I wonder if you know who I am. I guess the first clue would be the place that I was born, and the year… Dennison, Texas, 1930. If you are good at your math you can figure out where that puts me now. If you’re not good at math, keep reading; maybe you will be able to figure out who I am from the kind of life I lived.
I had 4 brothers and 4 sisters. I was a middle kid. I was raised on a farm; I guess that made me a ‘farm kid’. What that means is that we worked year round. It didn’t matter if it was rain or shine, chores still needed to be done. When I was seven, our family moved from a Texas farm to an Oklahoma farm. Have any of you figured out who I am yet? Probably not. That’s ok, keep reading.
Eleven days into the eleventh grade my dad had a heart attack. He survived but it slowed him down considerably. At the time, I was the oldest remaining kid at home which left me with a lot of responsibility. My life consisted of going to school and running the farm. When I turned eighteen, I started working for a contractor. My job was to drive big trucks moving heavy equipment. Have you figured out who I am yet? That’s ok, keep reading.
When I turned twenty-three, I was drafted in the Army. It just took three MP’s to get me in! I served in Korea for most of my time in the Army. I came back and was discharged at age 26. At that time, I went back to work in construction. This time, instead of just moving the heavy equipment, I was a heavy equipment operator. I was also the heavy equipment mechanic as well as the welder whenever that was needed.
During all of this, I met my future wife, Fran, in 1962. We ended up getting married that same year. . .I couldn’t outrun her. For some of you, that probably gave it away; for the rest of you, keep reading. Fran and I had 6 kids between the two of us, 3 girls and 3 boys. Right now our kids range in age from 40–56. Maybe that gives you a clue.
I became a Christian in 1951 while attending a church called Missionary Baptist Church. They stayed after me till I accepted the Lord; then they kind of left me alone. My life working in construction and in the military. . . well, let’s just say that I didn’t follow the Lord too closely for most of it. But that wasn’t the end of the story. When I turned 67, I got real serious about the Lord’s work and His work in my life.
I started working in the construction ministry in 1986. I worked for 4 years with a group called Hardhats for Christ. Then I founded True Foundation Builders and I’ve been doing that ever since. Do you know who I am yet? Well, if you don’t, maybe you are a visitor here. . .after all, I was the main contractor for the construction of this church’s sanctuary and I am the main contractor of the construction of the new preschool building that is coming to a close right now.
By now, you’ve probably put it all together. I’m Andy Bowers, the founder of True Foundation Builders. I have worked on 105 Christian projects—schools, churches, colleges, camps, and Christian hospitals, including one overseas project in the Dominican Republic. True Foundation Builders have completed projects in 11 different states.
Some of you have probably seen some of our work here at First Baptist Church of Nogales, Amado Baptist Church, Huachuca Oaks, and Prescott Pines. I hope I can still do several projects. If I am able, there is a church in Gallop, NM that is ready for me to come and do a project, there is a church project pending in Flagstaff, and another in Elfrida, AZ.
If anyone is interested in supporting this work, they can go through the SWCBA in Phoenix to give support to the True Foundation Builders, or people can give the money to me if they want to. Anyone who is interested in working with me can contact me directly or contact me through SWCBA.
My advice to anyone is always the same. . .make a commitment to the Lord, whatever field or area, and stay with it. All you have to do is make yourself available; He'll find you a spot.
Andy and Fran Bowers
