Ministry Focus

The Cowans were appointed by Missions Door as church-planting missionaries to Utah in 1961. After starting and pastoring churches for several years, they wanted to do more to evangelize Mormons and help other Christians become more effective in reaching them. To accomplish that, Marv has taught seminars on witnessing to Mormons and he and others launched Utah Christian Publications, which he oversees. As part of that ministry he wrote and published books and tracts that show the difference between Mormonism and the Bible. Utah Christian Publications makes those available with other good books, tapes, videos, DVDs, etc., that provide help in witnessing to Mormons.

Faith Story

Marv's relatives were Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake area. His parents were sealed to each other and to their children for eternity in a Mormon temple ceremony. Marv served as a deacon and teacher in the LDS Aaronic priesthood before being confronted with the biblical Gospel as a teenager.

Family

Marv and Jan were married in 1956 and have four grown children: David, Cynthia, Kimberly and James. Jan passed away on February 21, 2014 as a result of cancer.

Education

After receiving Christ as Savior, Marv graduated from Bible College with a B A in 1957 and from Denver Seminary with a M.Div. in 1960. In 1987 he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary.