60 seconds with Dale Cowles

You might think that returning home to a drizzly Seattle rain would dampen his appreciation of four sun-drenched days at CMA's annual conference in Palm Springs. Think again. . . .

Mark Cutshall 

Less than a week after he and wife, Mary Rae, attended the Christian Management Partners gathering at CMA's recent annual conference, Dale Cowles was still buzzing. A former insurance executive, he wants nothing to do with the word "retirement." Can you tell why?

CMR: We have you on record saying your longtime friend and fellow CMP cohort, George Duff, made you say "Uncle!" when he asked you to join Christian Management Partners.
COWLES: George took me to lunch and twisted my arm behind my back (all in fun, of course) and got me to invest in CMP. The vision of creating a group of people who could help CMA increase the organizational effectiveness of hundreds of ministries really resonated with me. And I got my arm back.

CMR: But you have a confession to make, right?
COWLES: Yes, The first two years I donated to CMP but I didn't attend the gatherings. However, once Mary Rae and I started coming to the annual gatherings, there was no way we'd ever stay home.

CMR: Talk about the great friendships you've formed as a result of CMP.
COWLES: We've come to know some really neat people from some unique ministries, folks we wouldn't have met otherwise. Being involved in CMP has deepened our commitment to CMA. For the past three years, we've sponsored the CMA conference attendance for the leadership of a Seattle ministry called Urban Impact. As a result, they've learned to be more efficient and effective in their important work serving Seattle's central area.

CMR: So what would you most like to tell others about CMP?
COWLES: Unless you want to come to the conference every year—including next spring's meeting in Dallas, April 21-24—don't start! You won't want to stop.

CMR: Our minute is almost up. Give us one of your best CMP memories.
COWLES: Last year, we met a guy, Don Schoendorfer, whose organization, Free Wheelchair Mission, has delivered more than 200,000 wheelchairs in over 65 countries throughout the world. Wow, now there's a guy I would never have known even existed, had it not been for CMP.

CMR: Can you keep a secret? George Duff knows Don and invited him to CMP. 
COWLES: Shows you how a little friendly arm-twisting can get people more involved in furthering God's work.

DALE COWLES and his wife Mary Rae make their home in Bellevue, Washington. You can reach them at dalelcowles@aol.com.

MARK CUTSHALL runs the world's smallest public relations firm out of Seattle — mcutsh@aol.com.