Our Elders
James Choi
Lead Pastor
Pastor James was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to America at seven years of age when his non-Christian parents sent him to America to achieve the “American Dream.” But God had other plans…to eventually, save him and call him into pastoral ministry.
He holds degrees from the University of Florida (Bachelor of Arts), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Theology), and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Christian Ministry at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
James has served as a youth pastor in Dallas from 2005 to 2008 and has served as an associate pastor at Global Mission Church in Silver Spring, MD from 2008 to 2015. Recently, he served as one of the elders at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C from 2017-2020, after completing CHBC’s Pastoral Internship in Spring 2015. In addition, James worked as a church planting catalyst at the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and North American Mission Board from 2017 to 2020, where he helped local churches develop and deploy church planters.
James is passionate about the Gospel, expositional preaching, healthy churches, reading Spurgeon, raising up the next generation through discipleship, and good coffee. His favorite food is Korean, Tex-Mex, and BBQ. He resides in Rockville, MD with his wife Jeri and their three young children.
Contact: elders@newcovbap.church
Jacob Halle
ELDER
Jacob grew up in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh, where he lived and worked until moving with his family to Maryland in 2017 after prayerfully deciding to support the planting of New Covenant Baptist Church.
Jacob graduated with an economics degree from Washington and Jefferson College, which is also where he met his wife Emily. And he holds a Masters of Divinity (M. Div.) degree from Moody Theological Seminary.
Before moving to Maryland, Jacob worked for a local community center providing education, social services, and financial training for "at-risk" communities. He now works as now in IT Project Management at 2 Twelve Solutions.
Jacob is passionate about Bible teaching and discipleship, and he and Emily love hospitality. Jacob loves working out and being outdoors. And of course, he's a Pittsburgh sports fan. He lives with his wife and four children in Silver Spring.
Contact: elders@newcovbap.church
WHAT—is an ELDER?
QUALIFIED, RECOGNIZED, AFFIRMED: An elder is a man who (i) meets the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9, (ii) is recognized by his congregation as an elder, (iii) and leads the congregation by teaching the Word (1 Tim. 3:2), praying for the sheep (Jas. 5:14), and overseeing the affairs of the church (1 Pet. 5:2).
OVERSEER, SHEPHERD, PASTOR: An elder must watch over the flock. He must instruct all the sheep, strengthen the weak ones, guard the vulnerable ones, rebuke the obstinate ones, and bear with the difficult ones (2 Tim. 2:24-25; Acts 20:28; 1 Thess. 5:14). An elder watches over the members of his church as one who will give an account to God (Heb. 13:17)
PLURALITY: In the New Testament, local churches consistently have a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23, 20:17; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 5:17; Jas. 5:14). Christ, the Chief Shepherd, means to care for his flock through a number of godly men who together teach, guard, guide, protect, and love the sheep. This means that every local church, following the leadership of their pastor, should look out for men who are already doing the work of an elder and appoint them to the office.
