5Q4 > A PK to GC guy

From pastor’s kid to working at the General Conference as the communication
projects manager for Office of Global Mission, Falvo Fowler’s done it all.

1 What’s life like when you grow up as a pastor’s kid? > That’s a tough one. As much as my parents tried to make it seem like a normal family, it often was like a single-parent environment. What with my dad working at the division office, and travelling most of the time, I didn’t get to see him much; though, he did make the time at home count as much as possible. I was fine back then, but when I look back I wonder if God really expects ministers to give up their first calling for ministry (which is to the family, the nucleus of any church) to save the rest of the world. Then there are those higher than humanly possible expectations of pastors’ kids. I can quite honestly say I ducked most of them in a polite sort of, “What, are you nuts? I’m just another person’s kid” type of way—with all due respect, of course (well, most of the time at least . . . um, some of the time for sure).

2 You’ve worked as a volunteer at the Spicer Memorial College in India. Have you always had a passion for work with young people? > I landed back at Spicer after developing, and establishing, the first English FM radio program in and around Singapore. That kicked off the years ahead of working with young people. At Spicer, the first CQ group was established in Southern Asia because most of the college students were bored with Sabbath school the way it was taught like a regular British-influenced class, and they wanted more than raise their hands and repeat that God loved them. So when they complained, I told them to get off their butts and do something about it. So they did and they asked me to be their sponsor. I figured they would quit in a week or two (I would’ve). But they didn’t. And so the adventure began again for the next two years till we left to come back to the USA. Now about a dozen of the 30 students from that group are missionaries around the world. God does great things with young people, sometimes better things than with older people.

3 Where has that interest led you? > Working closely with CQ in developing resources. KaleidosCQpe was the first CD produced by the church that highlighted contemporary Adventist talent from around the world (the response from the Aussies blew me away. You guys seem awesome!). We figured we might be fried after the first one, but were totally amazed at how God protects a good ministry. So we’re releasing the second compilation shortly (featuring R&B, Gospel, and other styles) and are working on next year’s already. But probably the one that has me proud of being a part of the church is getting a collegiate group up and going again at my home church. For the first three weeks, I was the only member of the study group. Two years later we now average about a dozen very active members and attendance swells considerably higher with guests.

4 How did you end up in your current job? > Gary Krause, my department director and as Aussie as they come, couldn’t figure out where to put me and in efforts to save the world, he found a cubicle and title that would secure me.
After about two years here, I’m moving over to Sabbath School as one of their editors (apparently there was some bartering and Sabbath School lost). It’s a new job with a bunch of tech stuff as well as your traditional print media for kids. It sounds exciting and the folks at Adventist Mission are being really nice about it (they can’t wait!).

5 What advice would you have for young people who want to share their talents and passions with the church? > Pray. And never give up. The Christian church was established by young people. The Adventist Church was established by young people. Young people have more than just talents, they have an energy for the Lord that some of us have forgotten. Find someone older to mentor your talents and your ministry. Perhaps that will rejuvenate them, guide you, and together you can discover God’s purpose.