Our Pastors

Chris Silard - Senior Pastor

Chris Silard first heard the gospel at age 17, when his cousin told him the good news of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. “I responded to it that same day,” Chris recalls, 33 years later. He became a member of Covenant Life Church in 1982.

Chris joined the Covenant Life pastoral staff in 1996. He provided pastoral care and training for caregroup leaders and their families, oversaw the adoption and children’s ministries, helped to plan parent training, and served on the Covenant Life School board. A gifted speaker, Chris was ordained as a pastor in 2003 and remained on staff until being sent from CLC in 2006 to begin the new Frederick church.

Chris grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. He and Marie have been married since 1983 and have four daughters.

In 2006, Chris and Marie were sent from CLC to Frederick County to plant Sovereign Grace Church of Frederick.

Chris says, “I attribute the growth of our church in this first year to the wisdom of the leadership team that serves with me, the gospel-centered lives of our members, and the grace and favor of God. We’re trying to build a church of people faithful to the gospel in every part of their lives.

“Nobody’s more excited and more amazed at what God has built here in our first year as a church than I am. The abundant grace of God has brought us people who are characterized by their love for God’s Word, their love to serve, their hunger for Christian relationships, and evangelism. We know that anything we accomplish here will only be by God’s favor and mercy. It would not be an overstatement to say that the roots of a gospel-centered community are well underway.”

Trav Neumann - Associate Pastor

Trav Neumann has a successful business background and has been serving in our church since 2006. A graduate of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College, Trav serves as an associate pastor over church administration, helps to provide pastoral care to our members, and shares in the preaching responsibilities. Trav also oversees evangelism, outreach, and ministry development. Trav and his wife Cindy have been married for thirty years and have three children: Julie (29), Ben (26), and Emmie (14).