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Rev. Roy Fowler
Experience
I have served 8 United Methodist
Churches. God has sent me to the Amis Chapel and Elm
Street Churches
in Church Hill, TN starting on June 20, 2007.
Education
I have completed the requirements
for the United Methodist Church.
I continue my education as required by the United Methodist Organization to
retain my qualification to Preach the Good New of Jesus Christ our Lord and
Savior.
Family
I’m married to a wonderful
woman named Cathy that stayed the course of 26 years with me in the U.S.
Navy. Now we work for the Lord in a great place in eastern Tennessee called Church Hill. Cathy is the
former Cathy E. Downs of Harlan,
Ky. We have been married for
over 35 years. We have one daughter, Rebecca, and a son in law, Andy, that
live about a mile away from us. They gave us a most incredible grand
daughter, Azaria (A-zar-re-a) and a grand son Zane that are overflowing with
joy, happiness and love.
Hobbies
Spending time with family and
motorcycle riding.
Best advice given to me about
preaching
Preach the Gospel in a way that
anyone can understand. Allow them to laugh, relax and feel the message as you
logically and illustratively speak the truth that the Lord has given you.
Sermon or series that made a
difference
Each Sermon that I have posted seem
to have been enjoyed and was commented on favorably by my
congregation’s. I must confess that my favorite sermon where I felt the
Holy Spirit moving in a mighty way and moved the congergation in a way that I
have only seen a few times - when read seem very normal as sermons go.
Written sermons can move us and help us grow but verbal sermons given in the
present of people can lift us, motivate us and move us into the very presents
of our God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
One of my favorite illustrations
Six blind persons went to a circus
and had an opportunity to examine an elephant for the first time in their
lives. The first blind person approached the Elephant, and examined his broad
and sturdy side. He said this elephant is very much like a wall. The second
blind person, feeling of the tusk, said “So very round and smooth and
sharp? To me it is mighty clear this elephant is very much like a
spear!" The third approached the elephant and felt of the squirming
trunk, he said “the elephant is very like a snake!" The fourth
reached out an eager hand, and felt about the knee. He said “the
elephant is very much like a tree!" The fifth, who chanced to touch the
ear said: "this elephant is very much like a fan!" The sixth no sooner
had begun that he seized on the swinging tail. "I see," he said,
"the elephant is very much like a rope!" And so these blind folk
disputed loud and long. Each of their own opinion. Each was exceeding stiff
and strong. Each was partially right but they all were wrong. (The Blind Men
And The Elephant (John Godfrey Saxe, 1816-1887) -- Contemporized by Rev. Roy
E. Fowler, Jr.)
Books that have had an impact
The Bible of course. Preaching by
Fred B. Craddock; The New Creation: John Wesley’s Theology Today by Theodore
Runyon; Church Conflict: The Hidden System Behind the Fights by Charles H.
Cosgrove, Dennis D. Hatfield; John Wesley’s Sermons (An Anthology)
edited by Albert C. Outler & Richard P. Heitzenrater; Book of Ages (New
& Old Testaments) written by H.L. Willmington. Books on Church History.
Recently he has enjoyed “The Mitford Years Series”.
Something funny that happened
while preaching
Service started onboard the USS
Independence and this young man had just gotten off watch. I knew he was very
tired because he started snoring about one minute into the sermon. At first
some were uneasy with this but warriors have compassion. It just seemed like
everybody wanted to let him sleep and they did. Almost everyone was gone when
he woke up. He stood, stretched and walked over to me with his hand out to
shake my hand and said "That was the best sermon I have ever
heard!"
What my parents think of my
sermons
My mother thinks I’m
wonderful and my sermons are just the greatest she has ever heard. Dad liked
most of them but he had some comments - in love of course.
What my spouse (really) thinks of
my sermons
She has always been very honest and
told me some really good things about my sermons. Mostly she doesn’t
speak about them except to say it was good. That is one of the reasons I love
her. My wife is a Pastor also which means she understands every sermon
isn’t a burn the Church down sermon for everyone.
If I could Preach one more time, I
would say...
I would say Jesus Loves you! But
you have to acknowledge that he has changed you and become a part of you. You
have to know him enough that you want to be more like him every day.
Salvation is free and comes in a twinkling of an eye. However, the Christian
journey is a life long learning and growing process through the power of the
Holy Spirit. It’s not just head knowledge. It’s not just heart
knowledge. It is complete surrender to Jesus Christ and his teachings. So let
us get started today, ask Jesus into your heart and start that journey.
What I want on my tombstone
He’s not here.
Comment to those looking at my
sermons
Sermons come from poor sinful
humans trying to tell about something that is rich and pure. We can catch a
glimpse of God through any sermon but it is only with the power of the Holy Spirit
and the compassion of Jesus Christ. God gives us strength over time to look
and truly see what he wants us to be. Only then can we actually start our
journey with the Lord.
This contributor has 4
testimonials:
July 23, 2007
4. Michael
Vaughn says... 
Pastor Roy brings the Word of God
into an intimate relationship to others, and that is exactly what many of us
need; a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Thanks Pastor Roy!
March 26, 2007
3. Martha Phillips says...
I have found this contributor to be
an excellent source for background material on funerals.
November 8, 2006
2. Paul
Humphrey says... 
Roy is a great preacher and a great person.
Anyone who reads his sermons will richly profit.
September 9, 2006
1. Stanley Surber says...
Eddie(Roy)I
have known you since grade school and if I am ever in Greenville on a Sunday morning I would love
to hear you give a sermon. God bless you for doing the work of Lord.
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Elm Springs United