Faith, Love & Service
Faith, Love & Service
The church of Christ in Jersey Village is a vibrant and inclusive family, embodying the timeless principles of worship, love, and service as outlined in Scripture. From diverse backgrounds and walks of life, our congregation unites in a common purpose: to worship God in spirit and truth, to extend unconditional love to one another, and to serve the world around us selflessly. Rooted in the belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we strive to live out its teachings in every aspect of our lives, finding guidance, comfort, and direction within its pages.
As heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, we embrace our unity in Jesus Christ, transcending differences of age, race, language, and ethnicity to form a close-knit community bound by faith. Grounded in the conviction that salvation is found exclusively through Jesus Christ, we are compelled by God’s love to share the saving message with the entire world. Guided by the Scriptures, we understand the steps necessary to enter into a right relationship with God, including belief in Jesus as the Son of God, repentance of sins, confession of Jesus as Lord, baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and faithful living in accordance with God’s will. With open hearts and arms, we extend a warm welcome to all who seek spiritual nourishment and fellowship, inviting visitors to experience the love and hospitality of our church family.
Meet Our Leadership
Meet Our Leadership
Our ministers, elders and deacons work together to shape the vision and direction of the church of Christ in Jersey Village as servant leaders.
Ministers
Ministers
John Gooch
Minister
John has been the Pulpit Minister at Jersey Village since August of 2012. He served previously as an elder from 2008 to 2012, the Associate Minister for 4 years and as a deacon for 10 years.
John and his wife Lisa have been married since 1985 and came to Jersey Village in 1994. They have 3 adult sons, 3 daughters-in-law and 3 grandchildren.
John was born and raised in Branson, MO where he preached his first sermon when he was 17. He attended the University of Central Missouri before spending 25 in the business world. John enjoys sports of all kinds but is especially fanatical about St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball.
Matthew Hite
Youth Minister
Matthew Hite started as the Youth Minister at Jersey Village in October 2020. He attended the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver, Colorado, and graduated as valedictorian of his class in May 2020.
His wife, Haley, also graduated from the Bear Valley program.
Matthew was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado. He and Haley were married on June 1, 2019. He is an artist, Star Wars fan, Disney nerd, and all-around movie lover. He is very excited to be on staff here at Jersey Village and eager to help youth grow and strengthen their relationships with the Lord.
Elders
Elders
Shawn Biggers
Elder
In 1996, Shawn married his college girlfriend, Christi, and they have been blessed with one son, Mason. Shawn and his family are originally from Dallas where he served as a deacon in their former congregation.
The Biggers came to JV in 2006, and Shawn began working with the Young Marrieds group.
He previously served as a deacon in that capacity from 2007-2020. Shawn is the elder over the growth community ministry, with the goal of promoting participative sharing and mutual encouragement toward Christ.
Robert Efird
Elder
Robert was born in Texas and graduated from the University of Houston – Downtown. He moved to Houston in 1982 and began attending the church of Christ in Jersey Village in 1983, where he met his future wife, Cindy.
He married Cindy in 1985 and they been attending at Jersey Village since then. They have two children: Phillip, who lives in Farmington, New Mexico, with his wife Sandy and three grandchildren; and Haley, who lives in Cypress, TX, with her husband Eric and one grandchild.
Robert has previously served as Deacon and Elder at JV. His areas of responsibility is the Engagement Growth Ministry with the goal of ensuring new converts and members will be able to grow spiritually as well as becoming active members of the congregation.
Robert and Cindy are both retired and enjoy spoiling grandchildren.
Chris Hose
Elder
Chris was born in Richmond, VA. He lived in many different parts of the U.S. while growing up including Boston, MA, New York, NY, and Kansas City, KS and then returned to Richmond.
After graduating with two degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, he moved to San Diego CA for several years, before making Houston, Texas his home.
Chris has been in the field of computer technical consulting since 1980. He met Charlotte Whittemore in 1991 and began attending church with her at the Westbury Church of Christ.
Chris was baptized two weeks before marrying Charlotte on March 26, 1995. Chris and Charlotte have two daughters, Caroline and Claire.
Chris and Charlotte became members at Jersey Village church of Christ in April of 2003. Chris was ordained as a deacon in 2005 and became an elder in 2024.
He is currently the elder over of benevolence.
Gil Pipkin
Elder
Gil Pipkin was born in Texas and graduated from the University of Houston. He was baptized in 1996 and placed membership at Jersey Village.
He married his wife Tricia in 1997 and they have three children, Daniel, Carly, and Elise.
Gil has served in several capacities such as ministry leader, deacon, and bible class teacher. His area of ministry is Children & Youth Spiritual Growth with the goal of helping our children be equipped to go into the world and be lights that are not hidden.
Chris Ward
Elder
Chris was born and raised in Houston Texas. He has been gratefully married to his wife Lynn since 1991.
Chris and Lynn are blessed with two sons, Daniel and Aaron. Aaron is married to
his wife Jada. Chris served as a deacon at their previous congregation for several years. He
and his family placed their membership at Jersey Village in 2015, where he served as a deacon
from 2021-2024.
His area of responsibility is adult spiritual growth which encompasses, Worship Ministry, Adult Education Ministry and Evangelism Ministry.
Chris enjoys sharing the gospel, fishing and Texans Football.
Deacons
Deacons
Marvin Bell
Deacon
Marvin Bell was born and raised in Elkton, Kentucky. He relocated to Texas to attend college, which is where he was first introduced to the gospel. Marvin earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from Texas College and a master’s degree in counseling from Prairie View A&M University.
Marvin taught elementary physical education and middle school science for many years. He has used his professional skills to teach in the Lord’s church and currently teaches monthly at a detention center.
