Last month, Dr. Brian Stowe became the new senior pastor at Plant City’s First Baptist Church. It’s a job he never sought out himself. But, it’s funny how some things just work themselves out.
Something just wasn’t right. Brian Stowe could feel it in his gut. Still, he left for work.
Driving for more than an hour, the feeling only got worse. Throughout the day, the incessant emotion kept gnawing at his insides. It became so distracting, he went home early.
Stowe can tell you the exact spot on Highway 400 South in Georgia where God spoke to him.
As the feeling ticked inside Stowe, he asked God what was going on.
Speak to me.
In a tiny, quiet voice, God did speak.
You’re called into full-time service.
Since then, Stowe has devoted his life to his faith. Among other posts, Stowe was the pastor at Maysville Baptist Church, in Georgia. He is now the newest pastor at Plant City’s First Baptist Church.
Stowe’s first day was in December. But, it wasn’t an easy road to get here. In fact, the road to Florida was much like the day of his calling.
ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER
Stowe never was seeking out a new job.
It came to him.
At lunch with a pastor friend last summer, Stowe was first introduced to the church in Florida. His friend knew of the job opening, telling Stowe he would be perfect.
Stowe told him he wasn’t going to apply. But, if his friend prayed and still felt compelled to submit his name, then he could.
“It was never on my radar screen,” Stowe said. “But, it was one thing after another.”
His friend eventually passed Stowe’s name onto the First Baptist’s pastor search committee. But, Stowe didn’t know it until one fateful day. He had a strange urge that something big was going to happen.
He began to pray to God in his church office.
Send me a sign.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed. His friend had sent him a text.
I submitted your name.
Within days, Stowe was asked for a biography, then a résumé.
“He is extremely genuine,” said Coleman Davis, chairman of the pastor search committee. “He is the real deal, as far as I’m concerned. He’s full of energy and full of love for the people.”
“God made it clear to me where I needed to be, and He confirmed it with my wife and children,” Stowe said.
That was last June. By October, he was visiting Plant City to meet the congregation as the final stage of approval.
THE CALLING
Stowe spent his childhood in a place similar to Plant City. He grew up in a small rural town outside of Atlanta. There were only 56 people in his high school graduating class.
It was in the middle of earning his college degree that he heard God’s call. Stowe was an undergraduate at the Georgia Institute of Technology, studying to become a mechanical engineer.
“I knew that I wasn’t going to be a mechanical engineer anymore,” Stowe said. “God had called me.”
Stowe continued his education at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, Texas. At the same time, he married his wife, Bonnie. Stowe also served as a youth ministry intern at First Baptist Dallas while attending Southwestern. Later, he earned his doctoral degree of ministry in 2005, from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Wake Forest, N.C.
From there, the couple went to Nixa, Mo., where Stowe served from 1995 to 1997, as senior pastor at Fremont Hills Baptist Church.
But, it was his position at Maysville Baptist Church where the family of six spent the bulk of their time. Stowe led the congregation of Maysville for 16 years, as it expanded and later moved from the building it had inhabited since 1879.
“We were not tied to a building or location,” Stowe said. “We were tied to a commission from God.”
MEMORIES TRAVEL
Stowe’s goals for Plant City’s First Baptist Church are rooted in two “Greats.” The first is the commandment to love Jesus, love your neighbors and love yourself. The second is the commission to make disciples of all nations and share the gospel.
“That’s what we are,” Stowe said. “How we do it will always change.”
Eventually, Stowe predicts growth. Like Maysville, Plant City’s First Baptist Church has been at its current location in Historic Downtown for some time. But the church owns a 100-acre plot south of town on James L. Redman Parkway.
“I envision that the church will relocate there one day,” Stowe said. “It’s definitely a key part of our future.
“We all have those special places with memories attached to a location,” Stowe said. “Memories will go with us, because the church will always be there.”
Stowe left many memories behind in Georgia. His children — Sarah, 16, Hannah, 14, Andrew, 9, and Elizabeth, 2 — also had to make sacrifices.
“Even though they were comfortable with us moving, it doesn’t mean it was easy,” Stowe said. “But, we knew this is where we need to be.
“Everyone has been overwhelmingly welcoming,” Stowe said of his new home.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.