Do you recall how you learned to use your Bible? Who taught you?
If you grew up in First Presbyterian Church (FPC) in the last 20 years, it’s likely Kim Bowers taught you how to use your Bible during the annual Third Grade Bibles class.
The mission of FPC is to make and mature disciples for Christ. Part of the way we work toward that mission is by introducing our children to Jesus and to faith in age-appropriate ways as they grow and mature.
Third Grade Bibles
“Kim has been an incredible, loyal volunteer, and leader of third grade bibles for 20 years,” says Anna Butler, Children’s Ministry Director. “She makes Third Grade Bibles a program kids look forward to attending. Her enthusiasm, joy, and love for the Lord is contagious to all the kids that she interacts with at FPC.”
Bowers, a longtime FPC member, says she began teaching the class with Rev. Cecelia Moore Wilhite in 2005 and has taught it each year since, even during the pandemic.
“The class is different every year,” Bowers says, “It’s important to listen to the Holy Spirit and be willing to be fluid and to change things up.”
She says she tells the participants each year that the Table of Contents in their Bibles are their best friends, and she has former participants who are grown still answer “What is your best friend?” with “the Table of Contents.”
Each year, at the culmination of the class, participants receive their own Bible with their name engraved on it.
She answers questions the children bring to the class. “Third graders are very literal,” she says. “You learn to rephrase things and tweak the class. I’ve learned to listen to the Holy Spirit. We talk about how the Bible was written, about what ‘inspired’ means, what it means to be in the Spirit, and how to let their light shine.”
When they receive their Bibles, Bowers has the children remove the Bibles from the boxes and throw the boxes on the floor. “Bibles don’t belong in boxes.”
“I have a visual timeline for them (the kids) to help,” she says. “I try to teach to every learning style and to say things over and over again. God believes we are beautiful. God made them and he doesn’t make crap.”
Role Models
Each year, the third graders have a scavenger hunt using books of the Bible made by the late John Moore and the late David Royal. “These were doctors who showed up for VBS to put bandaids on knees. They also sat in the craft room and wrapped empty cereal boxes to create books from the Bible.”
Bowers tells stories of both Trudy West and Rowena Tebbe. “These are the giants whose shoulders I stand on,” she says. “I want to be Rowena Tebbe when I grow up.”
She shares that she once told Tebbe about a desire to leave a service role she held within the church. Tebbe asked if God had called her elsewhere and said until God called her out of it, she was in it.
“These are the people who showed me servant leadership,” Bowers says. “You do what you can do, even if it’s just wrapping cereal boxes. Twenty years later, and we are still using them.”
Continuing Involvement
Bowers does not limit her service to the Third Grade Bible program. She volunteers with the Surrender Youth Group where she is referred to as Mama Kim. She also volunteers each year with Vacation Bible School, dressing in a different costume each day of the week, reflecting the VBS theme.
“I want to help people to become more biblically literate,” she says. “I still get nervous which leaves room for the Holy Spirit. I still get nervous doing third grade Bibles. I stress about all of the little things. It’s very humbling.”
Tim Timmes, College and Young Adult Ministries Director, worked with Bowers for years when he was working with the Surrender Youth. “I had no idea a volunteer like Kim
Bowers even existed,” he says. “I simply cannot express in words how highly I think of her. Kim’s dedication and enthusiasm go beyond anything a ministry could ever hope for or expect.”
“As a small group leader—and in every role she takes on—she is truly exceptional,” Timmes continues. “Kim has a unique ability to connect with teenagers, speaking their language while sharing biblical truths in a way that’s both relevant and applicable to everyday life. Whether helping at VBS, Student Life, BSF, Women’s Ministries, and so-much-more, she’s the best of the best. And the most incredible part? Kim’s been doing this for nearly 20 years!”
Bowers is moving into women’s ministries as she says she is interested in intergenerational interactions. “I don’t know what’s next, but I’m available to help. Ninety percent of ministry is not fun. You do the hard work and then say, ‘ok, God, you’ve got the rest.’”