H7 Story: Equipped to Serve the Church
By Jonathan Bowlin
Jonathan Bowlin has grown up at FCC and has been part of our church family for as long as he can remember. Like many who were raised here, he has served in countless ways—through ministries, events, and weekly gatherings. From Sunday morning worship to kids’ and student environments, to the behind-the-scenes work of volunteers, Jonathan has experienced the heartbeat of FCC at every level.
Recently, he attended Next Steps, where he gained a fresh perspective on the organization and care that make FCC thrive. Below, Jonathan shares his reflections in his own words.
Hello! I’m Jonathan Bowlin, and I have attended FCC for all 19 years of my life. I saw myself as someone very familiar with all things FCC, so I never thought that Next Steps would be helpful for me. I thought Next Steps was mostly geared toward those who are new to FCC, and since I didn't fit in that box, it wasn't important for me to go. However, after some encouragement from other FCC members, I decided to give it a try.
At Next Steps, we simply walked through our seven habits. I learned that each of our seven habits is a clear template for how FCC believes Christians should live. We all watched one video for each habit. The video explained why that habit comes from scripture, and it then described the resources that FCC has provided for that habit to be applied to life. For instance, Christians need to connect in a small group, so FCC has provided Life Groups, Regeneration Recovery, 180-Small Groups, and Foundations for this habit to be applied. I was able to learn that FCC ministries aren't just random. Each ministry is strategically applied to give our members the ability to live out the Seven Habits.
Through Next Steps, I clearly saw FCC's strategic application of each ministry in order to be an effective, biblical, and well-rounded church that equips Christians with all they need to live as scripture commands.
The things I learned in Next Steps were helpful to me for two main reasons. First, understanding the why behind everything FCC does has equipped me to serve the church more effectively. Second, it gave me a greater sense of clarity and organization. For most of my life, I’ve seen FCC from the ground level, but Next Steps provided me with a bird’s-eye view that made everything feel more purposeful. I’m so grateful I went through Next Steps—and honestly, I wish I had done it much sooner!
Recently, he attended Next Steps, where he gained a fresh perspective on the organization and care that make FCC thrive. Below, Jonathan shares his reflections in his own words.
Hello! I’m Jonathan Bowlin, and I have attended FCC for all 19 years of my life. I saw myself as someone very familiar with all things FCC, so I never thought that Next Steps would be helpful for me. I thought Next Steps was mostly geared toward those who are new to FCC, and since I didn't fit in that box, it wasn't important for me to go. However, after some encouragement from other FCC members, I decided to give it a try.
At Next Steps, we simply walked through our seven habits. I learned that each of our seven habits is a clear template for how FCC believes Christians should live. We all watched one video for each habit. The video explained why that habit comes from scripture, and it then described the resources that FCC has provided for that habit to be applied to life. For instance, Christians need to connect in a small group, so FCC has provided Life Groups, Regeneration Recovery, 180-Small Groups, and Foundations for this habit to be applied. I was able to learn that FCC ministries aren't just random. Each ministry is strategically applied to give our members the ability to live out the Seven Habits.
Through Next Steps, I clearly saw FCC's strategic application of each ministry in order to be an effective, biblical, and well-rounded church that equips Christians with all they need to live as scripture commands.
The things I learned in Next Steps were helpful to me for two main reasons. First, understanding the why behind everything FCC does has equipped me to serve the church more effectively. Second, it gave me a greater sense of clarity and organization. For most of my life, I’ve seen FCC from the ground level, but Next Steps provided me with a bird’s-eye view that made everything feel more purposeful. I’m so grateful I went through Next Steps—and honestly, I wish I had done it much sooner!
Posted in Tell the Story