Leroy "Lee” Elder first received his call to ministry while he was an active member of Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas (1997). He gave up his career as a corporate buyer in the commercial aircraft industry and enrolled in Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. During his seminary training, he was Associate Pastor at Mason Memorial United Methodist Church where he provided leadership for youth and young adult ministry. Pastor Elder also had the opportunity to serve as Senior Pastor of Asbury-Mt. Olive United Methodist Church in Topeka, Kansas during his last year of seminary. From Topeka, Pastor Elder served as Pastor of Administration for St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas a congregation of over 5,000 members. He faithfully served “The Luke” for two years. Pastor Elder and his wife, Chanda Mayers-Elder, moved to Houston after he was given the opportunity to start a new United Methodist Church in the Northeast Houston area.

Pastor Elder received his Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology. He also holds a Master of Management and Public Administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Jackson State University. He is a native of Belzoni, Mississippi. He is passionate about assisting people on their faith journey, in developing a personal relationship Jesus Christ and becoming deeply committed disciples.

He believes that the Church must be concerned about the well-being of the whole person and that the sacred worth of all persons must be honored. He says, “We are all made in the image of God and God’s love for us has given us value.”

Our pastor's wonderful wife, Dr. Chanda Mayers-Elder, was raised in Brandon, Mississippi and is a graduate of Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She earned her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She is currently completing her residency at University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Sciences in Houston, Texas. One of her interests is in advocating for the Church and society to help eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues. In her leisure time, Chanda enjoys traveling, reading, decorating, and photography.