The Bowman Family

Hey all! This is our first post on our new website, so I thought I’d take the chance to update y’all on the last…two years! We’ve updated here and there on the socials, but hopefully this website will be a more consistent way of connecting with y’all.

In the summer of 2024, we moved across the country from the East to the West. There are so many stories of God’s leading, protection, and provision that could be told here, but suffice it to say, God was faithful and trustworthy through it all.

We arrived at Ironwood Christian Camp in the middle of August 2024. As soon as we got out of the car, the kids were shocked by the sand everywhere! Ironwood is situated in the middle of the High Desert of the Mojave. It’s hot, but it’s beautiful. We’re surrounded by stunning mountains, sand dunes sparkling with iron pyrite (“fool’s gold”), and swirling hot winds. Not to mention really awesome wildlife! Since living here we’ve seen jack rabbits, road runners, coyotes, desert foxes, zillions of lizards, wild burros, some big horn sheep, a horny toad, a chuckwalla, a tarantula, and a few sidewinders (rattlesnakes)!

The first year of living here was full of adjustments as the kids began attending school. Bethany went back to work as a school teacher, then as administrative staff at Ironwood Christian Academy. Theron also taught at the school, as well as worked on the program team of Ironwood Christian Camp. We’ve also used the last two years to do a significant amount of exploring! So far, we’ve visited Los Angeles, San Diego, Big Bear, Tahoe, Yosemite, and Palm Springs.

One of the exciting developments over the next year of living here was our increasing love for our church family at Faith Baptist Church of Cherokee Road. As our family became more involved, the Lord made it clear that there was a place for Theron on pastoral staff. In March of 2026, he was installed as one of the pastors! He continues to work at camp, essentially being a bi-vocational pastor. One blessing as he navigates this new role is the overlap in ministry opportunities to the people in our community, coming from both “camp side” and “church side.” He and Bethany have jumped into running the young adult ministry at Faith, in addition to many other areas of ministry. In the last year the Lord provided the funds for Faith to purchase 10 acres of land, and our church family looks forward to building a new facility in the coming years!

Theron’s work at camp has continued to fluctuate as he has moved from teaching to being on Ironwood’s program team full time. This September will kick off a full season of coordinating camps, hosting camps, and serving campers in a variety of ways. Ironwood runs a camp of some kind about 49 weeks out of the year, so while summer is busy, the fall and spring have their own busyness to them! Check out Ironwood’s website for details on all the camps that happen throughout the year…and come see us! https://www.ironwoodcamp.org/

Bethany will teach K-2 this year…well, for most of the year, because guess what?! We are welcoming a new little boy into our family this December! Our new little guy has been so prayed over and his arrival is eagerly anticipated. The kids were totally shocked when we told them, and I think the picture we got of their reaction is my favorite I’ve ever taken.

We’re not done with announcing new changes, though! This summer our family is transitioning from being on Core Staff at Ironwood to being on Resident Staff. One of the logistical implications is that our family will now be supported as missionaries, through individuals and churches rather than with a salary. We’re excited to see all the ways He will provide!

Through an anonymous giver, He already supplied with a gift of $1,000 in the middle of this summer. We were floored! His gracious care of us never ceases to amaze. Head over to the Support our Family page on our website if you’d like to support us financially.

We also desire your support through prayer! As our update comes to a close, I’ll list out some praises and prayer requests. If you could keep us on your prayer list, we would so appreciate it! Thanks for hanging with this loooong update. The next updates will not have to cover 2 years, so they will be more specific to our day-to-day adventures! Subscribe to our website if you’d like an email notification each time we post a new update. Thank you so much for your support and love!

Praises:

Safety and health of the family, including new baby boy

A new-to-us car in November of 2025 (after our old one died and we had no vehicle at all for 38 days!)

Theron’s opportunities to preach this summer as our lead pastor was on sabbatical

Each of the kids’ spiritual growth evidenced in their lives

Prayer requests:

The kids and their spiritual and physical growth

Safe delivery of Baby Boy in December

Financial provision as we move onto Resident Staff

Wisdom for Theron as he leads in our home and in our church

See ya’ll next month!