BYU Graduate Abandons Dream Career After One Summer Changes Everything
Sometimes the most unexpected detours become our greatest destinations. David Bowman's transformation from a destined illustrator to a faith-focused educator showcases that our talents often serve as stepping stones rather than final destinations. In this episode of the Why We Believe show with Nathan Gwilliam, David brings unique perspectives to discussions about career pivots, spiritual callings, and using creative gifts for ministry, as the creator of the viral "Drawn In" video series and former seminary teacher.
David's credentials span both artistic excellence and educational impact. After earning his illustration degree from BYU and serving a mission, he seemed positioned for a traditional art career. However, his journey took an unexpected turn that would eventually lead to touching millions of families worldwide through his innovative approach to teaching gospel principles through visual storytelling. His story reveals that sometimes our greatest talents are designed to prepare us for purposes we never anticipated.
The journey from aspiring professional artist to faith educator illustrates that divine redirections often come disguised as temporary opportunities. David's experience encourages anyone questioning their career path to remain open to spiritual promptings, even when they seem to contradict our carefully laid plans. His story shows that following inspiration can lead to impact far beyond what we initially envision for our lives.
One Summer That Redefined Everything
David's artistic journey began in childhood, with a natural talent that seemed to emerge before he could even walk properly. He often jokes that he might have been drawing on the walls of the womb, reflecting a passion that appeared hardwired into his very being. His parents recognized this gift early, nurturing his abilities and supporting his decision to pursue illustration at BYU. The path seemed clear and predetermined - graduate, establish an art career, and build a life around creating visual works.
After completing his mission and returning to his studies, David's trajectory appeared set in stone. He had the education, the talent, and the drive to succeed in the competitive world of illustration. However, one summer working as an EFY counselor introduced him to an experience that would shake the foundations of his assumed future. Working with teenagers in a spiritual setting revealed something unexpected - his love for teaching and mentoring young people in their faith journeys.
This revelation came as both a surprise and a challenge. While David had always enjoyed his artistic pursuits, something about connecting with youth and helping them develop testimonies resonated on a deeper level than creating art for its own sake. The realization that teaching might be more fulfilling than illustration forced him to reconsider everything he thought he knew about his purpose and calling. This internal shift would ultimately lead him to make a decision that seemed to contradict his natural talents and educational investment.
The Seminary Teaching Years
The decision to pursue seminary teaching represented a significant departure from David's original plans. Instead of launching into the art world immediately after his mission, he chose to follow the spiritual promptings he felt during his EFY experience. This meant additional preparation and a completely different career trajectory than what he had envisioned throughout his college years. The transition required faith that this new direction would prove as fulfilling as the artistic calling he was setting aside.
Seminary teaching provided David with the opportunity to combine his love for youth ministry with structured gospel instruction. The role allowed him to develop his teaching skills while working within the established framework of church education. However, even within this fulfilling environment, David continued to feel creative stirrings that suggested his artistic background might play a larger role in his future than he initially realized. The experience taught him that our talents rarely disappear when we change directions - they often evolve to serve new purposes.
During his seminary years, David began to recognize that his artistic abilities and teaching passion didn't have to exist separately. He started envisioning ways to combine visual creativity with gospel instruction, planting seeds for innovations that would later define his career. The security and structure of church employment provided a valuable learning environment, but something continued to nudge him toward exploring how his unique combination of skills might serve families and youth in ways beyond traditional classroom settings.
The Leap Into Creative Ministry
After several years in seminary teaching, David faced another crossroads that would require significant faith. Despite the security and satisfaction of his position, he felt inspired to leave church employment and venture into independent creative work. This decision meant abandoning the safety net of steady income and established systems to pursue something entirely uncertain. The leap required trusting that his combination of artistic talent and teaching passion could create opportunities he couldn't yet fully envision.
David's initial focus centered on creating fine art depictions of Christ and developing illustrated children's books that applied scriptural stories to modern situations. His approach differed from traditional religious art by emphasizing close-up facial expressions that conveyed emotion and connection rather than elaborate background scenes. This unique style began attracting attention from publishers, with Deseret Book showing immediate interest in both his artwork and his book concepts. The positive response validated his decision to strike out independently.
The success of his early projects demonstrated that there was indeed a market for his distinctive approach to faith-based art and education. His children's books, particularly those that helped young readers connect Book of Mormon characters to their own daily experiences, filled a need that traditional religious materials hadn't addressed. This validation encouraged David to continue expanding his creative ministry, setting the stage for even more innovative approaches to family gospel instruction.
The Birth of Drawn In
The concept for David's "Drawn In" video series emerged from his desire to create something entirely new in family gospel education. Before COVID-19 became a global concern, David envisioned filming himself drawing while teaching gospel principles, combining visual art creation with doctrinal instruction. The timing of this inspiration proved remarkably prescient, as the series launched just months before worldwide lockdowns created an unprecedented demand for family-friendly online content.
The Drawn In series represents the ultimate fusion of David's artistic talents and teaching passion. Each episode features David drawing while discussing gospel topics, incorporating humor through character puppets, and maintaining engagement through varied content that appeals to different learning styles. The format allows families to experience both the creative process and the spiritual instruction simultaneously, creating a unique viewing experience that traditional teaching methods couldn't replicate.
Key elements that make 'Drawn In' effective include:
• Visual engagement through watching the artistic creation process
• Educational content that applies to real family situations
• Humor and entertainment that keeps children interested
• Consistent spiritual messages woven throughout each episode
• Flexible format that works for various family dynamics
• Regular release schedule that builds anticipation and routine
The series' success during the pandemic demonstrated that David's long journey from artist to teacher to creative minister had prepared him for exactly the right moment in history. Families suddenly confined to their homes desperately needed engaging, educational content that could supplement their spiritual instruction. The combination of David's artistic skills, teaching experience, and innovative thinking created a resource that met this unprecedented need.
Embrace Your Unexpected Calling
David Bowman's journey from aspiring artist to faith educator demonstrates that our talents often serve purposes we never anticipated. His story encourages anyone feeling torn between their natural abilities and spiritual promptings to remain open to divine redirection. The path from illustration student to seminary teacher to creative minister shows that seemingly disconnected experiences often weave together in ways we can't initially comprehend.
Consider examining your own life for talents and passions that might combine in unexpected ways. David's artistic abilities didn't disappear when he chose teaching - they evolved to serve his calling in more impactful ways than he could have imagined. Your own combination of skills, interests, and spiritual promptings may be preparing you for opportunities that don't yet exist but will emerge at exactly the right time.
Take time to evaluate whether you're being called to merge your talents in the service of others. David's experience with the Why We Believe show demonstrates that following spiritual impressions about career changes can lead to ministry opportunities that touch lives far beyond what traditional paths might offer. Whether through formal calling changes or creative side projects, your unique combination of abilities may be exactly what someone else needs to experience spiritual growth and connection.
Thank you for reading this week's blog post inspired by the Why We Believe show. If you are interested in more stories like this, you can check out our other blog posts and episodes at WhyWeBelieve.com.
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