Meet
Pastor Rodney Ellis and 
First Lady YOLANDA

Pastor Rodney and his beautiful wife Yolanda are from Weldon, NC. They were high school sweethearts and have been married for over 27 years. Both Pastor Rodney and First Lady Yolanda graduated from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. Pastor Ellis holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Criminal Justice from NCCU and is a retired college professor with over 20 years of service. First Lady Yolanda holds a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Science. Pastor Rodney and Yolonda have a 21-year-old daughter, Serenity Ellis, who is a part of the church leadership team and she holds a Bachelors and Master's degree in Social Work. Pastor Ellis ministry started with prison outreach. In 2007 he was led by God to launch the Wave church in Durham, NC, where he has been the pastor for the past 17 years.
 

Pastor Ellis has had the privilege to speak at various conferences and programs throughout the state of NC offering his expertise in the area of best practices to assist and mentor fatherless young african males, and ex-offenders. Some of his work and outreach efforts in the city of Durham with ex-offenders and young black males from disadvantaged communities are chronicled in the book “Living without Enemies" written by Sam Wells, former Dean of Duke Chapel at Duke University, and Marcia Owens member of the Durham non-violent coalition. His leadership philosophy is predicated on the words of Jesus in Matthew 23:11, “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Pastor Ellis and his wife Yolnda have a passion for christian outreach and evangelism, especially toward those most neglected and vulnerable in our society.