elim Church (now known as Lakeside Christian Centre) – I confirmed my call to Christian ministry and enrolled at the Elim Bible College. It was at the Elim Bible College where I met Ellie, whom I would later marry. We now have four children together, Joshua, Zoe, Zara and Reuben.
How did you end up in your current role at the church?
I graduated from the Bible College in 2003, and was posted to the Romford Elim Church as the Youth and Children’s worker. In 2012 I was appointed as Pastoral Assistant and was ordained as a Minister in June 2016.
What do you love doing in your spare time?
I spend my free time playing the guitar, reading and engaging in any and all conversations about Jesus whenever I can.
What is your favourite song, bible verse or quote?
My favourite Bible verse is Joshua 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
This verse was prophetically spoken over me as confirmation of my call to ministry, and was instrumental in my decision to apply to the Elim Bible College. It is also the reason we called my first born son "Joshua".
– Elder