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PASTORAL STAFF
Rev. Daniel Odum
Daniel was born into a large Pentecostal family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Wayne Odum, a minister licensed with the United Pentecostal Church International, felt a call of God to go to the East Coast in 1973. He and his wife, Phyllis Jane, moved their family of 11 children to Connecticut to start a church. There is a heritage of faith and many testimonies of God's miraculous power and blessing woven into the fabric of Daniel's early life through the experiences this faithful family had during those years.
He was baptized in Jesus' name as a boy and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Because of his strong faith in the word of truth, even as a teen, Daniel was instrumental in the discipling and, ultimately, the conversion of his girlfriend, whom he met in 1986. Wendy McIntosh, a native to Connecticut, was baptized in Jesus' name in February of 1989, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost in August of that same year. The couple married in July of 1990 and now have two beautiful children, Kyle and Karah. Through the years, they have worked together to serve God in the ministry.
Daniel has spent most of his life in the northeastern corner of Connecticut, as a result of the church his late father founded. This is where he received the call of God on his own life and pursued his local and general ministerial licenses with the UPCI. His ministry over sixteen years has included serving as assistant pastor, Youth leader, Bible teacher and preacher. In the Connecticut District of the United Pentecostal Church he has filled the roles of Sunday School Secretary, Sunday School Director, and currently serves as the Junior Bible Quizzing Coordinator.
In January of 2005, the Odum family began attending the Pentecostals of East Hartford. A loving, devoted husband and father, Daniel is concerned about the success of relationships within the families of the church body. While teaching, it is his desire to shed light upon the Word so people may apply it in a useful and practical way to their lives.
Rev. Ben Castro
Ben Castro came to the United States at the age of twelve from Humana, Puerto Rico. He was raised and grew up in a traditional Catholic home. He is a graduate of Hartford Public High School and pursued further vocational training at a trade school. As he grew older with a wondering heart he began to read and study the Bible more and more. His searching led him to a nondenominational church where he attended for nine years and was a Bible Institute student. During his years attending there he served in a variety of roles, including musician, board member, usher, and youth helper. Ben married his lovely wife, Evelyn, in 1974 and they were blessed with two wonderful sons, Benjamin and David. God has also blessed them with a beautiful granddaughter, Mellenia.
In 1999, a friend invited Ben and Evelyn to a service at The Pentecostals. The church family here at The Pentecostals quickly became their spiritual family. He was baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus and soon after received the gift of the Holy Ghost. That experience transformed his life! As he has grown in Christ he has served The Pentecostals in a variety of capacities. Ben & Evelyn together coordinated the Singles Ministry for several years, he has also served as an Usher, the Head Usher, and musician. Currently, he is on our pastoral staff and a musician. He responded to God's call into the ministry in 2004 under our Senior Pastor's leadership. He has clearly felt for several years a calling to minister to the Hispanic community of greater Hartford. In honoring that call in July 2008, Rev. Castro and The Pentecostals launched Iglesias Cristiana La Esperanza. This brand new church holds services once each month, for specific schedule information please see our Calendar or contact the church office.
Rev. Jennifer Wade
Jennifer Wade was born in Kingston, Jamaica and migrated to the United States with her mother and three brothers when she was eleven years of age. She then moved to Connecticut on September 21, 1977. She works at Hartford Hospital where she is a constant witness of the work God has done in her life.
Her relationship with God really began in 1999 when she gave her life to God soon after her two daughters, Zakiya and Charmaine, who had received the gift of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost Sunday of that year in their first visit to The Pentecostals. She received the gift of the Holy Ghost at a Connecticut District Crusade Service in Waterbury in June 1999 and was then baptized at The Pentecostals. Her life was radically changed from that day and she continues to grow in Christ. Her passion is to present the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the testimony of how it has changed her life.
Jennifer has coordinated the Nursing Home Ministry for several years, is a Sunday School Teacher, a personal Bible Study teacher, and serves on the Pastoral ministry team.
