Full biography
Glen Podd – Senior Pastor
I was born in 1958 in Basseterre, St Kitts, West Indies the youngest of three sisters and two brothers to wonderful parents Georgina and Cyril.
In 1960 my family came to England when I was just two years old and we settled in Leeds in Beeston. We were strangers in a new country and impressions were seared into my life at that stage that have played a part in shaping who I am.
Racism was rampant and I never understood why people disliked or even hated me because of my colour. I still don’t, but it put a spirit in me that wanted to embrace people rather than hurt them, a good spirit for being a pastor as it has turned out!
I developed personal interests early on of reading, model soldiers, history and Marvel Comics, interests that I still pursue today!
I enjoyed Dewsbury Road Primary School, where I played for the football team, and continued playing when I was at Matthew Murray Comprehensive School. I left senior school with nine O’levels and graduated from Leeds Polytechnic with an HND in Business Studies in 1979, a wide subject chosen because I had no clue as to what career to pursue. I have always been a jack of all trades but a master of none, which I perceived to be a weakness, but as it has turned out was ideal for being a pastor whose function it is to discover and release others who will do a job better than themselff!
In September 1979 I began my first job as a Company Secretary for a clothing retailer, Wisehouse Ltd, where I stayed for eight years. I then became a Financial Controller for Rackham Housefloors in Dewsbury for eight months, until leaving for Elim Bible College in 1988.
I met Jesus in 1977 as a result of my mother’s prayers, my sister’s persistence and Matthew 6:33 that encouraged me to seek the kingdom of God first and He would then help me in all the other stuff of life. There I found my purpose in life. Here was one who not only loved me unconditionally but pulled all the loose ends of life together. I was at a youth rally called “The Whole Story” hosted by Rev David Watson in Leeds Town Hall.
I began worshipping at the Elim Pentecostal Church in Leeds called "Bridgestreet", where I joined the youth group and served on the youth committee from 1979, becoming the Youth Leader in 1981. There I met my lovely wife Gillian; we were married in 1985.
In 1988 we left for Elim Bible College in Nantwich, Cheshire for three years and I trained to be an Elim Minister. In 1991 we were posted to Ilford Elim Church (City Gates), London, where I assisted for seven years. There we had three children, all gorgeous girls, Hannah, Sarah and Rachel.
In 1998 we were posted to Romford Elim Church, where I am still presently serving as the Senior Pastor and we are seeking to build a church with a vibrant relationship with God, each other and the world around us.
In 2008 I recorded the Good News album, followed by a second album, Yes He Is, in 2013. They are all songs I wrote to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, covering the period from when I first became a Christian to the present day, encouraging people to search after Christ for themselves.