Cowboy Churches

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Comment by Shelton Bissell on June 6, 2019 at 7:05am

How do we find contact information for the churches?

Comment by Gene Tatum on April 24, 2015 at 4:46pm

Hello Everyone!  We are new to the ICCAN and I must say that the last few days have been a breath of fresh air for me.  I have been on the website every opportunity that I have and been wonderfully blessed.

In November 2010 we opened the doors of a small country church in a rural community near my parents farm between Dougass and Cushing in East Texas.  The building was a beautiful Iron Ore Stone building and had been "shut down" since 2007.  The members had all passed on or were in assisted living and no one was attending.  We were able to open the building for just the light bill payment (about$50.00/month) and began having church with 8 in attendance on even Sundays of the month.  I was still rodeo announcing at the time and it fit my weekend schedule.  We struggled for the first year to have an attendance of 12 on most Sundays until the fall of 2011 when we began having church every Sunday.  I had announced a rodeo in August in Orange Texas when there was a severe drought and the evening temps were in the 100 degrees.  On the Saturday Night Performance I stroked out from the heat.  I finished the performance with the help of my wife (a paramedic) and the other paramedics and was taken to my motel room.  It was there that the Lord said to me I was done as an announcer which I had done for some 20 plus years.

In the Spring of 2012 we began advertising as a Cowboy ministry and our attendance had still not grown.  Had I missed the Lord? Was this all there was ever going to be?  Other churches in the area were about the same 12 to 20 in attendance.  Even some of the members were saying "well it's never been larger than 30 for years due to the size of the community with 5 churches in a 10 mile radius". Had I missed it?

In the Spring of 2013 I had a banner made and tied it up on a couple of  T post in the front yard of the church saying "AMONG FRIENDS COWBOY MINISTRIES" of Looneyville, TX. Suddenly by mid summer our crowds began reaching 30, then 40, then 50.  The Lord sent us a keyboard player, guitar player and a Praise Team leader.  They joined my Mom on the piano and brother Johnny on the drums.  WE HAD A BAND!!! We began having Saturday Night Singings, Sunday services outside, at the Lake, and here on the Farm. I continued to preach the Word with demonstrations and enthusiasm. Our last singing in April filled the building up!

In addition to the increased numbers in attendance the Lord has blessed us with the talent and funds to do much needed repairs and improvements to the building and grounds. We know have a newly remodeled fellowship hall, Sunday School Room, storage room, new ceiling and new carpet in the auditorium. We recently also added a parking area and will begin adding additional handicap ramps and steps with nice decks and covers. God is so good!

I have prayed for other ministries that I can find fellowship and a kindred  spirit and from what I see here on the ICCAN website is an answer to my prayers.  Thank you Mike Holmes for introducing me to the ICCAN. 

Finally, I said all this to say simply "DON'T GIVE UP!  STAY TRUE TO YOUR CALLING! GOD NEVER FAILS!"

Comment by The Jamersons on November 24, 2014 at 8:47pm

We will be attending the FL Roundup for the first time and this is a new area for us. We would like to exchange some contacts. We live in TN and sing in WV, OH, GA, AL, and NC.

Comment by Richard B. Shepard on January 7, 2014 at 2:09pm

Need a New Years Resolution?
How about building your relationship with God?
"Believe God" is a perfect way to get started! It's easy to understand and keeps you interested with beautiful western photographs and content you can relate to. We only ask $2.99 for shipping!

Use BG1FREE at checkout...

http://www.westernmeadows.com/#!product/prd4/682557471/believe-god-study-book-1

Comment by Richard B. Shepard on December 4, 2013 at 5:40pm

Hey Everyone! If you are looking for Ranch or Rodeo themed devotionals for your church or ministry, we've got you covered! These also make great stocking stuffers! Each set contains 6 pocket sized devotionals, gift wrapped in an organza bag. Only $15 per set, that includes priority shipping. Choose from: Rodeo, Ranch, or Creation theme-Each theme has 3 different series-Getting Started, or Living For Jesus. Please click the link below to learn more:

Shirt Pocket Devotionals

Comment by Andy Starks,ICCAN Int'l Director on October 4, 2013 at 2:25pm

"Sharpening Your Focus"

If you were to ask all the pastors in America who they are trying to reach with the message of salvation, 90% would probably give you the same answer, "Everybody!" That is exactly why many are not doing it. If you are trying to reach all people of all cultures, you will probably wind up very frustrated.

The cowboy church is a specialized ministry with a special focus, at least, we claim to have a special focus. The problem is, that we often change our appearance, but not our focus. We still use the ‘scatter gun’ approach to our ministry and try to hit everybody. Then we have no focus.

