Since 1975 Darryl
Bowdre has been preaching the gospel of Christ. The son and the grandson
of gospel preachers, Bowdre attended Southwestern Christian College in
Terrell, Texas. He later went on and continued his studies at John
Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.
He has worked with
churches in Cleveland, Ohio (Assistant Minister 1977-1979) Youngstown,
Ohio (Minister 1979-1982), Tyler, Texas (North Tenneha congregation,
Minister, 1982-1998).
In 1998, after some
17 years with the North Tenneha Church, Bowdre started a new work in the
fast growing St. Louis community in Tyler. Beginning with less than 60
adult members, the church experienced substantial growth, and to date
has more than doubled in membership. The church has 5 deacons, an
efficient administrative staff, and supports and directs 12 different
ministries of in-reach (inner-congregational) and outreach, (the
community). The church conducts ministry from a beautiful two building
complex on acreage located on Texas State Highway 155, near the
intersection of Loop 323. Less than five years after the establishment
of the congregation, Bowdre led the church in a successful capital drive
program, resulting in the purchase of the property. SouthCentral’s
growth, both numerically and spiritually is a testimony to God’s power
in the lives of everyday people.
As a community leader
Bowdre has served on the Tyler Independent School Board of Trustees, the
Board of Directors of PATH (People Attempting To Help), the North Tyler
Child Development Center, and was one of the founders of the Bi-Partisan
African American Coalition. He was also one of the founders of the Tyler
Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce.
Bowdre is also well
known in the field of journalism in the Tyler-Longview-Marshall area. He
has been involved in the field of communications for more than 25 years.
He has worked extensively in the profession as a radio news director,
programming consultant and broadcast commentator. He worked in the field
of television as a talk show host and producer of community affairs
programs. He is the founding publisher of the Ebony News Journal, the
largest weekly Black newspaper in East Texas. Among his honors are
several for his editorial writing including awards from the Texas
Publishers Association, and two (2) Texas School Bell Awards from the
Texas State Teachers Association.
In addition to his
role in the ministry, Bowdre currently serves n the boards of the Tyler
Area Chamber of Commerce, The Tyler Economic Development Board, the
Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and the Smith County Tax
Abatement Committee. He is currently the President and CEO of the Tyler
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
He has been
married for 30 years to the former Lynn Kirby of Compton, California,
and has three children and three grandchildren. 
