Best of Mississippi Awards honors Pastor Bowman

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) —Vicksburg’s Pastor James O. Bowman Sr. Is being honored by the Best of Mississippi Awards. He is being inducted into the program’s Hall of Fame this weekend in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 

“Congratulations to Pastor James O. Bowman, Sr., on your induction into the 2025 Best of Mississippi Hall of Fame.,” the program said in a Facebook post. “We proudly celebrate this Kingdom general whose life exemplifies honor, strength, and unwavering faith.”

Bowman is a Pastor at New Beginning Church and was named the 2022 Pastor of the Year. 

Bowman’s Bio:

With a legacy of faith, service, and leadership, Pastor James O. Bowman, Sr., is a man of honor both in ministry and the military. A Retired Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army, he served from 1966 to 1996 and later continued his impact as a JROTC Instructor at Vicksburg High School.

Called into the ministry in 1994, Pastor Bowman’s spiritual journey led him to preach in 1998 and later serve as a dedicated pastor beginning in 2000. He faithfully led New Poplar Grove, Ind. Methodist Church for 12 years and now Shepherds New Beginning Church in Christ in Vicksburg, MS, where he has served for over a decade.

Pastor Bowman is a devoted husband to Mrs. Betty J. Bowman and a proud father of seven children, spanning a legacy that reflects over five decades of leadership, mentoring, and community service.

About Best of Mississippi Awards:

The Best of Mississippi Awards is the state’s most prestigious honor, celebrating the best small to mid-sized businesses, business visionaries, and community leaders. With numerous categories, it is the largest business recognition program in Mississippi.