Pastor's busy lifestyle a perfect fit

QUINCY

For the Rev. Bob Cowman, it’s all about prioritizing his time.

On the surface, his undertakings could be daunting to many.

But for Cowman, 52, time management is a challenge he relishes. Actually, it’s a prerequisite for a schedule like his.

While the pastoral duties connected with Columbus Road Church occupy most of Cowman’s hours, he also finds time to coach the men’s soccer team at John Wood Community College and drive a sport modified car at various dirt tracks across the region.

Cowman, who also enjoys hunting and fishing, says it is important to know the difference been priorities, hobbies and other outside interests.

“You’d be amazed how much time (can be) spent doing things that have no value,” he said.

Like watching television?

“Our family has one TV, and it’s in the basement,” Cowman said. “If you turn off the TV, you can do a lot of things. There is only so much time.”

Cowman estimates the family’s TV is on for a maximum of 10 hours each week, and almost all of that time is for nightly news programming.

Lisa Cowman, Bob’s wife of 31 years, smiles when talking about her husband’s schedule.

“Bob is the happiest when he is the busiest,” she said.

Lisa, an elementary school teacher at Adams School in Quincy, knows her husband well. Their journey has long been one of love and understanding.

“We know each other well, and we have learned from one another,” she said.

The Cowmans came to Quincy in the fall of 2004 when Bob accepted the pastorate at Columbus Road, an independent church not tied to any specific Christian denomination.

At the time the Cowmans arrived, the church was averaging 60 to 70 people on a normal Sunday morning. That weekly average is now 400.

Strong relationship

Marriage for a pastor and his wife is much like that for any other couple, especially the early years.

“We had to learn to put each other high on our priority lists,” Lisa said.

There are some days, Lisa says, that she is a refuge for her husband. The demands of a pastor can be many and time consuming.

“I’m a safe place for my husband to land at night,” she said.

There are many times Lisa may pass on an invitation or some sort of personal outing to spend the time with Bob. Both have busy schedules, and she says those periods that allow them to share life and reacquaint are invaluable.

“My husband is the most important thing,” she said. “It’s about being a wife, not just about being the pastor’s wife.”

Together, the Cowmans have raised four kids.

Their son, Matt, 25, is a chaplain and is involved in after-school ministry at the East St. Louis Christian Activity Center.

Oldest daughter Madison, 21, and twins Michaela and Meredith, 19, are still in college.

“All the kids either are already involved or considering the ministry,” Bob said.

‘Numb to the world’

Lisa understands her husband and knows what makes him tick. That’s why she is quick to point out why his passion for racing, plus coaching, hunting and fishing are all important to — and for — him.

Those activities prove therapeutic. That’s because a pastor, much like a doctor or nurse, spends a great deal of time in crisis situations.

“I can just be numb to the world for that time I’m in a race car,” Cowman said. “I don’t expect someone outside the ministry to understand that.”

Cowman is emphatic, however, about the role racing plays in his life — and the role that it does not. Nothing, including the enjoyment of racing, hunting or coaching, is valued above his faith and family.

“I manage my hobby; it doesn’t manage me,” he said. “I know when to say no.”

Cowman will race mostly on Friday nights this year at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. His black No. 14 sport mod has “Preach” emblazoned above the left-side window in the area where most drivers have their name. That’s his nickname among the other drivers.

Cowman says an “important part” of his time involved with racing is talking with and mentoring others connected with the sport. Cowman is able to use his hobby as an outreach.

“I never raced before moving to Quincy, even though I was born in Knoxville, Iowa,” said Cowman, referencing the town that is the world capital of sprint car racing.

Fulfilling a dream

Cowman had always told his wife if the opportunity to race ever presented itself he would like to try. When Cowman accepted the pastorate at Columbus Road, he eventually became involved at Quincy Raceways on a part-time basis, but that track’s regular race night is Sunday. That proved to be too much of a conflict with his ministerial and family duties.

Cowman estimates he will race 12 to 15 times this spring and summer.

“I don’t miss family (or other important) events to race,” he said. “Racing will be managed by us, not vice versa.”

In a way, Cowman is making up for lost time when it comes to hobbies and outside interests.

“I kind of lost my 20s,” he said, explaining most of those years were spent getting a foothold on his ministerial career.

Cowman has been a pastor for 26 years, the first 12 spent as an assistant at Calvary Baptist Church in Norwalk, Ohio.

That was a position he assumed right after college and seminary.

While living in Norwalk, Cowman also served as the head soccer coach at the local high school. Until accepting the John Wood Community College position late last year, Cowman had not been a head coach since his Ohio days.

He says he has enjoyed building a program from scratch. JWCC last fielded a men’s soccer team in 1995 but plans to have a team ready to go next fall.

Cowman also was an assistant on the Hannibal-LaGrange University women’s soccer team for four years, and he coached club teams with the Quincy United Soccer Club since his arrival in Quincy. He served as the club’s director of coaching for four years.

“I like being involved in the lives of young men,” Cowman said after being named JWCC coach. “I see a great opportunity there. You use your platforms to impact people.”

Brad Hoyt, director of athletics at JWCC, told The Herald-Whig in December 2017 he’s excited about Cowman being involved.

“He’s got such a unique background, and we can use that expertise in a variety of ways,” Hoyt said. “The more I talked to him, the more comfortable we became. He’ll add significant value.”

Valued friendship

Cowman’s involvement with local soccer can be traced directly to one individual — longtime QHS boys coach Matt Longo, who coached the Blue Devils during a 23 year-career that included 386 victories and four state tournament appearances.

Longo also coached women’s soccer at Culver-Stockton College.

“Our friendship began one day when we met at the Village Inn to talk about soccer,” Longo said.

The two proved to be a perfect match. The friendship that emerged from that first meeting will last a lifetime, both men say.

“I think anyone would be hard-pressed to say a bad thing about Bob Cowman,” Longo said. “He’s easy to talk to, and he’s a good man. I don’t think the word failure is in his vocabulary.”

Longo says Cowman is one of those individuals who looks for the best in everyone and every situation.

“Bob is always energetic, he’s always positive,” Longo said.

Whether it involves soccer or a meal at the Village Inn, Longo says Cowman has one trait that always stands above all the rest.

“You feel his passion,” Longo said.

Cowman appreciates the kind words, and knows if not for Longo his involvement with local soccer would likely have never happened, or at least to the level it has.

“I’ll always be grateful to Matt,” Cowman said.

Ability to relate

Scott Baumann and his family have been attending Columbus Road Church almost as long as Cowman has been the pastor. Baumann praises Cowman’s ability to relate and calls him a “genuine” kind of guy.

“Bob is a master of relational evangelism,” Baumann said. “He’s such a personable guy.”

Baumann and Cowman have also become friends away from church. They’ve gone to races with one another and their kids have grown up together.

“Bob has been an incredible friend,” Baumann said. “You can sit down with him and not even know he’s a pastor. He is an example of a genuine person you can relate to.”

Baumann says Cowman exudes “A Christ-like love” that is appreciated by others.

“Everywhere he goes, he is meeting people and building relationships,” Baumann said.

THE COWMAN FILE

Who: The Rev. Bob Cowman, Columbus Road Church.

Age: 52.

Hometown: Knoxville, Iowa.

Family: Wife of 31 years, Lisa; son Matt, 25; daughters Madison, 21, Michaela and Meredith, 19.

How long in current position: 14 years.

Previously: Assistant pastor in Norwalk, Ohio.

Years in ministry: 26.

Community involvement: Men’s soccer coach at John Wood Community College, youth soccer coach at a variety of levels, races sports mods at various dirt tracks in the region.