OUR HISTORY
Set Free Church is an inspiring non-denominational Christian church founded in 1991 by the late Pastor Steven A. Bowen and his wife, Pastor Donna Bowen. The church started as a small Bible study group in a community center. However, the church quickly grew into a large congregation with an impactful mission to help the bruised and broken and find hope and healing through Jesus Christ. Since then, Set Free Church has expanded to a missions organization comprising over 35 churches in the Dominican Republic and helped start several churches across the state of South Carolina, and even a sister church in Viburnum, Missouri.
Set Free Church offers a variety of programs and services that aim to serve the community, including the Alabaster House, Predestined Outreach, Home with a Heart, Soles for Souls 5K, The Dream Center of Pickens County, Forge Men's Ministry, and more.
Above all, Set Free Church is committed to sharing the love of Jesus and helping people live free and abundant lives. It's a great place to worship and grow in faith while positively impacting the community.
THE FOUNDERS
STEVEN & DONNA BOWEN
Together, Pastors Steven and Donna Bowen devoted their lives to leading Set Free Church in Powdersville, South Carolina, a ministry birthed from a deep passion to see lives transformed by the love and power of Jesus Christ. They are the proud parents of Stefanie (married to Kevin Ridley), Aaron (married to Maggie Bowen), and Evan Bowen, and the beloved grandparents of eight grandchildren.
Pastor Steven A. Bowen, founder of Set Free Church, was a father in the faith to churches and ministries across the South and beyond. He began by teaching Sunday school and playing in the church band, later expanding his influence through pastoral leadership, nonprofit support, and missions—especially in the Dominican Republic. Known as a “pastor of pastors,” he earned his Master of Theology in 2018 and was marked by humility, wisdom, and vision. Though he passed in December 2023, Set Free Church remains a living legacy of his ministry.
Pastor Donna Bowen has served faithfully in ministry from a young age and was instrumental in the founding and flourishing of Set Free Church. Known for her deep compassion and heart for the hurting, she has always had a special love for children and parents—ensuring that everyone, from the youngest infant to the most wounded soul, encountered the love of Jesus. Her life is a reflection of grace, strength, and steadfast faith.
