Back in the Saddle

After patiently waiting we now have a permanent location for our Cowboy Church. The Heart H Ranch in Davenport, Florida.

When we first started our ministry, we contacted Tim Wilder, the pastor of First Baptist Kissimmee, to let him know what we were doing in the area. He has been an encourager ever since, even passing out our flyers to his congregation when we have special events.

Last month I sat down to talk with Tim again just to update him on our progress and some of the challenges we faced. Before I left I gave him an outline about the Cowboy Church along with the mission statement and goals. A couple of days later I got a call from Quinton Bass, the owner of Heart H Ranch and member of First Baptist Kissimmee. As we talked he told me they had seen us at some of the Junior Rodeo events where they had attended Cowboy Church. Tim had also given him the Outline of our church and told him about our cowboy ministry. We setup a time to meet and visit him and his wife. Once we saw the place both Suzanne and I knew this would be a great place for Cowboy Church. So we left that day both agreeing to pray and let God lead us. I was about to start the Central Florida Fair for the next ten days so I really couldn't do any thing until that was over on the 30th of April.

Quinton and I talked just before the fair started and he agreed with me that the Heart H would be a good location for The Cowboy Church of Central Florida. So we made plans to have our first service on May 4.

On May 4 we left our house on the East side of Orlando and drove 48 miles to the Heart H Ranch to begin setting up at Heart H. Basically we are driving from one end of Orlando to the southwestern tip just below Disney. At 6:45 cars began arriving and by the time we started the service we had 30 people for our first service. I was very encouraged about the attendance. Since we had to move around so much after January we had lost a lot of our regulars just because of the drive. But no matter what, God has shown me that we must persist despite the odds that we face because it's not always on a smooth path that Gods lays out His plan. Prayer and communicating with God each and everyday is where He wants us. The way He communicates with us is through His word and also the message that His son Jesus Christ shares through-out the New Testament. This combined with prayer and fellowship with other believers is the best way to grow in the daily walk with Christ.

During one of her early riding lessons, the horse our daughter Devin was riding decided to take off and run around the riding ring. Devin lost her balance, performed a beautiful, although unintentional head-over dismount and crashed to the ground. Seeing what was happening I was already running to where she had landed as was the owners of the arena. We checked her out and made sure she was ok. Before her tears were even dry the owner of the ranch was walking Devin back over to the same horse that had just run away from her and proceeded put her back in the saddle. Devin didn't want to get back on, but her teacher ignored her and helped her right back up into the saddle. With alot of encouragement and attention my daughter was right back to her routine finishing up her lesson, a little shaken but wiser for the experience.

Despite our best efforts there are going to be times when we get thrown to the ground. Yet the worst thing we can do is hesitate to get back in the saddle. Jesus faced it at Gethsemane but despite the odds He submitted to His Fathers will. The victory comes in overcoming, and through Jesus we have the power, not only to overcome the odds, but to conquer.

- 'nuff said -

Eyes on the horizon

Ever get caught up in a job or a task so intensely that you forget where you were going in the first place? It's easy to do as you begin to get involved in the details of each day. I find myself looking at the broad view most of the time, then when it's time to actually get down to the details I'm less motivated by the ins' and outs' of the admin tasks. With that in mind, the lesson learned is one of humbleness and determination.

Humbling in the fact that as you begin with the vision you lay out the entire scene in your mind and the image is one of a working, thriving, active ministry. But knowing that the vision may represent success, failure, side tracks, derailments, short cuts, and finally a steady momentum. And in the midst of all that the determination to stay in the saddle during the entire ride. It all comes down to allowing Gods plan to work through you according to His will and time schedule not mine. Oh don't get me wrong there are plenty of business models that can put you on the fast track to growth accompanied by almost immediate success. Only then will someone either recognize that it's just another slick model or you are trying to out run Gods will for your life. The later being the correct place to be, Gods will.

Just think what your reaction would be if you saw what God sees for you two, five even ten years down the road. I might make your head explode. It may take time to grow but if God is cultivating it then He will prune, graft, tend the soil and water your vision for His purpose. Remember we are caretakers, fishermen, cowhunters and men and women called to service in partnership with Jesus Christ. We know the plan, let's not rush into it or try and reinvent the wheel. God prepares a mans heart, we plant the seed through the truth of Gods plan, Jesus provides the way for eternal life and again it is our task to cultivate each person as they grow in the knowledge of Gods truth.

There's a friend of mine who is now in fulltime Cowboy ministry at 76 years of age. He goes to most every Junior and High School Rodeo in the state of Florida conducting devotionals and Cowboy Church. This past weekend he drove about 350 miles round trip to share the Good News of Jesus Christ at a rodeo in Okeechobee, on his own money. The other day while we were having lunch he said "I can't believe I waited this long to go and share the gospel to these young men and women." He's been around rodeo most of his life and knows many of the stars of the sport. But one of the other cowboys sitting at the table wisely said God has you right where He wants you, here and now.

