Meet Our Leadership


PASTOR
Bob & Colleen Fowler
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season...
2 Timothy 4:2 KJV
Pastor Bob was born in Henryetta, Oklahoma and raised in the small farming community of Salem, 7 to 7-1/2 miles southeast of Henryetta. His mother was a school teacher and his father worked for a glass plant & county road crew. There were 4 boys in his family; Tommy Jr. (1951), Tim (1952), Bob (1954), and Joe (1956). Bob went to school 3 years at Salem Elementary School, 9 years at Dewar Public Schools, and graduated from OSU-Okmulgee in 1975. Bob’s childhood heroes were Superman and the Lone Ranger. He says he was most influenced by his mom and dad as a child and his best childhood memory was fishing trips to Mill Creek with his family.
Colleen was born in Warsaw, New York, and raised in Perry, New York about 30 miles from Niagara Falls. Her family moved to Tulsa, OK when she was 14. Her mother was a home maker and her father was a musician and a factory worker. There were 3 girls in her family; Cathy (1950), Colleen (1959), and Kellie (1966). Colleen’s schooling includes K-6 at Perry Elementary School, 7-9th at Perry high School, 10 – 12th Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, and Oklahoma Baptist University. Her childhood heroes were Marcus Welby and John F. Kennedy. Her dad and grandparents had the most influence on her and her most memorable childhood experience was moving to Oklahoma from New York.
They met at Falls Creek Youth Camp August 3rd, 1976 and got married June 24th, 1978. They celebrated their 32th Anniversary this year (2010). They have two sons; Robby & Jarrod. Robby is married to Sabrina (their daughter-in-love) and have two children, Gwenny and Noah.
In 2007 Bro. Bob and Colleen became House-Parents at the Oklahoma Lions Boys Ranch in Perkins and have parented over 30 young men ages 12 – 18. Bob’s hobbies include Golf and OU Football while Colleen loves to Quilt and Cook!
Together the Fowler’s have served as Volunteer missionaries to Mexico since 1990.
When asked how they came to Tryon they said that after working for the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board as Church planters for 3 years, they took a 22 month respite and then God opened the door for them to come to Tryon. Bob actually just came to fill in preaching one Sunday and it was a divine appointment. Two months later (March 13, 2005) he was called as Pastor. (Colleen was on a Mission trip to Mexico at the time translating; the last to know!)
Their most memorable experience as adults? They said, “We have served as Missionaries in Mexico and really feel that God used that experience to Grow us in HIM as well as bringing us closer as a couple. It can be very lonely in a foreign country and you become Best friends as well as co-laborers with Christ.”
What are their plans for the future? Bob said, “There is a saying that…(old preachers never retire.. they just become evangelists! ) I hope to keep serving God any way I can, here or in Mexico or wherever he sends us.” Colleen said, “I would like to retire to Mexico and teach English as a second language.”
Their plans for our church, “I would love to see the youth and young adult program grow and see more of our members taking an active part in Worship and Evangelism.”





DEACONS MINISTRY
Howard Tarlton
Jim Cameron
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 3:13 KJV




MUSIC MINISTRY
Mark Skinner
Praise Ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song... Psalm 149:1 KJV