Church Leadership Team
June 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for your prayers, fasting and patience as, across the church, Ministry Leaders, Evangelists, Core Group Leaders from every region, NYCCOC Board representatives and the Elders worked together to explore and select leaders for a new model of senior church leadership: A multi-couple collaborative leadership model for our Congregation, which is made up of 10 Regional ministries located all over the NY & NJ metropolitan areas, replacing our single-couple leadership model.
Earlier this year, we informed all of you about our six months of research, evaluation, and seeking God’s wisdom, starting back in September 2024. Leading to a “interview and selection” process, which began in March 2025. This selection process focused on five current Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader couples, as chosen by the Ministry Staff and Elders. For more details about our process, please visit www.nyccoc.net/leadership to watch a helpful video.
After two months of Spirit guided, collaborative work, our “interview and selection” process has reached its conclusion; Three couples have been selected to serve on the Church’s Leadership team: Here are the couples that will be serving in this new Leadership group;
- Maurice and Lauren Hooks (Bronx)
- John and Arlene Markowski (Big Apple – Manhattan)
- John and Tiffany Rotio (Hudson Valley)
Please join us in praying for God’s loving kindness, his guidance & wisdom and empowering Spirit for these couples and the church, in our transition to this new leadership structure.
We thank the other nominees, the Murdocks, who lead in New Jersey and the Serras, who lead the Spanish-speaking ministry, for their hearts and willingness to serve in this group. We would also like to thank the members of the Interim leadership group that provided engaged and needed leadership over the past year and a half.
We end this announcement with a reflection on Isaiah 43:16,19 NIV:
“… This is what the LORD says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, [19] See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland….”
In His Service, The Elders of the NYC Church of Christ
March 2025
To the NYC Church of Christ,
As you may know, our church has been undergoing a season of exploration and transition in leadership since Sam Powell’s retirement from the lead evangelist position last year. We are deeply grateful for your prayers and ask that you continue to lift up this process before the Lord.
After months of research, evaluation, and seeking God’s wisdom, we have established an interview process involving five current Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader couples. Through this process, we will discern and select three couples to serve as the new leadership team for our church, replacing our former single-couple leadership model.
The five candidates being considered for the new Leadership Team are:
• John and Tiffany Rotio – Hudson Valley Region
• John and Arlene Markowski – Big Apple Region
• Maurice and Lauren Hooks – Bronx Region
• Russ and Seri Murdock – New Jersey Region
• Sebastian and Sarai Serra – Leaders of our Spanish-Speaking Ministry
We ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and your continued support as we move forward with this important step. The interview process will take place throughout the spring, and we trust that God will lead us to the right team to lead His Church with wisdom, humility, and love.
As we enter this new chapter of our church’s journey, we would like to ask the entire New York City Church of Christ to join together for a Day of Prayer, and for those who are able Prayer and Fasting, on Monday, March 31.
Thank you for your faith, prayers, and commitment to the body of Christ.
In His Service, The Elders of the NYC Church of Christ