Marvin has been married to his wife, Sanée, since 2003, and together they have two children, Richmond and Paige. Marvin and Sanée have been members of Jersey Village since 2004. Family is incredibly important to Marvin, and he cherishes the time they spend together attending worship, engaging in Bible study, watching sports, and playing board games.
Marvin’s spiritual goals are to lead others to Christ through evangelizing and being a spiritual example. As a deacon, he desires to serve alongside other church leaders to meet the needs of the congregation and community. Marvin is honored to be a deacon at Jersey Village and looks forward to continuing to grow in his faith alongside his church family.
Jared Cammon
Deacon
Jared Cammon is from Atlanta, Georgia, and moved to Houston, Texas, in 2006. While attending League City Church of Christ, he met his lovely wife Sharee, and they were married in 2009. Jared, Sharee, and their children moved to Cypress in 2014 when he began working for Lonestar College as a professor of Engineering and Engineering Technology.
Together, they have five children: Nathaniel, Christian, Olivia, and Jonathan, who crossed over to paradise at age 15 from Leukemia, and Jordan, who has been waiting in paradise since childbirth. Jared and his family began attending Jersey Village Church of Christ in 2021, where he now serves as deacon over adult education and the youth ministry. He loves teaching, science fiction, bike riding, and martial arts, and is in the process of earning his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Houston, with a focus on engineering education.
Scott Chitwood
Deacon
Scott Chitwood is a sixth generation Houstonian. He attended Texas A&M University where he received bachelors and masters degrees in Civil Engineering.
There he met his wife Dava and they were active in the Aggies for Christ. They have three children – Sarah, David, and Alex.
The Chitwoods placed membership at JV in 2008 and currently reside in Cypress, TX. Scott is currently deacon of Technology.
Alberto Cardenas
Deacon
Alberto Cardenas has been a deacon at Jersey Village Church of Christ since March of 2024. He and his wife, Carolina Rojas, were married on December 2, 2010, and then moved to Houston. They were baptized in October 2018 at Jersey Village.
They are active in several ministries, including the Spanish Group, Core Civic, and have taught the fifth grade class. They have two children, Alberto, Jr. and Aaron. Alberto was born in Monterey, Mexico, and grew up in a small town with his parents and two older brothers. Alberto runs a family food business with his wife, Carolina. He loves outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing. Alberto especially loves his family and serving at the Jersey Village Church of Christ.
Nick Lockhart
Deacon
Nick was born on the island of Dominica but grew up from the age of 7 on the island of St. Croix US Virgin Islands. He and Melody met while we were both students at rival high schools.
The two were married December 12, 2010 which was a week after they both obeyed the gospel together. Their love for each other and the Lord’s church has only grown since then.
They left our home church in St. Croix in 2012 and moved to Houston and place membership at Jersey Village. The couple has two beautiful children, L’Von 8 and Nichole 6.
Nick is currently the deacon over fellowship which is apart of the Community Growth Ministry.
The love and warmth that radiates from the family here at JV is incredibly welcoming and Melody and Nick are just so grateful and thankful to be a part of this family.
He is honored to serve his family in that capacity.
William Mann
Deacon
William Mann has been a deacon at Jersey Village Church of Christ since March of 2024. He and his wife, Joanne, have been married since November 13th of 2015 and began attending the Jersey Village congregation that same year.
Currently, they have 3 children. William was born in Rockwall, Texas and grew up in Texas and Oklahoma. He has developed his professional career as a 3d CAD designer since 2011 and enjoys spending his free time with his children, exercising, and working on homestead projects. William’s passion lies in his work, his family, and the good works that the Lord has blessed him with.
Ricardo Ochoa
Deacon
Ricardo was born in Guerrero, Mexico and has lived in Houston since 2001. He was baptized in 2008 and married his beloved wife, Sarahi in 2011.
They have been members of Jersey Village Church of Christ since 2013 and after many prayers, God blessed them with two children, Samuel and Aurora.
Ricardo enjoys all kinds of sports including surfing, biking, basketball, soccer, and baseball. His favorite teams are the Houston Astros and the Rockets; and he loves all things Star Wars.
Kyle Survance
Deacon
Kyle was born in Ohio and moved to Houston following high school graduation in 1980.
He married Melissa Caraway in 1992. Kyle and Melissa attended the Lindale Church of
Christ where Melissa’s parents were longtime members and her father Gene was an
elder.
Kyle served as a deacon at Lindale until he and his family moved to the Jersey
Village area and began attending the Jersey Village Church of Christ in 1999. Kyle and Melissa have three children, Kyle Jr. (and his wife, Alisa), Katie, and Kevin, and one grandchild Kyle III.
Kyle has been ministry leader of Communion for 15 years. He continues in that capacity as well as ministry leader of Administration. Kyle enjoys sports, family vacations, spending time with his grandson and being a part of God’s family at Jersey Village.
Luke Williams
Deacon
Lucas R. Williams was born and raised in Houston, TX. He has been happily married to Lynsey for 7 years and is the proud father of three children: Lane, Devyn, and Harlee.
They currently reside in Jersey Village and have been active members of The Church of Christ for the past 7 years.
What We Believe
What We Believe
At the core of our beliefs is that the Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and that every single word within its pages is true. We believe that the Bible gives us all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
We believe that the Bible is God’s love letter to mankind in which He expresses His desire that all men be saved (1 Timothy 2:4).
We believe that once we sin for the first time we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:2) and need to be reconciled back to Him before we can find salvation. We believe that God so loved man that He sent Jesus to die for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). It is the blood of Christ that purchased our freedom, redeemed us, from sin (Ephesians 1:7).
We believe that the Bible says that it is only in Jesus that we find salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6)
We believe that God has directed us to share the saving message of Jesus with the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20).
