2022 Hall of Faith

Dean Bowyer

Dean Bowyer has been inducted into the Mayville State Athletic, American Baseball Coaches Association, the NSIC, the Minnesota State Athletics, and the Minnesota State Mavericks halls of fame. On two weekends in a row this fall, he will be inducted into the Ada-Borup-West High School Hall of Fame and the Minnesota FCA Hall of Faith.

A three-sport high school and collegiate athlete, Bowyer received a degree in physical education and elementary education from Mayville State (ND) before signing with the Baltimore Orioles. He was drafted to Vietnam after two seasons with the Orioles, and upon his return, he finished his third and final season of professional baseball. After coaching at the high school level for four years, he served as head baseball coach at Minot State (ND) for four years before spending the remaining 32 years of his career at Minnesota State University – Mankato (MSU).

When Bowyer retired in 2008 with a career record of 1067-527-7, he was ranked fifth on the all-time NCAA Division II list and coached the team to league championships 22 of 32 seasons. In 2017, the MSU baseball field was renamed Bowyer Field. There is not enough room to recount all his accolades, but in all his success, Bowyer would just say he loves to coach. He loves teamwork, he loves seeing how athletics prepare people for life, and he especially loves how he can bring faith into the sport he loves.

Coach Bowyer started the FCA Huddle at Minot. When he moved to MSU, he planned on helping get FCA started on campus later. However, he met a man named Jim Peterson whose college-aged son, Brett, had recently died from cancer. Before he died, Brett told his dad that he wasn’t afraid of dying but was afraid of dying for nothing. Jim wanted to honor his son’s legacy in a meaningful way. Bowyer told him they needed a scoreboard and could put Brett’s name on it. Jim asked Bowyer to add FCA under Brett’s name and get the huddle started. Bowyer agreed. Jim has now purchased his third scoreboard for MSU, and it still reads “FCA.”

Not only did Bowyer run the huddles in Minot and Mankato, but he also joined FCA staff part-time after his retirement before relocating to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to be closer to family. He continues to be involved with FCA as a volunteer and donor. When asked why he has served faithfully all these years, Bowyer said, “I look through my life at how God has blessed me in decisions I’ve made and the people in my life who have been so faith-oriented. There was so much to learn about life by doing FCA and so much about serving God and not yourself, which is so important today. I realized what an impact FCA has made on my life but also on former players. Some of them didn’t come to FCA every week, but once they get married and move on, they realize how important their faith is.”

Bowyer has always been open with his faith. Knowing him as a coach is synonymous with knowing him as the FCA guy. He often hung an FCA poster on his door. He pointed to Christ when he spoke to groups. In preparing for his induction into his high school hall of fame, he asked that they include his induction in the Minnesota FCA Hall of Faith so he can also point to Christ there. He recognizes the platform God has given him to share God’s love with others. For Bowyer, it is summed up this way. He said, “One of my favorite sayings is ‘Talk is cheap.’ If I’m going to do it the right way, they will observe my actions more than my words.”

Bob Spiegler, FCA Area Rep, worked alongside Bowyer for years and has always been impressed by the depth with which Bowyer cares for people. Spiegler remembers many times when Bowyer walked alongside current or former players, coaches, family members, and others as they faced various life challenges. Spiegler said, “When he moved to Sioux Falls, he wouldn’t forget about us. And he hasn’t. He comes back every year for the Mankato sports camp and golf scramble.”

Minnesota FCA is grateful for the impact and influence Coach Dean Bowyer has made over the past 50 years, and we are honored to induct him into the Minnesota FCA Hall of Faith 2022.

John Roise

After 20 years in the banking industry, God called John Roise out of a place where he’d been comfortable and successful into the unknown, much like He called Abraham out of Ur. And much like Abraham obeyed God without knowing where he was headed, John stepped out in faith and obedience.

God had already been stirring John’s heart to make the following a priority in his work:

1. Share his faith whenever he wanted
2. Speak out on social issues with biblical relevance
3. Go on short-term mission trips
4. Give people a second chance – and a third and a fourth

John needed the freedom to develop the entire culture of a company, and in 1989, God gave him the opportunity to purchase Lindsay Windows, a small window company in North Mankato, Minnesota. Today, Lindsay Windows is a thriving business with six locations around the country. John uses his platform today to bring glory to God through his words, actions, and faithful giving.

John’s heart to see the Gospel proclaimed drives his giving. He gives beyond finances by applying the LIFE acronym (Labor, Influence, Finances, and Expertise) to give time and talents as well. As John and his late wife, Sue, have given over the years, their hearts have grown even more for the Kingdom and for prayer. John attributes this to Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Two years after purchasing Lindsay Windows, John and Sue attended a presentation by the president of a large campus ministry who challenged each person to make a substantial sacrifice in reaching the world for Christ. John says, “We were in debt millions at the time, but the Holy Spirit led us to do it and to trust God to give us the resources and watch him work.” They stepped out in faith, and God provided in ways they could have never imagined. They have had the opportunity to invest in many other ministries since then, often pledging to give when the money wasn’t there, knowing that where God led, God would provide.

John remembers a time when he was challenging others to make a sacrifice by asking them to place a donation on the open Bible he held. A woman came up to him and said, “Young man, I want people to know Jesus. I know if people have Bibles, they will know Jesus.” She proceeded to dump the contents of her purse onto the open Bible. After she walked away, he looked down and saw what she gave: 38 cents. John says, “It was the least but the biggest. It’s not the size of the gift – it’s an equal sacrifice – it’s the biggest gift I’ve seen given to the Kingdom.”

John believes that God does the work in spite of us, not because of us. He says, “Maybe others could have done multiple times more than we could have, but we’re trying to take the half talent or quarter talent God has given to us and to try to multiply it.” And multiply it God has. 

Where does FCA enter the picture? John is a generous giver to FCA but was never an athlete himself. However, many years ago, local FCA staff member Jeff Juni introduced John to FCA President and former Vikings Head Coach Les Steckel. John remembers, “Les said to me, ‘If you want to change the world, it can be through movies, music, or sports.’ I chose sports. I see how people come to Christ through sport and FCA. Sports motivate people. In whatever attracts people, the Holy Spirit will change hearts.”

Besides investing dollars into the ministry, John has served on the local and national board of directors. He says, “FCA is run so well. God’s favor is on it. They’re reaching people, they’re reaching kids, and they’re reaching athletes and then discipling them.”

Shane Williamson, President and CEO of FCA, said this about John: “John Roise is one of the godliest men I have ever known. Humble in spirit but confident in Christ and committed to the Gospel. Evangelism is his life …I have never been with him in any setting in which he did not take every opportunity to share Christ with whomever we encountered. As a valued Board of Trustee, his desire to be spirit-led and life experiences combined bring great wisdom to many decisions that have been critical to the future of FCA. Most importantly, John has impacted my life and marriage in profound ways as a friend, mentor, and confidant. John’s love, service, and attention for his bride Sue, as they journeyed through many difficult years is the truest reflection of Christ’s love for the Church I have ever observed.” 

John says, “When I meet Jesus, I don’t want to explain to him why I have cash in the bank. It’s all his money – it’s not ours at all. We are temporary stewards of all God has given us.” He goes on to say, “It’s about using the resources God has given us to bring the Gospel to people and see them changed for Jesus. If we can just add a little gasoline to the engine, that’s what fun. Giving 10% is a beginning point - it’s fun to give away God’s money.”

He finishes by saying, “I’m going to give it all.”