Joseph M. Stowell II
Files
Date
May 24, 1958
Keywords
Cedarville, commencement, 1958
Recommended Citation
"Joseph M. Stowell II" (1958). Commencement Speakers. 35.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/commencement_speakers/35
Biographical Sketch
Born on a farm near Colon, Michigan, in 1911, Dr. Stowell professed belief in Jesus Christ at age 9 and was baptized into the membership of First Baptist Church of Colon. He graduated from Wheaton College in 1933 and began a long series of pastorates with Baptist churches in Michigan, Indiana, and New Jersey. His longest ministry was at First Baptist Church of Hackensack, N.J., where he served 20 years. In 1969 he was elected by GARBC messengers to succeed Paul Jackson as national representative.
Bothered by an increased tendency of Regular Baptists to “talk to themselves,” Stowell believed he should represent the association to the broader constituency. His speaking itinerary was sometimes a cause of consternation among those who believed their national representative should not be addressing groups that were not Regular Baptist in affiliation. But Stowell believed the association’s ideas were strong enough to stand on their own merits, no matter the audience.
A radio pioneer, in 1939 he began weekly broadcasts over WHCU in Ithaca, New York, while pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. He also organized radio broadcasts for WBCM in Bay City, Michigan, and for WJRZ in Hackensack, New Jersey. In 1970 he initiated the nationally syndicated program Living Reality, where he frequently appeared as speaker.
After retiring from the role of national representative in 1979, Joseph and Corabelle Stowell continued to be active in association events, living quietly in a retirement community in Carol Stream, Illinois.
Stowell was a past member of the Baptist Mid-Missions council, a former vice-president of Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, and a trustee of Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Stowell died on June 23, 2007, at the age of 96.