Elders

1 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV - "1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil."

• Cobey Pete

Cobey is a native of Port Arthur, Texas.  Cobey met his wife Arlene in Oak Harbor, Washington in October 1991.  They were later married in April 993, and they have two daughters, Kyarah (21) and Karyssa (19). 

Cobey obeyed the Gospel in July 2006, as a member of the Schertz Church of Christ in Schertz, TX. 

During his Naval career, Cobey and his family moved to many duty stations, where they worshiped with the local congregations in Texas, Yokosuka, Japan, and Jacksonville, North Carolina.  Cobey served in various roles as a teacher, prayer leader, and Deacon overseeing the education ministry.  He also filled in for the preacher when needed. 

Cobey’s final duty station before retiring from the US Navy brought him to Bethesda, MD, and ultimately to the Rockville Church of Christ in June 2017.  Cobey currently serves as one of the Elders for the Rockville Church of Christ.

• Rayford Welch

Rayford began his work as the preacher at the Rockville Church of Christ in June 2021.  Last October, he was asked by the congregation so being serving as a Elder.  Rayford is in his 44th year of ministry, having served congregations in Texas, Alabama and Maryland. 

He is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian, where he met his wife of nearly 35 years Julie.  Having been born in Houston, Texas, he is an avid follower of the Houston sports teams.  Rayford loves anything and everything to do with history. 

Their daughter, Shelly, and her husband Drew, have a daughter Lily and they live in Manassas, VA.  Rayford and Julie also have a son Michael who with his wife Daisy have a son, Asher, and they live in Santa Fe, Texas.

• Jonathan Walker

Jonathan grew up in Hampton, VA and he met Esther while station as a Marine in California.  Within a year, Jonathan was baptized, married to Esther, and they moved to Maryland.  

In 1987, Jonathan was baptized at Southeast Church of Christ (now Beltway Church of Christ) and their family attended District Heights Church of Christ for 15 years, Silver Spring Church of Christ for 15 years, and are now proud to be members at Rockville Church of Christ.  

Brother Walker has served as a deacon, teacher, and in numerous ministries for over 30 years.  He is a senior executive for the US Department of Transportation with dozens of extracurricular activities.  He holds a Ph.D., M.S and B.S in Engineering from Virginia Tech, Johns Hopkins, and Howard University, respectively.  They are proud parents of two adult Christian children and two grandchildren.