When you became a cowboy church, you automatically became a very exclusive ministry. The vast majority of people in your community will never enter your doors. It will never cross their minds to attend your church. They won’t be ugly about it, they’re just not interested. They don’t associate with cowboys any other time, so it would never cross their minds to associate with cowboys on Sunday morning. Let the contemporary churches reach out to they. You’re a cowboy church. Reach out to cowboys.

We would not expect a Spanish ministry to appeal to the Oriental population of a community. Neither would we expect the deaf ministry to reach out to the bikers. Then why do many cowboy churches lose their focus on cowboys and try to reach everybody? If we are a cowboy church, we should do everything with that in mind. Our cowboy decor’ alone will not meet the need. When visitors come to a cowboy church, they expect to find more than a costume party; more than people having a contemporary worship service, with contemporary music, and contemporary preaching; more than just the surface differences. They expect to find cowboys having church! Cowboy dress and decor’ of course, but also cowboy music and cowboy preaching; cowboy discourse before and after church; cowboy activities; cowboy lifestyle manifest in cowboy worship.

When reading ‘western’ novels, you find many that are cops and robbers in hats and boots; detective stories with a cowboy facade; romance stories with a twang. It’s easy for a cowboy church to fall into the same trap. If the focus of the church is cowboys, then the focus of everything they do should be cowboy. The physical location, the church name and sign, the exterior and interior decor’, the places and means of advertising, the events and their locations, etc. Go where the cowboys go. Advertise in what the cowboys read. Get ads on the country radio stations. Put up signs at the local arenas and sale barns. Put card in their rest rooms. You’re not going to reach everybody, so stop trying! Focus all your attention, efforts, finances, etc. on cowboys.

The more ‘cowboy’ you make your ministry, the more effective you are going to be. It may be time to sharpen your focus.

Comment by Richard B. Shepard on October 2, 2013 at 3:17pm

We hope you will be excited about the Biblical truths in this powerful little booklet! The Bible is clear, that repenting and turning to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the best thing anyone can do in life. So why should we repent? Because God loves you, God wants to help you, God wants to bless you, and God wants to forgive you! Our rodeo cowboy definition of repent is, “Whoa! Stop Sinning! Get back and get away from sin! Pay attention to God and what he wants you to do!” These are economically priced at $2.00 each. Sold in bulk packages of 20 for $40.00

Click here for more info

Comment by Richard B. Shepard on September 25, 2013 at 6:09pm

Hello Everyone!

We've added new color posters to our "Gift to Cowboy & Western Churches & Ministries Outreach"

Western Meadows wants to help you get going in your Christian ministry.  As a one time gift, we will send you our ministry package, a $290 value, for the cost of shipping and handling !

Our new posters are 8 x 10-The outreach package is available in two themes-Ranch or Rodeo.

Each package contains:

5 NIV Burgundy Soft-Cover Cowboy Bibles

18 Shirt-Pocket Devotionals

20 Cowboy Repentance Booklets

80 Full Color "The Value of You!" Brochures for men & women

100 Tough Times Devotional Brochures

10 Full Color 8x10 posters

40 Western Meadows Full Color Brochures

All we ask is $25 for shipping and handling..

Click the link below for details:

Western Meadows-Outreach Gift Package

Comment by Brian Graves on November 24, 2012 at 11:34am

Hey Gary,

I'm excited to hear you just starting out!  Remember...this is GOD'S WORK...if you are following His call...HE WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS!!!! We just had our 2 year anniversary...2 and a half years ago, I was somewhat in your boots...we had NO support and EVERYONE thought I was CRAZY!!! -  We started with NO support and after we started for the first year the only support we had was 300.00 a month and only one person accepted Christ.

No looking back over the 2 years I can't  believe how AMAZINGLY God has provided....We started at the Fair Grounds just like you, this month we moved into our own building and we've seen 22 people accept Christ and be baptized this year!  

I just want to let you know...you are NOT alone...God WILL provide...IN HIS TIME and DON'T QUIT! Cowboy Up! :)

We will add you to our prayers....God Bless you Bro...

- Pastor Brian - Hope Corral Cowboy Church 

Comment by Pastor Lynn Kirkland on November 12, 2012 at 8:35am

I have a question for ICCN leadership and the member/pastors:  Cowboy churches don't usually make a big fuss over taking an offering each week.  Historically there is a box or bucket or hat in the back for anyone that would like to to drop their tithe or offering in.  I attended a new Hispanic Church on Saturday night and there offering time was a time of celebration!  No offering was too small but most everyone participated.  Should we at Cowboy Churcdh reconsider our "tradition"?  Please RSVP.  I would like to hear your thoughts.

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