GREENEVILLE – As Tusculum University family members remembered the Christian walk exhibited by a well-respected businessman, they celebrated at a special event how students will grow spiritually during their studies in a house that now bears his name.
Tusculum’s Christian Leadership Institute held a ceremony on campus Friday, Oct. 3, to mark the naming of The Bowlin House in memory of Chuck Bowlin. Male Tusculum students who are part of the institute’s Discipleship Living-Learning Center reside in the house, which is located adjacent to the Meen Center and Ballad Health’s Center for Early Learning. The center also features a second house for females located on the other end of campus.
Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, said this dedication is significant for the university.
“We know that our students are going to receive an outstanding education,” he said. “We know they are going to be career-ready at the end of their studies. But that is not enough for us. We want to invest in the lives of our students spiritually as well. We want them not only to become better citizens but better people and better disciples and to grow in their faith as part of their Tusculum experience. We believe that these houses are very much going to do that.”
Chuck Bowlin and his family
Bowlin was serving as president and CEO of Greeneville Energy Authority when he passed away April 4, 2024. He was a beloved business leader, an elder at First Christian Church and a supporter of community organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County and the Lions Club.
The university secured the needed finances to name the house after him through fundraising and other sources. Tusculum launched the fundraiser in May at the inaugural Christians in Business Dinner, where the university posthumously honored Bowlin with the Christian Leadership Award.
Attending Friday’s event were Bowlin’s wife, Tammy; their four children – Charlie, Kacey, David and Jonathan; his parents, Ken and Melinda Bowlin; and other family members. Jonathan Bowlin spoke for the family.
“We are just so honored by the ways in which you are honoring Dad and his legacy,” he said. “He would say it is not him but through Christ in him.”
Jonathan Bowlin began the event with a prayer in which he remembered his father’s love for his family, the church and the community. He said he experienced his father’s love throughout his life and said the elder Bowlin’s love for the community was evident in his servant heart. Then he turned to the Discipleship Living-Learning Center.
“Father, I ask that you would bless this Discipleship Living-Learning Center,” Jonathan Bowlin said. “Lay your hand down upon all those who are a part of the program and give them a strong desire for every good and perfect gift that only comes from you.”
The center enables first- and second-year students to grow in their faith as a community through Bible studies. They also participate in a variety of ministry activities. Older students live in the houses as peer mentors, holding weekly discipleship sessions with the younger students, assisting with operation of the Bible studies and helping students with any other spiritual resources. To assist with the cost of their studies, participating students receive a $2,000 annual scholarship.
Peer mentor shares his story
The peer mentor in the men’s house is junior Rio Little, a sport science major and a member of the football team. He spoke at Friday’s event and recalled meeting Jonathan Bowlin when he began attending First Christian Church as a high school senior. The two participated in Bible studies together. Later, he sat and listened to David Bowlin preaching at the church’s young adult ministry program.
Even though he did not know Chuck Bowlin, he said that man has shaped him through his impact on his sons and through Christ.
“He is now influencing the guys in this house to become better disciples,” Little said. “It’s awesome to see that. The program that we have here is one big step forward to what we want Tusculum University to become, which is a strong Christian university that upholds Christian values and glorifies Christ through it all. When I meet with the students in our house, I’ve seen them grow so much. We’re molding into what we want to become, and ultimately that is to be a good light of gospel witness of Jesus Christ to everyone else on this campus.”
Little described his path to becoming a peer mentor, saying it happened in an unplanned way. He was a last-minute helper at the Christians in Business Dinner and learned that night about the Discipleship Living-Learning Center. Throughout the night, he crossed paths with Dr. Gary Cook, the father of Dr. David Cook, Tusculum’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, who told him about the peer mentor role.
That position interested Little, and Dr. Gary Cook brought him to his son and said, “I think this is your guy.”
“If that is not divine intervention, I don’t know what is,” Little said. “I spoke with my friends at FCC, and they said, ‘Go for it. God’s calling you to greater things.’ He really has called me to greater things, and I can see God working through me and God working in my fellow students’ lives. It’s just truly a blessing to see it all come together.”
Thoughts from Tusculum leaders
The Rev. E.J. Swatsell, Tusculum’s director of spiritual life and special projects, said it is an honor to be part of something with eternal significance. He said his life’s calling is to help younger people know the Lord better, help them experience salvation and grow in discipleship.
He said the Discipleship Living-Learning Center has attracted 17 students who come from a variety of circumstances and faith backgrounds.
“We have young men and women who are willing to step forward and wear that pin on their lapel that says, ‘I love Jesus. I’m willing to be part of this institute, willing to be part of this organization that holds high the standards of Christ,’” Swatsell said. “We’re grateful for those who are willing to join us. It is an honor to share with you today how important this ministry is – even more so now than possibly any other time in history – that we are doing our part as an institution of higher education and doing our part as men and women who love Christ to develop further disciples for the kingdom.”
Dr. Hummel and Dr. David Cook expressed their appreciation to those who donated funds to name the house in Chuck Bowlin’s memory and are providing additional support for the student scholarships.
“One of the visions behind the Discipleship Living-Learning Center was that it would be a place that anybody, whether they are rich or poor, no matter who they are, can afford to be part of this program,” said Dr. Cook, who helps lead the weekly Bible sessions. “The scholarships that we provide are a huge part of that. Thank you to the people who sacrificially gave. We were excited to see that come through, and that has really enabled us to reach a broader group than we had ever hoped.”
One of Dr. Cook’s desires is to see some of these students who reside in the Discipleship Living-Learning Center become either peer mentors or discipleship assistants in the university’s residence halls. Those discipleship assistants are part of the next stage of development in the institute, which has a three-phase plan.
Reflecting on the houses, Dr. Hummel said the university wants students to live out the truth, not just learn or read about it.
“It is appropriate to have this kind of experience for our students, to see them grow in that discipleship and see grow in their leadership,” he said. “As they grow in their discipleship and knowing that disciples make disciples, they are going to become an influence, an example and leaders on this campus. They are going to help make more disciples, they are going to bring other people to Christ and they are going to help them to grow in their faith.”
Anyone who is interested in financially supporting the institute can visit www.tusculum.edu/giving and choose “Christian Leadership Institute” in the drop-down menu. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.
