Rev. Dr. Larry Wayne Ellis,
a native of Clarksville, Tennessee, graduated in 1975 from Austin Peay State University located in Tennessee. In 1981, Dr. Ellis earned a Master of Divinity from Golden Gate Theological Seminary. In 1988, he was awarded a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont. He earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree in 1995 from the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. Currently, he is Vice President and Professor at Southern Marin Bible Institute and teaches at Golden Gate Seminary.

In August of 1986, the Bay Area Baptist Congress of Christian Education named Dr. Ellis president of their organization. He was selected as Pastor of the Year in 1988, President of the Ministers' Council and moderator for the Bay Area Baptist District Association.

Dr. Ellis served at Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Redwood City for nearly ten years, serving as full-time minister during the last four years of his tenure there. Dr. Ellis' leadership has been instrumental in the revitalization of this Church. Not only has membership increased, most importantly, the spiritual life of these saints who are following the path set by God has grown. Dr. Ellis was called as the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church on September 4, 1987.

In addition to his teaching and preaching at Pilgrim, he consistently remains involved in the community. In 1988, he founded C.H.O.I.C.E.S., a drug information and referral non-profit agency. He also serves on several civil and corporate boards.

In 1996, Dr. Ellis' achieved one of his most recent accomplishments when he became an Adjunct Professor at Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley, California. Among his many other accomplishments is the fact that, in 1998, he taught in Russia. Additionally, in 1999, he was selected as President of Congress Christian Education. He currently serves as Vice President of the State Congress of Christian Education.

In 1999 Pastor Ellis also founded "Teach The Word" radio ministry. In 2002, Dr. Ellis became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pilgrim Organization, Inc., a youth through senior non-profit organization.

He is married to the former Vanderler Hines and proud father of three children, Tawana, Justin, and Austin.