The mission of the Vestry is to work with the Rector in advancing our mission.
Its primary responsibilities are to collaborate with the Rector to discern God’s will, to provide the required resources for the advancement of that mission and vision by acting as wise stewards of the church’s finances, and to protect the integrity of the physical plant. On September 18 this year, our congregation approved expanding our vestry to accommodate our ministry growth in the Katy community. Subsequently, our current Vestry, through prayer and discernment, has approved, by acclamation, six new vestry candidates, Debbie Blank, Ana Davila, Doug Eisele, Melissa Fuentes, Von Long, and Chuba Oyeka, as our 2023 Class of the Vestry. Please see below for their biographies to get to know them better.
This being the year we expand the vestry, their positions are as follows:
2023-2025
Ana Davila
Von Long
Chuba Oyeka
2022-2024
Melissa Fuentes
Ben Kayode
Lisa Nelson
2021-2023
Debbie Blank Doug Eisele
Kami Huyse
And with the new class, we must say goodbye to our two outgoing members, Ucheoma Longe and James Tomberlin. We are very grateful for Ucheoma and James's service and look forward to working with them in other ministries.
In Christ,
Alex
Class of 2023 Vestry Members
Ana Davila (2023-2025)
Ana has been a member of COTHA since May 2018. However, she has been attending COTHA since 2009 on and off. She attends with her son Giovanni (6) and mother, Maria.
She is a member of the Family Worship as an Usher and Altar Guild. She also teaches Kindergarten and First Grade during Kids Formation.
Von Long (2023-2025)
Von started attending COTHA in 2018 and joined in 2019. Von serves as a reader and usher, usually at the 8:00 a.m. service. He regularly attends the Men’s Bible Study class, is a member of the Building Team, and assists with our mowing projects. Von also volunteered during last year’s Attack Poverty Project.
Von and his wife Gerlina moved to Katy in 2009. They have two grown daughters, Tiffany and Tessa. Von is retired after working 41 years in the oil and gas industry.
Chuba Oyeka (2023-2025)
Chuba has been a member of COTHA since 2016. He attends with his wife, Ada, and three children Jidenna (5), Bunkenna (3), and Kamsiyonna (1).
He is an Engineer in the oil and gas sector who loves God, spending time with his family, friends, and worshiping with his COTHA family.
Melissa Fuentes (2023-2024)
Melissa first began attending COTHA in 2000 with her husband, Juan. Over the years, their family has grown, and they now attend with their three children, Avery (20), Sterling (17), and Ian (13).
She has been a long-time volunteer in the Children’s Ministry, including chairing VBS and teaching on Sundays. She currently volunteers in Kid’s Formation and serves on the Generosity and Finance Committees.
Melissa began her career in the oil and gas industry; however, she and her husband started a Katy-based landscaping company over 20 years ago, where she currently manages the daily office functions, including accounting and finances.
She also enjoys spending time with her family and goats, along with cooking and baking.
Debbie Blank (2023)
Debbie and her husband, Steve, have attended COTHA since March 1995, when COTHA had its very first service in the cafeteria of West Memorial Junior High School.
She participated in the initial calling campaign to invite those without a church home to our first service.
She is a member of the Mission and Outreach team and has participated in multiple mission trips to Mexico, Uganda, and Guatemala, as well as demolition/rebuilding, trips to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. She is a member of Daughters of the King (DOK), the Stranathan home group, and serves on both the Altar Guild and Usher teams.
She retired in March 2020 and is currently volunteering at the Amazing Place, Houston.
Doug Eisele (2023)
Doug and his wife, Karen, have been members of Holy Apostles since 2001. They have been involved in welcome groups, Alpha, home groups, and missions and outreach. Their children are grown; Ryan and his wife Michelle have a new baby Ezren; Nick is living in Mexico.
Doug has also served on two vestries at Holy Apostles, including a term as Senior Warden. In addition to the vestry, he is on the finance and maintenance committees.
Doug retired after a career in oil and gas, and when not blessing the church, he serves with the Attack Poverty team, manages rental property, refurbishes boats, is an accomplished sailor, and enjoys traveling.