The first time Katie and I visited the state of Texas was in December of 2004. We had only been married a few months. When he was in Bowling Green, KY, for a meeting, Brother Bowman asked if I was interested in the preaching program at Southside. I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do. In fact, I had prayed regularly for the opportunity. I’m so glad we came.

May 28, 2004, the day we moved in to our Pasadena apartment, seems like the distant past to me now. I need to explain what I mean by that. In one sense, these two years have flown by. I can’t believe it is already time to leave. On the other hand, Katie and I are such different people now than when we first came that it is hard for me to remember what we were like two years ago. For that reason, two years ago seems like a different life altogether. We have grown up a bit, and you were an important part of that growth. The Southside church is a special group. I wish I had the space to tell each of you how you have impacted my life—you certainly deserve such recognition.

The older people at Southside lovingly offered helpful criticism of my preaching. I think I finally talk slow enough for Brother Stover to follow me now. You make much-needed comments in Bible class. You remind us of the importance of maintaining sound doctrine. Our elders are men of great faith who do their job well. Our older members show us how to live with joy and contentment even when health fails, when pain becomes a part of everyday life, and when death takes away loved ones. Some of you can hardly walk, but you love God’s people, and do what it takes to be at church services. What an example for all of us. What an example for me.

The young adult and middle-age members at Southside are a hard group to write about, because there are a lot of you who do so much good, and we are so close to many of you. I could write pages about how much you mean to us. You made sure we felt accepted and loved. You invited us into your homes regularly. You are good Christians who seek first the kingdom of God. Thanks for being there for us. You have been a blessing in our lives.

I love the young people at Southside. You look out for each other. You care about each other. You teach each other. You are not afraid to teach your friends at school. Two of your school friends have recently become your brothers in Christ. Our young people are “an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12 LBX). You have remembered “your Creator in the days of your youth.” I wish I would have been more like you when I was your age. Thanks, young people, for being my friend. One more thing, “honor your father and mother,” they make great sacrifices for you. They do things that a lot of other parents wouldn’t do for their children. They are responsible for who you are today.

I’ll miss working with Dee and Bubba. Bubba is the first thing I think about when I read James 1:19 LBX, “…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” He always appears to be in complete control of himself. He chooses his words thoughtfully and carefully. I wish I could keep my mouth closed and listen as well as he does. Bubba is a patient person— except when the printer jams. Bubba has helped me in so many ways over this two year period, and I can’t thank him enough for the difference he has made in my life. Thanks, Bubba.

I know Dee says he better associates with the apostle Peter, but he seems more like the apostle Paul to me. He has spent countless hours traveling the globe preaching the gospel. He has devoted years of his life training young men like myself to become effective gospel preachers. In fact, I would guess that he has actually spent more time doing these things than the apostle Paul. Paul was stuck in prison at times, and he never had an airplane to get from Antioch to Corinth. It is clear that Paul helped young men such as Timothy and Titus, but I’m not sure he was able to spend a significant amount of time training 14 young men as preachers of the gospel, he had other duties to fulfill as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not trying to raise Brother Bowman above the apostle Paul. Paul was an inspired authored who penned a majority of the New Testament. But we need to understand that the story of Dee Bowman’s life is similar to the stories we read in the Bible. He is a man of great faith and devotion. He has taken the talents and abilities God gave him, and used them for the glory of God. He is a man who has changed the lives of countless individuals, and pointed them toward the cross of Jesus Christ. I am blessed that God allowed me to sit at Dee’s feet these two years. He not only taught me how to be a better preacher, he taught me how to be a better Christian. Thanks, Dee.

I didn’t originally intend for my last article to look like one of Rickie Jenkins' lecture introductions. I had planned to write about what I learned while I was here, and, in a way, I still did that. Dee always reminded me, “don’t forget about the people.” We won’t forget about the Southside church of Christ. Katie and I will miss you—all of you. Thanks for who you are, and what you have done. God be with you till we meet again.