14 March 2024
Mark Pugh announced as new General Superintendent of the Elim Pentecostal Church
Mark, succeeding General Superintendent Chris Cartwright, is looking forward to leading the movement into the next season
The Elim Pentecostal Church National Leadership Team are pleased to announce that Mark Pugh has been elected as the next General Superintendent, with responsibility to lead the Elim movement of churches and serve as Chair of Trustees of the Elim charity. He will succeed Chris Cartwright who has served two four-year terms from 2016 to 2024 and will formally step aside at the Elim Leader’s Summit in Harrogate in May.
Chris Cartwright says, “It has been an amazing privilege to serve the Elim Pentecostal Church in the UK and globally over the last 8 years. During that time we have reaffirmed our commitment to take the good news of Jesus to everyone, everywhere. We have identified our vision for a decade of Spirit empowered gospel mission with four priorities: Making Disciples, Developing Leaders, Growing Churches and Reaching Nations.
“I am delighted that Mark is to lead Elim forward. He is a gifted and experienced leader with a passion for the local church, for the Elim movement and the ministry and mission of the wider church. I believe God is going to use Mark significantly for His Kingdom in the years ahead.”
Mark Pugh says, “Elim was birthed in the fires of revival and evangelism, and over the last 109 years we have grown to be a movement of hundreds of churches and ministries across the UK and around the world. We are so privileged to be reaching the lives of many thousands of people each week – but I sense a deep and timely longing for both a fresh renewal of the Holy Spirit and a fresh fire in our mission. I believe God is inviting us to look beyond the challenges of our day and perceive and partner with the new things He is seeking to do. I’m looking forward to leading Elim into this next season and I pray that together with the wider church, we may reach and disciple the nation and nations with the transforming gospel of Jesus.”
Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance says, “I am delighted that Mark Pugh has been appointed as the new GS of Elim. He is an outstanding leader with a huge missional heart and a proven track record for growing churches and innovation in leadership. He will be wonderful in the role and the wider Church in the UK are praying for him and cheering him on.”
Introducing Mark Pugh
Mark hails from Porth, South Wales. He was already on the ministry team in Derby when he entered the Elim ministry in 1998, continuing to serve there until 2001, when he was stationed to Birmingham City Church.
In 2002, Mark was appointed to the National Youth Team, and in 2004, having pioneered Serious4God, Elim’s National Youth Ministry, he was appointed Director of Serious4God. A number of national youth events, such as The Gathering, were birthed under Mark’s tenure in the role.
In 2013, having accepted the call of God back into local church ministry, Mark relinquished the role of Director of Serious4God and was appointed as lead pastor in Rediscover Church Exeter. Under Mark’s leadership, the church has seen significant growth, and he has pioneered a number of initiatives such as South West Awake, a prayer event that gathers thousands of people, and the Church Planting Academy, which equips and releases people to plant churches.
Having been appointed to the National Leadership Team in 2010, Mark served two terms until 2018, when he made the decision to withdraw from the Team in order to concentrate on his local church ministry. He has connections across the wider Church, regularly speaks into other streams and has served on the Board of a number of other Charities.
Mark is married to Nita, and they have three grown-up children and one grandchild.