Elena was born and grew up in Ashford, Kent (UK). She studied French and Music at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (London University). She then qualified as a Secondary School and English Foreign language teacher and taught for a number of years in the UK as well as in France and Bulgaria. She also spent ten years working as a Skills For Life Tutor in Adult Education. A born-again Christian for over 30 years, Elena has a passion for the local church and for prayer. She spent seven years working full-time in church administration and for many years has been involved in intercessory prayer ministries. More recently, she has become involved in leading worship and Bible teaching at ICM, Ashford Pentecostal Church, where she is now a member of the leadership team and employed part-time as an administrator. Elena is married and has one daughter.