Cowboy churches growing in U.S.

Religion and Spirituality ^ | July 25, 2006

[NYer]

BOAZ, July 26 (UPI) — The newest iteration in the U.S. church growth movement's drive to boost attendance on Sunday mornings is something called "cowboy churches."

As evangelical Christian congregations within the country and western culture, cowboy churches often meet in a barn or western-themed building. Some have their own rodeo arenas and country bands. Oftentimes, cattle tanks are used for baptisms.

During the recent Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., a "stampede event" aimed at highlighting cowboy churches showcased cowboys and cowgirls from across North Carolina. Jeff Smith of the Cowboy Church Network of North America attended the event.

"These churches are one of the hottest things going," Smith said. "The cowboy church movement has grown so fast. It's working. Cowboys who weren't going anywhere before now have somewhere to go."

Randall Stoner, director of missions for an Alabama Baptist county association, is another advocate for the unconventional churches, Associated Baptist Press reported Wednesday.

"They [members of the Cowboy Church] have taken on the challenge of intentional evangelism," he said. "This church is reaching a segment of people that need Jesus Christ."

Otis Corbitt, who works for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, agreed.

"It's a way of creating an environment where people will feel comfortable to come and worship the Lord," Corbitt said. "There are a lot of people in our society who do not feel comfortable in our current churches."

The Cowboy Church of Marshall County in Alabama — the first of its kind in the state, according to Corbitt — held its first service May 7. The new church stemmed from a "cowboy and friends fellowship" that meets once a month at various barns throughout the county.

"We thought that if up to 140 people were coming once a month, maybe they'd come every week," Chris Campbell, a former youth minister who helped found the church, said.

The church averages 50 people each Sunday, with different pastors preaching each week. There is no standard order of events and no offering, which is typical for cowboy churches nationwide.

"It's not that you have to be a cowboy to go, but the church is for people who would feel more comfortable in a less formal setting," Corbitt said. "It is reaching out to a segment of population in Alabama that no one else was able to reach with the gospel."

David Denham, a leader at the Cowboy Church, knows what it means to be unchurched and wanting something more out of life.

"I had not been in church in over 20 years," he said. "I had been hurt in church before. Two years ago, an evangelist stopped by my work, and I was saved right there at work. It goes to show that you don't have to be at an altar in a church to get saved."

Now passionate about serving the Lord, Denham wants cowboys who don't regularly attend church on Sunday mornings to feel welcome at the Cowboy Church.

"We don't want to be a place where people who are disgruntled with the traditional church come to in order to leave their church; we want to be a place for the unchurched," he said. "We certainly have a different atmosphere here — it's a Western way of life. But there's really only one church, and that's the Lord's church."

[NYer]

[MNJohnnie]

Broke Back Churchs?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

What nonsense.

The only "Cowboy Churches" should be when real cowboys go to church.

[NYer]

Hidden Hero - Father Julian Cassar

Father Julian Cassar, Oregon mission priest.

Palm Sunday Mass.

Blessing the animals.

He winds his way up an icy ridge, near Oregon's 6,151-foot Dooley Mountain to get to his little mission chapel in Unity, counting 129 hairpin turns. Under his quickening breath, Father Julian Cassar murmurs, "God, please be my co-pilot…"

It's another day in the life of this mission priest in the Diocese of Baker, who is not the type to stay in his rectory and wait for people to come to him. "I try to go in search of the lost sheep myself, and have retrieved quite a few, " he said.

Father Julian tends to the flock in three mission chapels in this vast, craggy, breathtakingly beautiful region of the country: North Powder, Halfway, and Unity. He covers many miles, regularly making an 80-mile round trip to visit a sick parishioner, and keeping himself company in his car with Beethoven and Fats Domino cassettes. It's a quite a change from his native homeland of the tiny island or Malta - and the hustle and bustle of New York City, his assignment before coming to Oregon.

To accommodate the influx of Mexican orchard workers who gather in this area during the planting and harvest seasons, he offers Mass in Spanish - and has seen attendance go from a dozen or so to several dozen.

Money is tight, but a subsidy from Catholic Extension helps. "I've seen Catholic Extension tags on various vestments and altar furnishings," Father Julian said. "Catholic Extension donations helped build nearly all the churches I've served in."

For that support, Father Julian is grateful. He's also awestruck by the generosity of his hardworking parishioners, who "give to the Church as much as they receive from her." Father Julian keeps a parish fund for the needy, and every week, a handful of his parishioners are helped with food vouchers, gas for their stranded cars or trucks, an electricity bill, a rent payment - or even - in a dire emergency - a night in a local motel.

In the Diocese of Baker, which covers two-thirds of the state, Catholics amount to only 9 percent of the population - a situation that delights the traveling priest. Why? "Simply because there is the possibility of reaching out to make converts."

[B4Ranch]

You are really showing your low-class character today. Be proud.

[netmilsmom]

Real vestments!
What a lovely sight to see for the blessing of the animals!

[Gamecock]

hehehe

[siunevada]

I saw the headline and figured Alex was posting something from Lark News. Yee Haw!

[Alex Murphy]

I saw the headline and figured Alex was posting something from Lark News. Yee Haw!

ROTFL! My reputation preceedeth me! You should know better. Had it been one of mine, they'd have been cowboy midgets or something.

[Gamecock]

I prefer the hard hitting stories found in the Sacred Sandwich.

[colorcountry]

I'd prefer a "cowboy" type Christian Church to the majority of "churches" found in my neck of the woods.

[Utah Binger]

Spent last week in Minneapolis at my wife's family reunion. We went to a elderly care home where her 99 year old aunt and grandmother of Ted Ullyot former chief of staff of Alberto Gonzales now resides. A charming little Norwegian pastoress was in charge of the service honoring this strong line of Norwegians from South Dakota. A very special day it was! Should have seen the surprised looks of the TBM's after feeling the special spirit this woman evoked. Lutherans: Only True Church!

[colorcountry]

Lutherans are full of it (the Spirit). :-)

Hey, it's nice to see you.

Incoming Freepmail.

[trisham]

Catholics amount to only 9 percent of the population - a situation that delights the traveling priest. Why? "Simply because there is the possibility of reaching out to make converts."

*************

He's right. Good for him. Nice horse, too.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

As evangelical Christian congregations within the country and western culture, cowboy churches often meet in a barn or western-themed building. Some have their own rodeo arenas and country bands. Oftentimes, cattle tanks are used for baptisms.

When we did this sixty years ago it was because we were having a revival meeting. Ah the old brush arbor days...

[starfish923]

"We don't want to be a place where people who are disgruntled with the traditional church come to in order to leave their church; we want to be a place for the unchurched," he said. "We certainly have a different atmosphere here — it's a Western way of life. But there's really only one church, and that's the Lord's church."

unchurched!?
What nonsense.
Church du jour....only in America and other spoiled, materialistic, self-centered societies.
Where DO they come up with such nonsense?
Drugs.

[wmfights]

"I had not been in church in over 20 years," he said. "I had been hurt in church before. Two years ago, an evangelist stopped by my work, and I was saved right there at work. It goes to show that you don't have to be at an altar in a church to get saved."
_______________________________________

JESUS spent a lot of time preaching outside the temple.

[Brian Allen]

BUMPping

[Lexinom]

Woodstock churches.

Goth churches.

Hip-hop churches...

[dangus]

Glad to know those clown mass nutjobs can find steady work again. (What cowboy church doesn't need a rodeo clown?)