Associate Pastor - Adam C. Bowling
Adam was born December 30, 1980, the second of two sons, to Bill and Pat Bowling. Both of his parents were called as educators in the Virginia Beach City Public School System. Adam was ordained on August 19th 2007, and became the seventh generation Presbyterian minister in his family. He is the most recent in a long line that dates back to 1812.
Adam grew up in the church, and was surrounded by the symbols of our faith. His experiences and the sense of community he felt at church as a child have shaped who he is today.  At the age of thirteen, he had the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land with his mother and an adult Sunday school class from his home church, Kings Grant Presbyterian Church (USA) in Virginia Beach, VA.  What an amazing experience it was for Adam to actually be where Jesus walked, talked, and healed. This trip was certainly a formative event along his faith journey.
In 1999, he began his undergraduate studies at Hampden-Sydney College, an all-male Presbyterian school located near Farmville, VA. He excelled as a Biology/Pre-med major, and was well on his way to medical school. During his sophomore year, he added Religion as a second major because, as he told an inquisitive friend, “I enjoy taking Religion classes and it just seems to fit into my schedule.”
At the urging of his parents and some old youth group friends, Adam signed up for a weekend retreat that would prove to be life changing. Two nights before this retreat, he went to a local hospital to shadow an ER doctor for the evening. That night a thirteen year-old boy who had committed suicide was brought in and there was nothing the doctors could do. Adam began to see the sometimes harsh realities of being a physician. He questioned if that was what he was called to do with his life. Was he pursuing that path for the right reason? Those experiences were heavy on his heart as he traveled to what he thought would be just another church retreat.
That weekend God spoke to Adam —or as he puts it, he “finally decided to stop fighting God and listen.” He says, “The experience was almost indescribable. You know those hairs on the back of your neck that stand up when something amazing happens? Some call those “hallelujah hairs.” Yes, they were present, and I felt the Holy Spirit at work that night as I finally realized all the signs God had given me.” After this experience Adam turned down a prestigious internship in the field of pediatric research, packed his bags and began the experience of a lifetime which led him to Ordination as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament.
Adam graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hampden-Sydney College with a B.S. Biology/ Religion in 2003. He graduated from Union-PSCE, Richmond, VA, with a M. Div. and M.A.C.E. in 2007. He also completed his Clinical Pastoral Education at Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, VA in 2005.
Adam is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Theta Alpha Kappa honor societies.  While in seminary, Adam served as the Youth Director at Bon Air Presbyterian Church and as the Youth Council Coordinator for the Presbytery of the James.  Adam brings with him a wealth of ministerial experience as well as a love for the outdoors and musical interests.  He is a gifted trumpet player.