Scott Hesler
Scott Hesler
In California, during the Jesus Movement of the 1970’s, thirteen-year-old Scott Hesler made a decision to follow Christ. He was the first in his family to come to Christ, followed quickly by his parents and sister. So profound was the impact, two years later he made the decision to be a pastor at Forest Home Conference Center in the mountains above LA.
During his school years Scott worked various blue collar jobs (drill press operator, assembly line worker, watermelon picker, construction worker, warehouse stock boy – even working a salmon season in Alaska). He is a graduate of Taylor University in 1979 (BA in Christian Education) and Dallas Theological Seminary in 1983 (ThM in Christian Education). Since 1983, Scott has worked as a youth pastor in California, a volunteer area director for Young Life, a leader in Surfing Expeditions and Adventures, a church growth consultant and national director in Australia for Church Resource Ministries, English pastor in a Chinese church (Silver Spring, Maryland), and interim pastor in Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.
Since 2006 he has enjoyed teaching God’s word and equipping leaders here at PBC. Throughout his life Scott has been involved in overseas missions in places like Nigeria, Mexico, China, Russia, and more recently, has helped PBC develop a long-term relationship with a network of 200+ pastors in Malawi, Africa.
The primary joy of Scott’s life is his family. In 1984 he married Laurie, who has wisdom, discernment, and a heart for the disadvantaged. Laurie has a Marriage and Family Therapist license and is trained as an Art Therapist. Scott and Laurie have four children: Kaleigh (1987), Elissa (1990), Hayden (1995), and Matthew, whom they adopted from China in 2006.
Wes Rihani
Wes Rihani
Wanies (Wes) Rihani was born in Amman, Jordan in a Christian home where his father pastored an evangelical church. He accepted Christ as his personal savoir at age 10 and was baptized at age 11 at a youth camp. His family immigrated to Chicago, Illinois where his father pastored an inner city church. During this time, Wes was heavily involved in the local youth group at his church and was as an elected youth representative for his district.
After college, Wes took on church responsibilities including Youth Group Director and Church Business Manager and was elected to the Chicago Nazarene District Finance Committee. As his father’s health began to weaken, Wes’s spiritual leadership role in the church grew to include teaching and unofficial pastoral responsibilities. When Rev. Rihani went to be with the Lord, Wes shared pastoral responsibilities in the church for over five years while they searched for a replacement pastor. During this time God led Wes to Rita and they served together in Chicago and were blessed with Nathan and Grace, gifts from God!
Wes and his family relocated to the DC area because of work opportunities. They have a passion and heart for evangelizing and witnessing to their friends and neighbors. The vision and passion for ministry to the entire family and the biblically sound teachings drew the Rihani family to PBC.
William Thayer
William Thayer
William Thayer grew up as a military brat, living all over the United States and some overseas. He was raised in a Christian home and became a follower of Christ by age 11. Participating in men’s Bible studies during his teenage years kindled his love for the Lord and God’s Word. During that time, William helped start up two ministries for the high school youth in Del Rio, TX, to share the power of God’s Word with his peers.
Following his time in Texas, William moved with his family to Florida, where he pursued engineering at the University of West Florida. During that time, he participated in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), serving as the student chapter president, leading small groups, and organizing campus evangelism and outreach events. After college, William began a career as an electrical engineer in Palm Bay, FL. During that time, William married Megan (2007). They then began serving in various ministries at their church, including leading the high school youth group for 8 years, teaching adult Sunday school, and occasionally preaching in the Sunday service.
In October 2016, after 10 years in Palm Bay, God brought them to Herndon, VA, and Potomac Baptist Church (PBC). They have served at PBC ever since, leading Bible studies, serving in the young adults ministry, music, and various outreaches. William was ordained as an elder at the end of 2024. He loves studying and teaching God’s Word and church history. Outside of church, William continues to work as an engineer and is also completing a seminary degree. William and Megan are blessed to have his grandmother living with them and have recently adopted a son, Moses (born 2024).
Chris Thulin
Chris Thulin
I was very fortunate to have been born into a Christian home. My parents’ faithfulness to God in the face of my mother’s severe health problems, which began when she was pregnant with me, was a great example growing up. I decided to follow Christ at age 10. My wife and I met in college and married right after graduating. We have been active in church life, and our daily walk with God has flourished here at Potomac Baptist Church (PBC). It is a blessing to be part of this church family!
My day job was working with and analyzing numbers as a CPA. I have served on the Stewardship committee here at PBC and on the Usher/Greeter Committee for many years. I lead Connect Groups and am on the men’s ministry leadership team. In addition, I have served on the Missions Committee and served 5 years as a deacon. I went through extensive training and became an ordained Elder in December 2023.
I believe my calling to serve as an elder is a result of being willing to serve God and believing that He will equip me as required. The other men leading at PBC all have a passion for Biblical teaching and following God’s direction, so it is an honor to serve with them.
Franc Arias
Franc Arias
Franc was born and raised in New York City, the youngest child of immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic. Although he grew up believing in the existence of God, he had no knowledge of the gospel. After marrying and having two children, circumstances led Franc and his wife Jorhely to decide to move to the Washington, DC area. During a very trying moving experience, they were led to pray and ask God for help, even though neither of them knew him personally. When He provided for them and allowed them to complete their move to Sterling, VA, they decided to start attending church and settled on Potomac Baptist Church. It was at PBC that the Lord revealed Himself to both of them and they committed their lives to Christ.
Franc found his passion serving in the Youth Ministry at PBC starting in 2005. Coming to Christ later in life grew in him a passion to help young people discover the goodness and satisfaction that only Jesus can provide. During his time as a youth leader, Franc taught Sunday School lessons, joined them on missions trips, and led discipleship groups. He continued to serve there for over 10 years before receiving the call to become an elder. In 2016, he was ordained as a elder, and has continued to serve in this capacity since then.
Franc works full time for Siemens Building Technologies as an Operations Supervisor. He has been married to Jorhely since 1994 and they have a daughter (Rio, born in 1997) and a son (Alex, born in 1998).
