Eddie Bowerman leads the Hispanic ministry efforts at Cross Church in Rogers. | Courtesy photo
Every Sunday, pastor Eddie Bowerman leads the Hispanic ministry at Cross Church in Pinnacle Hills. A native of Arkansas, Bowerman has spent the past several years serving the Hispanic community in Northwest Arkansas. From missionary to pastor at one of the state’s largest churches, he has learned to lead with faith, empathy, and deep respect for Latino culture.
Years before becoming the Hispanic ministry leader, Bowerman decided to leave his country to respond to what he calls “God’s calling,” a calling that led him to serve as a missionary in countries such as Panama, Costa Rica and Cuba.
“When we talk about a calling in the church, we refer to that burden God places on your heart,” he said. “You leave your family, your home, and your stability to bring the message to others. That makes me understand immigrants who also leave everything behind to start over.”
During his time as a missionary, Bowerman and his family experienced what it means to adapt to a completely different place, from the culture to the language. They learned to communicate, embrace new traditions, and above all, live an experience that transformed their worldview.
“God gave me a gift for languages,” he said. “In college, I was the only white student in the Spanish class, and I was very nervous speaking. But over time, I grew to love it.” What began as a simple course became the bridge that now allows him to connect with hundreds of Latino families.
Due to some health issues, Bowerman returned to Arkansas in 2009 seeking a time of peace. That’s when he arrived at Cross Church. “I needed time without ministering, just to receive,” he recalled.
He began attending as a regular churchgoer, but soon his experience serving in other countries caught the attention of the church leadership, which invited him to help with activities for the Hispanic community.
“I started helping in volunteer programs, and gradually I took on more responsibilities,” he said. “Until one day I realized I was teaching, leading groups and serving full-time.”
Bowerman speaks passionately about the importance of diversity, saying it not only enriches the country and the church but also reflects the vision of a heaven where race, color and language don’t matter. “Heaven will be a place with all races and languages,” he said. “And the church should reflect that. It’s not just about having a service in Spanish; it’s about truly including everyone.”
With this vision, he wants the Hispanic community to be part of one family, not an isolated group.
A member of the church, Reyna Sánchez, said Bowerman’s leadership is impactful.
“Being part of the church has been a guide. He is a true leader because he always directs the congregation based on the Bible, helping them grow spiritually and make decisions grounded in the truth,” she said.
Although the Hispanic community has grown, Bowerman acknowledges that many face daily challenges. “The biggest challenge is social rejection,” he said. “There are still people who think Hispanics come here to take jobs or that they don’t deserve to be here.”
The pastor regrets that the community is often treated as a single group. “Not everyone is from Mexico,” he said. “There are Salvadorans, Venezuelans, Guatemalans, Colombians… a cultural diversity.”
Still, he has witnessed the community’s strength and dedication. “Hispanics have incredible strength. Despite prejudice, they keep going, working, taking care of their families, and building community.”
In addition to his pastoral work, Bowerman served as a Justice of the Peace in Benton County, an experience that strengthened his desire for more Latino representation in decision-making spaces.
“Latinos deserve to have a voice in local government,” he said. “They are a vital part of this community, but too often they aren’t heard.” Bowerman dreams of a future where Latino culture is more present in public life in the state. “I want people to understand that Hispanics are much more than Tex-Mex food. They are hardworking, dreaming of people with strong faith. They enrich us all.”
Bowerman says what moves him most is an inner drive: empathy. Living as an immigrant in a foreign country gave him a different perspective and helped him understand what many immigrants face today. “In Panama, people saw us as rich or distant ‘gringos.’ Sometimes it hurt that they judged me without knowing me,” he recalled. That experience helped him walk in the shoes of those arriving in Arkansas looking for a home.
“Many Hispanics just want to feel part of something, to know they belong,” he said. “And the church can be that place. A space where they don’t feel alone.”