Meet Our Pastor 

Dr. Cowles has a special appreciation for the value of Christian education as he completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management with a minor in Religion at Baptist College at Charleston (now Charleston Southern University). He pursued graduate studies at Luther Rice Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity degree in Pastoral Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary. He satisfied requirements for a Doctor of Ministry degree in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary.

The Cowles family is blessed with two daughters, two sons-in-law, two granddaughters, a dog, and a cat. Recently, Ann’s father, a retired Pastor, came to live with them as well. Paul & Ann still reflect fondly on their trip to Greece where they retraced the footsteps of the Apostle Paul’s Second Missionary Journey and he was privileged to preach at Mars Hill in Athens. His favorite hobbies include genealogy research, playing piano, travel, and reading. Paul’s life verses include Micah 6:8 and Proverbs 16:3. 

Paul Cowles, a native Floridian, was adopted shortly after birth. This has given him a special heart of compassion for adoptive families and birth mothers. He was saved and baptized at eight years of age and grew up singing and playing piano in the church where Dr. Adrian Rogers experienced his first pastorate in Fellsmere, Florida. He moved to Georgia to enter the workforce after graduating from college. One year later, the Lord called him into the Gospel ministry. He and his wife, Ann (a native of Dublin, Georgia), will celebrate their 19th anniversary at Friendship Baptist Church in Warner Robins in March. Friendship is his third Senior Pastorate. He also served as a Music Minister while in college. He is passionate about outreach, evangelism, discipleship, relationship building, and making a difference in the community.

Pastor Paul is the Past-Chair of the Georgia Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries Board of Trustees. He previously served on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention and chairs the Credentials Committee of the Rehoboth Baptist Association. He is a charter member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Ann plays keyboard and organ in the church’s music ministry and leads the Friendship Women’s Ministry.