Bro. Raymond Roberson

CARE GROUP: Me-R

Raymond Roberson is the second child of five children, (three sisters and one brother) was born in Wharton, Texas to Will A. Roberson (deceased) and Etherline Roberson. Raymond met Frances when they were in high school at a football game. They have been happily married for over 51 years. He attended George Washington Carver High School and Texas Southern University. He retired from Philip Morris USA after 25 years of service and was one of the first African Americans promoted to sales manager in the Houston area. While there, he won numerous awards, among which was being a member of the Century Club. After retiring from Philip Morris USA, he went to work for Proctor & Gamble and within a short period of time was promoted to Regional Sales Manager, supervising thirty sales representatives the Houston and West Texas area. During his tenure with Proctor & Gamble a two time recipient of the P&G's most prestigious award, The Presidential Club

Bro. Alford Powers

CARE GROUP: J-MC

Alford Neal Powers is the son of the late Lee Milton and Annie Ruth Powers and is the third of seven children. Alford is a native Houstonian, he graduated from Sam Houston High School. He holds an Associates degree from Southwestern Christian College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Abilene Christian University. He is currently employed at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center as a supervisor in their Diagnostic Imaging department. Alford met his wife, Jelka, at church during their college years. Jelka was born in San Antonio, Texas; she is the daughter of Robert and Jessie Woodard, Sr. She worshiped at the Fifth Ward church of Christ while attending the University of Houston. They were friends for several years, their relationship blossomed during their work with the youth at the Fifth Ward congregation. They were married at Fifth Ward and continued to work together in several ministries, which included the Bus Ministry, Couples Ministry, New Converts, and were both Bible school teachers. While at Fifth Ward, four sons were added to their family. While pregnant with their daughter in 1995, they placed membership with the Garden Oaks congregation.”Garden Oaks has been good to us.”

Prior to the loss of Alford’s parents in December 2002 and February 2003, God had added to their family several mothers, May Engelhardt, Jean Jammer and Annie Jones and daughter, Rolanda Wilkins. Since arriving at Garden Oaks, they’ve taken an active part in working with Children’s Bible Hour, the Visitation Ministry, Church Attendance, New Converts, Buildings and Grounds, Thursday Night Bible Class and the church directory. Alford loves photography, and is known for often documenting church and family activities through photographs. Alford is honored to follow in the footsteps of his beloved father, who was an elder at the Fifth Ward church of Christ.

RUTH 1:16&17 - "16 Entreat me not leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people will be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."

Bro. Obdulio Mendoza

CARE GROUP: D-I

Obdulio is oldest of eight children. He was born in Lagunillas SLP Mexico. At the age of 17, he made the decision to move to the United States and settled in Houston. His wife Dora is a native Houstonian. He met Dora through mutual friends and fell in love with her. On December 5, 1978, they were married at a downtown Houston court house. This year they celebrated their 35th anniversary.

Later after marriage, Dora's brother-in-law strongly encouraged them to attend a Pentecostal church. They attended there for about eight months. Later when they moved to the north side of town, one of their neighbors invited them to the Garden Oaks church of Christ. After they heard the gospel, they fell in love with God's word and were baptized on July 22, 1984 by Bro. Francisco Casas, who was the Garden Oaks Spanish minister at that time. Obdulio has been active in a number of ministries here at Garden Oaks. He has served as a bible school teacher. He also served side by side with the late Bill Miller, a former elder at Garden Oaks, doing mission work. During that time, the work at the Iglesia de Cristo in San Pedro de Las Colonias, Mexico began and has grown into a yearly summer mission trip for the youth and adults. He served as our Deacon for six until being installed as one of our Elders and has been serving faithfully until this day.

Obdulio received his education in Mexico. Here in the United States he worked in the farming industry until the age of twenty, where at that point he moved on to plastics and spent twenty-two years in manufacturing. For seven years he worked in international sales as an agent. Through that experience he and his wife Dora were blessed to begin their own business in that field. During their marriage, Dora has served as a homemaker while helping to raise their children.

In their time away from work Obdulio enjoys spending time fishing with his family and going to movies with Dora, of course!!

COLOSSIANS 3:12-14 - 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Bro. Robert "Bob" Johnson

CARE GROUP: B-C

Bob served as deacon of Children’s Bible Hour and taught classes at all ages. In 1998, Bob and Vivian moved their membership to the Garden Oaks church of Christ where he has taught bible classes and has served as deacon over the education ministry. He also used his education in accounting to assist the church in financial matters. Bob is the fourth of six children and has two brothers and three sisters. He is a certified public accountant and a business owner. Vivian is the first of three children. She was a homemaker while her children were in elementary and now works as a registered pharmacist. Bob enjoys reading, music and sports.

GALATIANS 2:20 - I have been crucified for Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I now live by faith in the Son, who loved me and gave himself for me.