So with that said I'll quote the words of another fine cowboy philosopher;

Sit tall in the saddle
Hold your head up high
Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky
An live like you ain't afraid to die
and don't be scared
Just enjoy the ride
Chris LeDoux

Cowboy up!

Inside in the Middle

Most cowboys that ride bronks or bulls will tell you it's all about keeping your mind in the middle. Even the barrel racers say having the fastest horse is nothing if you can't turn. In any rodeo event it's all about timing and being mentally prepared. The same goes for those who have been called to work in ministry, you've got to be prepared to go where it is you've been called to go. Ok now in plain english, get ready, get set, go! All the planning in the world won't make a difference if you never take a step out in faith.

Saturday March 11 we launched the Cowboy Church at Lithia-Pinecrest with our Cowboys in Concert series featuring Tommy Brandt and Travis Lewis. Both of whom have played for us in at Mill Town Cowboy Church services. These two men have an incredible call on their life to share the gospel with their unique style of cowboy country music. Our event as held at the Holmes Equestrian Center in Litha, FL. Mike Holmes and I had been planning this for about a month and it came off even better than we had planned. The event began with a cookout then music. Mike and Sherry Moore of WTBN AM 570-910 were our MC's for the evening. They host a radio program every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 PM called Community in Focus which features ministries from all around Florida and those local to the Tampa Bay area.

Everyone that came Saturday night said they would be back. Even with the Strawberry Festival going on we still had over 100 families attend the inaugural event. Our next event is going to be April 8, Barbaque begins at 5:00 PM, music at 7:00 PM. April will feature a Barn Dance, so be sure and come prepared to swing your partner.

We (me, the wife, and the two kids) left Lithia around 10 PM Saturday night for a 1 hour ride to Arcadia, a hot shower and a bed up off the ground, on our way to help with Cowboy Church at the Arcadia Rodeo. As fate would have it we had just passed Zolfo Springs which is about 24 miles from Arcadia and I said to Suzanne, "I think we're draging something!" Well we were, besides the 16 cargo trailer full of food and drinks and all our PA and lighting equipment, I was draging the left rear tire on the trailer.

Now I have had tires go down before but let me tell you this tire, which by the way was only 4 months old, disintegrated on the wheel. There was nothing left but a small rubber ring and some shards of steel radial. It was basicly acting like a 15 inch grinder going 60 MPH. If you've never been to Zolfo Springs imagine a little country town with one light and it blinks most of the time. The section of the road we discovered the tire wasn't even wide enough for us to pull of and change it. So, I stopped and began changing what was left of the tire. At this point I had been up since 7 AM and I was ready for bed, I just wanted to get the family to the hotel so we could relax. Well the good Lord had something else in mind. Jay Avant from our sponsor church in St Cloud had come down to help with the event in Lithia and before he left I had asked him to bring me a spare tire. If it hadn't been for him we'd have been stranded in Zolfo and "NO!" I mean No! stores are open on Sunday in Zolfo. With the help of two very understanding State Troopers we were able to get the tire replaced and back to Zolfo to put air in the spare, ...it was flat too.!!!

Sunday morning! Travis, Everett from Reality Ranch Minsitries (Zolfo Springs), Mike Fletcher of Spur on Ministries and myself setup for Cowboy Church at the Arcadia Rodeo. By the way, Saturdays rodeo was sold out not even standing room only was available, this was a big rodeo. Everett opened up with his usual brand of humor and gospel, I really enjoy listening to him. He knows everybody there and loves to share Jesus with all of the Cowboys and Cowgirls. I spoke breifly about our cowboy ministry in Central Florida and then turned it over to Mike.

Mike introduced a man that he had invited to give a testimony. Well, he introduced Donnie Gay, 8 time world bull riding champ and Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee. I had seen him sitting there in the front row but it didn't dawn on me who he was until Mike asked him to speak. It was amazing hearing him talk about his life on the rodeo circuit chasing those dreams and belt buckles. But even more impressive was hearing how Jesus came into his life and changed him. Once you've been around the rodeo crowd you will understand what that means. Old habits die hard. The rodeo way isn't an easy life even when you're on top of your game. Then ad to that God convicting you to be an example to your friends. Many of who measure a cowboy by his ability to ride a 2000 lb bull or bronk after a night of being places you shouldn't be and drinking like there is no tomorrow. There is no doubt that this man lives his life for Jesus because he is reaching men and women for Jesus Christ on a national level. One cowboy at a time.

