Born and raised as a part of a large family on a farm in rural Pickens County near the town of Six Mile, SC, Rev. Bowers feels very much "at home" in the Jacksons Grove community. His path into ministry was paved with the influences of a Christian home and several churches of a variety of denominations. Baptized as a teenager in Lawrence Chapel United Methodist Church (a church much like Jacksons Grove in size and setting), Rev. Bowers accepted a call to full time Christian service. He attended Spartanburg Methodist College, Wofford College (both in Spartanburg, SC) and Candler School of Theology of Emory University in Atlanta GA. After serving as pastor of churches in Eutawville, Vance, Lake View and Dillon, SC, Rev. Bowers was selected and appointed in 1982 as Chaplain and professor of religion at Spartanburg Methodist College – a roll he filled for more than 12 years. Rev. Bowers continues to serve under appointment at Spartanburg Methodist College as its Director of Gift Planning. In addition, Rev. Bowers served as a Chaplain for more than 20 years in the South Carolina Army National Guard. In 2001, Rev. Bowers entered the Retired Reserves with the rank of LTC. His hobbies include woodworking, fishing, reading, watching Andy Griffith reruns and searching for rustic antiques. Rev. Bowers is married to Ella Mae Ackerman Bowers of Walterboro, SC and they have a son named Michael. They recently built a log cabin beside a pond on a tree farm in Wellford, SC, where they live with two stray dogs and a cat named "Arnold."