Pastor Darryl B. Bowdre,  Author

10/7/2018

I have been writing almost ever since I learned to hold a big # 3 pencil on a Big Chief tablet. In

each and every one of my 44 years in the ministry, throughout all 3 churches I have preached

for and the one where I was an assistant, I have written an article for the church bulletin. A few

months ago, I hit a block. For the first time in over four decades I hit a spell of time in which I

literally couldn’t and wouldn’t write to my church. It’s not that we don’t talk, and Lord knows

you hear from me in other ways and through other mediums of communication. However for

that point and length of time—believe it or not—words escaped me.

My writer’s block could have been caused by anything, and most likely it was a combination

of things from personal to my mind being overloaded with the community issues I am

entrenched in at present. Or—it could be that I was due for a break from certain taxing things

after serving and enjoying public life as a city councilman.

In some kind of way, I believe I’ve found my written voice, but have decided that after 44

years (the last 20 at SouthCentral), maybe I shouldn't do this penning of the SouthCentral story

all by myself. As you know, I don’t mind thinking outside of the box, coloring outside the lines

and trying the different and non-simple. Consequently, I am enlisting the aid and assistance of

the gifted and talented writers within the church family. A couple of you have already been

drafted, others I am asking to volunteer before I draft you! Granted, writing is a gift and for

most it is hard work. But—we are here to help and complement one another.

I want to turn the next generation of our church publication into a digital newsletter that is

unique to us and totally SouthCentral Church. I want to our leaders, ministry leaders, ICU’s,

young people in the church and even the little children. I, of course, will continue to edit it, but

making it an inclusive effort can yield some unbelievable and unforgettable results. I see this

thing growing and taking on life of its own with photographers and poets, artists and graphic

artists sharing their given gifts and talents.

A NEW NAME…

For 20 years our bulletin has been known as THE SKYLIGHT. In my ministry I have always

developed the name of the church bulletin around some central or prominent physical thing

about the church building. (At North Tenneha, it was The Steeple. Here at SouthCentral, the

Skylight seemed appropriate because of its location in the sanctuary. Now, however, I have

decided to leave our old format as it is and start all over with a new and fresh name and

approach. The Skylight (1998-2018)

“COLUMNS” seems a more than appropriate heading under which to continue the story of

SouthCentral Church of Christ from this point—and who knows what we will do after that?