'Cowboy Churches' Round Up Riding Community for Fellowship
by Allie Martin
May 12, 2005
(AgapePress) - A North Carolina minister is reaching out to a group he claims is often forgotten by mainstream churches. Thanks to his innovative ministry, members of the saddle and spur set now have somewhere to hang their hats and worship -- at any of several spiritual hitching posts that Pastor Jeff Smith calls "cowboy churches."Smith served as a pastor with churches in North Carolina for years. Then, several years ago, the Christian minister purchased a horse. Over time he became friends with others who rode either for leisure or in competitions. And as he interacted with these modern cowboys, he says he realized the mainstream churches were just not reaching them.
Visit the 'Cowboy Church Network' website
So, the riding reverend started a weekly "cowboy church," which met in a rodeo arena on a weeknight. He says the services attracted many people who tend to feel out of place at most other churches.
"I think there's a place for the traditional church," Smith observes. "I pastor a traditional church of around 200 on Sunday morning. We pass the offering plate, and I dress in a suit and tie. I certainly don't think that my way of doing the cowboy church is the only way," he says.
On the contrary, Smith asserts, "The traditional church and the contemporary church are ministering to people, and the cowboy churches are ministering to a whole different group of people. That's why we started it. There's just a need there."
According to the North Carolina clergyman, the cowboy churches do not resemble traditional churches much, and nor do its typical attendees much resemble those in mainstream congregations. "We don't require them to dress a certain way," he notes. "They come in their boots, blue jeans, belt buckles, cowboy hats, or maybe sneakers and a ball cap. We don't require them to dress in a suit and tie and all that."
And Smith notes, "We also have worship during the week. It'll be either Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday night. Any one of those nights is a good night to start a cowboy church." He points out that Sunday services would not work well for a typical cowboy church, since competitions are often scheduled across weekends and "because for these folks, some of them, this is their livelihood."
Smith has planted 11 cowboy churches so far. He says his goal is to open at least 10 such churches a year.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
