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.”

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.

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.