Mike Fletcher wrapped up the service talking about living holy lives, one day at a time.

It's all about relationships.

Saddle up, see you on the trail.

Ridin' the Plains

Only a short drive just south of Kissimmee, Florida is a quiet Dude Ranch on the banks of the Kissimmee River called River Ranch Resort. It's like slipping back in time to the days when Cowhunters roamed the wilds of Florida.

We drove down Sunday morning to help put on Cowboy Church at the Florida High School Rodeo. This two day event brought young cowboys and cowgirls from all over the state to compete. Tama, one of the ladies who has been coming to our Cowboy Church in Kissimmee drove down with us. Even though you are just a little south of Osceola County it takes an hour and a half to get there. And trust me it is in the middle of no where. But it is beautiful.

Randy Johnson who is the Chaplain for the High School Rodeo Association leads the service. Suzanne and I have just offered our help any time Randy goes and holds Cowboy Church. Randy is well known throughout the rodeo community and every teen there knows him and the always come around to hug his neck or shake his hand. He also operates a small ranch in Zolfo Springs, Florida called Reality Ranch Ministries. His ranch brings at risk children to the ranch and teaches them how to care for and ride horses. Each Sunday they have a Cowboy Church and once a month feature a Cowboy Fellowship on the last Friday of the month.

Cowboy Church started with 65 rodeo contestants and their Moms and Dads. It always warms my heart to see just how many of these kids show up on a Sunday morning. Randy always presents the gospel in a practical way and relates the message to their everyday life. Randy asked me to close the service by giving an invitation for those who had never accepted Christ into their lives.

If you would like to join us as we travel to various Rodeos across the state please feel free to contact us through our web site listed above. Grab your hat and boots and lets share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Cowboys and Concerts

On March 11, 2006 Mill Town Cowboy Church of Central Florida will venture out West to a small town outside of Plant City called Lithia. It will be our first effort at planting a Cowboy Church post since beginning our ministry in Kissimmee-St Cloud this past August.

The event called Cowboys in Concert will be held at the Holmes Equestrian Center on Lithia-Pinecrest Rd and Highway 39. This area has a vast array of equestrian facilities and riding stables.

I was introduced to Mike Holmes through one of the bullriders that attended our church in Kissimmee but has since moved to Tampa to work horses and cows. Mike along with his wife Denise publish Horse and Tack magazine which is the largest horse publication in Florida.

When Mike and I met it was like a light went on and a common ground was immediately established. We decided to make this a preview event to introduce cowboy church to the area. Our goal with a cowboy ministry is to reach those that might not feel comfortable going to a brick and mortar building for church. Someone who hasn't been to church or just fallen away because they didn't feel like they fit in. Here you can come as you are, boots, jeans, big buckles and cowboy hats, are all welcome.

The event begins at 5:00 PM on Saturday March 11 with a cookout, hot dogs, hamburgers, games for the kids and just a fun time. Then at 7 PM we will be featuring two local Cowboy Gospel musicians. Travis Lewis from Turkey Creek and Tommy Brandt from Sebring, Florida. Travis has played on the Grand Ole Opry stage with Hank Snow and has a unique style and sound with a powerful gospel message. Tommy has won CCMA New Artist of the Year in 2004.

After the music we will present the Gospel message, the Good News of Jesus Christ.

This is an exciting time as we answer Gods call to share the love and grace given to us through Jesus Christ. I hope you will come and join us as we saddle up into a great adventure.

Silver Spurs Boots and Buckles

The 117th Silver Spurs Rodeo was held this weekend, February 17-19, during the Osceola County Fair at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, FL. This 3 day event brings cowboys and cowgirls from all over the U.S. to compete in Bull Riding, Bronc Bustin, Roping and Barrel Racing.

I recieved a call on Monday from one of the top hand committee members asking if our church, Mill Town Cowboy Church, could provide volunteers for the weekend. This was a big opportunity to get involved. So without having any volunteers to commit to the event I said "Yes !" and then began calling that minute to locate our members and arrange volunteers for the weekend.

It turned out to be some of the largest crowds to date since the new indoor arena was build 2 years ago.

Sunday morning we began Cowboy Church at 11am with Travis Lewis singing his unique brand of Cowboy Gospel music. Ben Lee, a PRCA Bull Fighter, gave his testimony how Christ has changed his life while working on the rodeo circuit. Randy Johnson, who is the Chaplain for the Junior and High School Rodeo Associations in Florida and founder of Reality Ranch Ministries shared a message on living each day as an example for others to see.

The Cowboy Church was held in the Hospitality Room and over 40 Cowboys and Cowgirls attended the service. After the service was over we passed out nearly a case of Cowboy Bibles and Travis gave away 65 of his CDs.

www.cowboyministry.com