ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Dora Gardner-Bowens
A minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, focused on teaching God's word, providing biblical-based words of encouragement and messages, and helping others to live their authentic selves in community and in Christ.
MY JOURNEY
Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Dora was raised in a family with multiple preachers, prophets, and pastors. Although God called Dora early in life to ministry, like many, Dora did not recognize the call and spent several years exploring questions on how to understand and apply lessons in the bible in ways that were reflective of the life and witness of Jesus Christ. During this time, she worked in the financial services industry, where she was blessed with multiple promotions and roles that allowed her to train and teach others. After visiting New Faith Baptist Church International in Matteson, Illinois, for several years, always sitting in the back of the church, in early 2014, after spending two weeks in South Africa, she answered the call to serve by officially becoming a member. In Dora’s thirst to learn more about God through the study of the Bible, she found herself serving in various capacities, including as the Co-Chair of Glorious Splendor Women’s Ministry, a teacher in the Christian Education Ministry, and as an ordained deacon.
Shortly after ordination in 2019, Dora responded to God's call to attend seminary at McCormick Theological Seminary. At McCormick, Dora discovered a passion for biblical interpretation, the theological implications of life, and the teachings of Jesus Christ related to freedom, liberation, justice, and love for oppressed communities and people. Here, Dora discovered that God’s call on anyone’s life is multifaceted but invariably means calling others to life by helping them to understand and apply the liberating message of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life as the hope in the practice of Christianity must represent itself in love, liberation, and life more abundantly for all. Dora serves on the ministerial staff of New Faith Baptist Church International, is on the Board of Directors of two non-profit organizations, and is the Executive Sponsor for an African American Affinity Network at Wells Fargo, where she is also a Senior Vice President, Director of Risk and Control.
SHARING GOD'S LOVE
As a minister, I am dedicated to spreading the love of God and sharing the message of hope and salvation through faith. This platform serves as a space to share insights, inspirations, and reflections on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the power of living a life rooted in faith.
MISSION AND VISION
Empowering Lives Through Faith
At Doragardnerbowens.com, our mission is to empower individuals to embrace their faith, discover their purpose, and live a life of fulfillment in Christ. We are committed to providing a supportive community where everyone is encouraged to grow spiritually, serve others, and experience the transformative power of God's love.