{"id":31994,"date":"2025-10-04T15:53:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T19:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=31994"},"modified":"2025-10-04T15:53:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T19:53:08","slug":"tusculum-celebrates-the-naming-of-the-bowlin-house-and-its-impact-on-the-spiritual-development-of-students-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/tusculum-celebrates-the-naming-of-the-bowlin-house-and-its-impact-on-the-spiritual-development-of-students-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Tusculum celebrates the naming of The Bowlin House and its impact on the spiritual development of students on campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 As Tusculum University<\/a> family members remembered the Christian walk exhibited by a well-respected businessman, they celebrated at a special event how students will grow spiritually during their studies in a house that now bears his name.<\/h3>\n
\"Jonathan

Jonathan Bowlin speaks about his father and the actions Tusculum University has taken to remember him.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Left

Left to right, Jonathan Bowlin, Amelia Larson and Tammy Bowlin pray during the event.<\/p><\/div>\n

Tusculum\u2019s Christian Leadership Institute held a ceremony on campus Friday, Oct. 3, to mark the naming of The Bowlin House in memory of Chuck Bowlin. Male Tusculum students who are part of the institute\u2019s Discipleship Living-Learning Center reside in the house, which is located adjacent to the Meen Center and Ballad Health\u2019s Center for Early Learning. The center also features a second house for females located on the other end of campus.<\/p>\n

Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, said this dedication is significant for the university.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that our students are going to receive an outstanding education,\u201d he said. \u201cWe know they are going to be career-ready at the end of their studies. But that is not enough for us. We want to invest in the lives of our students spiritually as well. We want them not only to become better citizens but better people and better disciples and to grow in their faith as part of their Tusculum experience. We believe that these houses are very much going to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chuck Bowlin and his family<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bowlin was serving as president and CEO of Greeneville Energy Authority when he passed away April 4, 2024. He was a beloved business leader, an elder at First Christian Church and a supporter of community organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County and the Lions Club.<\/p>\n

The university secured the needed finances to name the house after him through fundraising and other sources. Tusculum launched the fundraiser in May at the inaugural Christians in Business Dinner, where the university posthumously honored Bowlin with the Christian Leadership Award.<\/p>\n

Attending Friday\u2019s event were Bowlin\u2019s wife, Tammy; their four children \u2013 Charlie, Kacey, David and Jonathan; his parents, Ken and Melinda Bowlin; and other family members. Jonathan Bowlin spoke for the family.<\/p>\n

\"The

The audience listens during the event.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The Bowlin family poses at The Bowlin House at Tusculum University.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe are just so honored by the ways in which you are honoring Dad and his legacy,\u201d he said. \u201cHe would say it is not him but through Christ in him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jonathan Bowlin began the event with a prayer in which he remembered his father\u2019s love for his family, the church and the community. He said he experienced his father\u2019s love throughout his life and said the elder Bowlin\u2019s love for the community was evident in his servant heart. Then he turned to the Discipleship Living-Learning Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, I ask that you would bless this Discipleship Living-Learning Center,\u201d Jonathan Bowlin said. \u201cLay your hand down upon all those who are a part of the program and give them a strong desire for every good and perfect gift that only comes from you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The center enables first- and second-year students to grow in their faith as a community through Bible studies. They also participate in a variety of ministry activities. Older students live in the houses as peer mentors, holding weekly discipleship sessions with the younger students, assisting with operation of the Bible studies and helping students with any other spiritual resources. To assist with the cost of their studies, participating students receive a $2,000 annual scholarship.<\/p>\n

Peer mentor shares his story<\/strong><\/p>\n

The peer mentor in the men\u2019s house is junior Rio Little, a sport science<\/a> major and a member of the football team<\/a>. He spoke at Friday\u2019s event and recalled meeting Jonathan Bowlin when he began attending First Christian Church as a high school senior. The two participated in Bible studies together. Later, he sat and listened to David Bowlin preaching at the church\u2019s young adult ministry program.<\/p>\n

\"Participants

Participants pray during the ceremony.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Rio

Rio Little shares his perspective with everyone in attendance.<\/p><\/div>\n

Even though he did not know Chuck Bowlin, he said that man has shaped him through his impact on his sons and through Christ.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is now influencing the guys in this house to become better disciples,\u201d Little said. \u201cIt\u2019s awesome to see that. The program that we have here is one big step forward to what we want Tusculum University to become, which is a strong Christian university that upholds Christian values and glorifies Christ through it all. When I meet with the students in our house, I\u2019ve seen them grow so much. We\u2019re molding into what we want to become, and ultimately that is to be a good light of gospel witness of Jesus Christ to everyone else on this campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little described his path to becoming a peer mentor, saying it happened in an unplanned way. He was a last-minute helper at the Christians in Business Dinner and learned that night about the Discipleship Living-Learning Center. Throughout the night, he crossed paths with Dr. Gary Cook, the father of Dr. David Cook, Tusculum\u2019s provost and vice president of academic affairs, who told him about the peer mentor role.<\/p>\n

