LARRY BOWMAN: Guard With a
Mission
By
day, Larry Bowman worked as a security guard. By night
and on weekends, he did missionary work. For him, they
were part of the same ministry.
His mother, Ruth Bowman White, said he loved his
security job at the World Trade Center because he often
helped people who were lost or stuck in elevators. "His
motto was to help people and see that they're O.K. and do
what he can for them," she said. "He gave people
directions and made sure that the direction was
correct."
Even more important to him was his work for the Lord.
On Sundays, he held services at nursing homes and at
Rikers Island. Many days, he took food to the hungry. He
played basketball with teenagers, and between games
shared the word of God with them. Raised in a religious
family, Mr. Bowman, 46, was called to God three years
ago, his mother said, becoming a minister at the House of
God Church Brooklyn No. 1.
"I spoke to Larry the Saturday before the tragedy,"
said his aunt, Lannie Williams, a senior minister at the
church. "He was telling me all the good works that God is
showing him and the work that he wants to do in the
community. He was very good in the community. People
listened to him. He pointed out that there's a better
way. He said drugs is not the answer. Being out in the
street is not the answer. The fast life is not the
answer. God is the answer."
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