The Rev. Craig Bowers named pastor at Wynnbrook Baptist

Craig Bowers was living his dream.

He was in college preparing for a military career he had considered since falling in love with JROTC early in high school. He was a member of a nationally acclaimed rifle drill team.

But something was missing.

Looking back, the new pastor at Wynnbrook Baptist Church in Columbus said his spirit was not at peace.

This week, he recalled a night that changed his life.

Bowers said he was resting in his bunk when he said, "Lord, I don't understand why I don't have peace."

"I realized I had never asked the Lord what he wanted me to do," he said.

When Bowers did, something fascinating happened. He said a flood of people's faces and comments from the past he had dismissed until that moment flashed before him, including people who had told him "God's hand is on you."

"I asked the Lord if he wanted me to be a pastor and I felt that affirmation," the reverend said.

The young Bowers visited a pastor at his home church in Griffin, Ga., to tell him about his idea of becoming a preacher. The pastor surprised him by saying, "Craig, if you can do anything else and be happy, that is what you need to do."

Bowers decided he could not.

He said his parents were not Christians at the time and he did not know how his father would react.

Bowers delivered the news at the kitchen table. His father surprised him by saying, "You need to do what God wants you to do."

Bowers changed schools and earned a degree in computer science from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., then added degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and Southern Baptist School for Biblical Studies in Jacksonville, Fla.

The 55-year-old Georgia native began preaching at Wynnbrook Baptist on Aug. 3 after having served for a little more than 13 years as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Locust Grove in Locust Grove, Ga.

Locust Grove, a town of fewer than 10,000 people in Henry County, is about 36 miles southeast of Atlanta.

A minister for 29 years, other stops include Carver Road Baptist Church in Griffin, Ga., and Rowland Hills Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Ga.

His wife of 31 years is Belinda. They have three grown children, Stephen, Bryan and Jenni.

Bowers heard about the job opening through a fellow pastor.

"He asked me if I had heard about Wynnbrook," he said. "My wife and I were in town visiting my son and decided to visit the church. Before we even got up the driveway, before we ever saw the building, we stopped and prayed. We felt a real sense of peace. We were comfortable in Locust Grove but just knew the Lord was going to do something."

Bowers said he has been impressed with Columbus. He has enjoyed the Market Days on Broadway on Saturday morning and the community atmosphere it creates. He has also enjoyed walking on the Chattahoochee RiverWalk and called the Columbus Library "incredible."

He said he has been impressed by how engaged and active Wynnbrook members are in church activities, even the elderly.

"They have been incredibly friendly," Bowers said.

At Wynnbrook, Bowers believes he is at a church strategically positioned in Columbus to make a profound difference.

"Our goal is to make Jesus known and to share his love in this community," he said.

He said there are some very talented people in the church, and Wynnbrook will utilize its resources to advance the kingdom of God.

"We want to strive to meet the needs of the people," Bowers said.

Wynnbrook is currently involved with mission work at Valley Rescue Mission and Columbus Baptist Association.

Bowers said he is still learning about Wynnbrook Christian School, which has 66 students enrolled in grades K-8, and Wynnbrook Christian Preschool, which he said has about 130-140 children.

He said he has no agenda for the church, which was founded in 1928, other than building onto the history of those who have come before him.

"We want to make sure we are a bright light for the Gospel," he said,

Bowers said he loves to preach and has a passion for teaching the Scriptures.

In his free time, he loves to play golf, though he says he's not very good. Bowers smiled and said he can enjoy golf because he does not take it too seriously. Other than church material, he loves to read biographies of people who have made a significant difference.

Bowers said Wynnbrook has about 500 members, and new ones are welcome.

"If people are looking for a biblically grounded and Christ-centered church and don't already have one, they can come worship with us."

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 11:29 PM with the headline "The Rev. Craig Bowers named pastor at Wynnbrook Baptist ."