That position interested Little, and Dr. Gary Cook brought him to his son and said, \u201cI think this is your guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that is not divine intervention, I don\u2019t know what is,\u201d Little said. \u201cI spoke with my friends at FCC, and they said, \u2018Go for it. God\u2019s calling you to greater things.\u2019 He really has called me to greater things, and I can see God working through me and God working in my fellow students\u2019 lives. It\u2019s just truly a blessing to see it all come together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thoughts from Tusculum leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Rev. E.J. Swatsell, Tusculum\u2019s director of spiritual life<\/a> and special projects, said it is an honor to be part of something with eternal significance. He said his life\u2019s calling is to help younger people know the Lord better, help them experience salvation and grow in discipleship.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Rev. E.J. Swatsell provides some words at the dedication.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. David Cook speaks during the ceremony.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. Scott Hummel addresses the audience.<\/p><\/div>\n

He said the Discipleship Living-Learning Center has attracted 17 students who come from a variety of circumstances and faith backgrounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have young men and women who are willing to step forward and wear that pin on their lapel that says, \u2018I love Jesus. I\u2019m willing to be part of this institute, willing to be part of this organization that holds high the standards of Christ,\u2019\u201d Swatsell said. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful for those who are willing to join us. It is an honor to share with you today how important this ministry is \u2013 even more so now than possibly any other time in history \u2013 that we are doing our part as an institution of higher education and doing our part as men and women who love Christ to develop further disciples for the kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Hummel and Dr. David Cook expressed their appreciation to those who donated funds to name the house in Chuck Bowlin\u2019s memory and are providing additional support for the student scholarships.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the visions behind the Discipleship Living-Learning Center was that it would be a place that anybody, whether they are rich or poor, no matter who they are, can afford to be part of this program,\u201d said Dr. Cook, who helps lead the weekly Bible sessions. \u201cThe scholarships that we provide are a huge part of that. Thank you to the people who sacrificially gave. We were excited to see that come through, and that has really enabled us to reach a broader group than we had ever hoped.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Dr. Cook\u2019s desires is to see some of these students who reside in the Discipleship Living-Learning Center become either peer mentors or discipleship assistants in the university\u2019s residence halls. Those discipleship assistants are part of the next stage of development in the institute, which has a three-phase plan.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the houses, Dr. Hummel said the university wants students to live out the truth, not just learn or read about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is appropriate to have this kind of experience for our students, to see them grow in that discipleship and see grow in their leadership,\u201d he said. \u201cAs they grow in their discipleship and knowing that disciples make disciples, they are going to become an influence, an example and leaders on this campus. They are going to help make more disciples, they are going to bring other people to Christ and they are going to help them to grow in their faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anyone who is interested in financially supporting the institute can visit www.tusculum.edu\/giving<\/a> and choose \u201cChristian Leadership Institute\u201d in the drop-down menu. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 As Tusculum University<\/a> family members remembered the Christian walk exhibited by a well-respected businessman, they celebrated at a special event how students will grow spiritually during their studies in a house that now bears his name.<\/h3>\n

Tusculum\u2019s Christian Leadership Institute held a ceremony on campus Friday, Oct. 3, to mark the naming of The Bowlin House in memory of Chuck Bowlin. Male Tusculum students who are part of the institute\u2019s Discipleship Living-Learning Center reside in the house, which is located adjacent to the Meen Center and Ballad Health\u2019s Center for Early Learning. The center also features a second house for females located on the other end of campus.<\/p>\n

Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, said this dedication is significant for the university.<\/p>\n

Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[131,91,7,19,142,169,146,1,6,148,147,149,172],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nTusculum celebrates the naming of The Bowlin House and its impact on the spiritual development of students on campus :: Tusculum University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/tusculum-celebrates-the-naming-of-the-bowlin-house-and-its-impact-on-the-spiritual-development-of-students-on-campus\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tusculum celebrates the naming of The Bowlin House and its impact on the spiritual development of students on campus :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GREENEVILLE \u2013 As Tusculum University family members remembered the Christian walk exhibited by a well-respected businessman, they celebrated at a special event how students will grow spiritually during their studies in a house that now bears his name. Tusculum\u2019s Christian Leadership Institute held a ceremony on campus Friday, Oct. 3, to mark the naming of The Bowlin House in memory of Chuck Bowlin. Male Tusculum students who are part of the institute\u2019s Discipleship Living-Learning Center reside in the house, which is located adjacent to the Meen Center and Ballad Health\u2019s Center for Early Learning. The center also features a second house for females located on the other end of campus. Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, said this dedication is significant for the university. 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