Steve Bowersox, First Baptist Jacksonville :: Editorial Photography

Recently I had the privilege of photographing and writing about my friend Steve Bowersox for the Financial News & Daily Record's "Workspace" series. The series spotlights business and community leaders and the things that make their offices or workspaces uniquely their own.

Here's how the piece begins:

"Steve Bowersox had barely started his new job at First Baptist Church Jacksonville when life threw him a curve.

"After serving 16 years in a smaller congregation in Ponte Vedra, then working through a transition period with his predecessor at First Baptist, Bowersox was set to assume responsibility for the music and worship program at the Downtown church. It would be a significant professional challenge: overseeing the activities of four full-time staff directors, four large choirs, several orchestras and a number of smaller ensembles.

"But on the evening of May 7, everything was put on hold. A longtime pilot and aviation buff, Bowersox was working in a hangar at Craig Field when his 5-year-old son, Ben, accidentally triggered the overhead door. The mechanism swallowed Ben up, breaking both his arms and severing five of his fingers..."

Read more on the Daily Record's website: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540551

This Windsor chair, which was a gift from the worship team at Bowersox’s former church, is inscribed with words he always used with the team before going on stage: “Give ‘em Heaven!”

Old and new: Steve Bowersox works on his iPad while sitting at an antique oak desk used by his father.

A model tri-plane is part of a light fixture that spans the ceiling of Steve Bowersox’s office. Bowersox found the fixture, called “Aviation Wings,” in a Craig’s List ad from Seattle.

A fleet of model aircraft comprise a series of task lights that are both decorative and functional.

A model parachutist casts light above Steve Bowersox’s desk.

A vintage public-address microphone that still functions

Toy airplanes sit in front of a model hangar and control tower on Steve Bowersox’s desk.

An open Bible sits next to a miniature drum set that doubles as a fan.

A miniature saxophone and drum set are part of the music-themed décor in Bowersox’s office

A glass-topped conference table is built on the framework of an actual airplane wing, specifically a “Christen Eagle” stunt plane.

Steve Bowersox holds photos of his children Rachel (center), and twins Brooke and Ben.

Steve Bowersox looks at the chart for a Christmas carol as he plans music for the coming holiday season.