Cowboy churches reach out in rodeo arenas

By Melissa Lilley

BR Intern

Gospel music blasted throughout the rodeo arena in Mt. Pleasant as people filed in and took their seats in the bleachers. A flatbed truck housing a microphone and speakers sat in the middle of the arena. Opening the evening's events were three girls riding horseback and carrying the Christian and American flags.

Kenneth Holland and his wife had arrived early, and as they waited for the events to get underway an usher, dressed in jeans, a white cowboy hat and T-shirt, stopped by their seats. "He said to us, 'I'll show you where the restrooms are,'" said Holland. "He then pointed out the door to a port-a-potty."

That Monday night the Hollands were not waiting to see cowboys ride bulls or barrel race. Instead, they experienced a worship service when eight people were baptized and 35 joined the church.

Holland, interim team leader for the Baptist State Convention church planting team, is one of several from the convention assisting Jeff Smith in his goal of starting 10 cowboy churches each year. Smith, pastor at Young Memorial Baptist Church in Concord, said he wants to create a worship setting where cowboys feel at ease. From casual dress and unique worship location, the churches are aimed at drawing people in from the trails.

Cowboy churches meet one night during the week, rather than Sunday because most cowboys only have the weekend to ride. "You can witness saddle to saddle, but their heart is still on the trail come Sunday morning," said Smith.

The goal for the ministry is to bring cowboys into church during the week, lead them to Christ and then see them plugged into a local church. "You're not going to get the cowboy out of the saddle on Sunday if he's not a Christian," said Smith. "But if he falls in love with Jesus, he'll leave the horse in the barn and come on to church."

Smith has started three Southern Baptist cowboy churches in North Carolina, the most recent being the Triad Church in Archdale. When Smith first met with the church Sept. 21. at the triad livestock arena, 65 people attended and eight were saved. The evening included a performance by the flag girls, music courtesy a cowboy band and pony rides for children after the service.

The first cowboy church started by Smith was the Tri County church in Mt. Pleasant. The first night the church met 68 people attended and five accepted Jesus.

The Tri County church now has a pastor and continues to meet Monday night. The second cowboy church Smith started in King meets Thursday night at the American Legion bull-riding arena. The church averages 100 people each week.

Holland and the church planting team assist Smith in finding contacts within the association where he is planting a new church. "Jeff has the vision, we just bring church planting experience alongside him," said Holland. From how to develop a church constitution to planning small group outreach, Holland and his team provide training to help the ministry succeed.

"You talk about it to some folks and they look at you like you're crazy," said Smith. "But these guys have stood by me and encouraged me."

Though the cowboy churches do not follow traditional format, the ideas are the same. "We baptize by immersion - we just do it in a horse trough," said Smith. "We take up the offering - we just literally pass a hat. We have a sermon, but the preacher wears boots, a cowboy hat and a belt buckle."

Holland described the baptismal service the night he attended the Tri County church in Mt. Pleasant. "There was an opening in the wall and a truck came out with a water trough - very similar to a bath tub - in the back," said Holland. "It stopped right in front of us, and then another truck was backing up to it. Eight people were in the back of the truck, and one by one they stepped into the trough. They had no robes, only regular clothes."

Holland said after the service the preacher stepped down from the platform in the middle of the arena, and with a microphone clipped to his shirt walked back and forth in front of the bleachers preaching.

"It was just a real delight to be there, because it was obvious God was there," said Holland. The service Holland attended was the one-year anniversary of the church. After one year 88 people at the church have accepted Jesus.

Smith told of a cowboy he met at the Tri County church after he accepted Jesus. "He was a rough and tumble kind of guy, and he was bawling," said Smith. "He said to me, 'Man, this is just what I needed - I'll be here." Smith said the man told him at the cowboy church he did not worry about wearing the right style of clothing or fitting in - he could just be himself.

The plan for the cowboy churches is for them to be included into the Baptist association in their area. Smith said his goal is for each church to become independent, and is seeking preachers to lead the congregations. "I need people who can stand up without a pulpit in front of them, with a Bible in their hands, and preach," he said. "Whoever God leads is who we want."

Smith is helping pastor Don Martin start a cowboy church in Taylorsville in late October. Through the cowboy churches in North Carolina, Smith has also helped people start churches in South Carolina and Louisiana.

Holland said he is excited about the future of the cowboy churches. "I hope N.C. Baptists will be patient with us and Jeff and see where God takes us," said Holland. "I hope we can continue on with our hand in God's hand and let Him take the ministry where He wants it."

(EDITOR'S NOTE -For more information on cowboy churches contact Jeff Smith at (980) 521-6371 or pastorymbc@vnet.net.)