When I got on the local radio program called "Swap Shop" announcing "Back in the Saddle" a woman called in donating 6 horses to ride. She told me about a church in Kirbyville called "The Three Crosses Cowboy Church." She said they don't have a building yet so they all ride their horses to a local pasture and have the service there. ![ex[brrrrr]](/users/3011/10/21/46/smiles/530995.gif)
I started in Spurger at the big First Baptist Church. I was introduced to the head of the deacons who listened to my plea to talk about "Back in the Saddle" to the congregation. He didn't seem to warm to the idea at all and regarded me with a jaded eye for some reason. He said he would present it to the other deacons and assistant pastor and for me to call him back.
So I needed cement and went to Kirbyville, that's when I remembered the Cowboy church. I saw a flier on the window announcing the rodeo that they put on and was writing down the number when a girl who works there said they meet right down the road at 10:30. It was 10:15 when I got my ticket to pick up my supplies around back. I pulled back there and a truck was in the bay where the cement was, I looked at my watch... ten minutes to go before the service so I left for the church.
They hold it now at an old auction barn. I got there and saw a crowd of people wearing jeans and cowboys hats standing outside. I parked and asked a girl who the preacher was, "My daddy, right here." she introduced me to Scott. He was wearing jeans, boots, a work coat and a cowboy hat. He listened to my story about want to talk to the congregation about my program, he smiled and said, "How about today?" I got a cup of coffee and mingled with the crowd standing in the cold. I saw old cowboy boots with mud and manure on them, overalls and flannel shirts but a lot of smiles.
A bell like a cow bell rang and we moved into the auction barn. There are rows of old, worn seats going up where people sit and bid on the livestock. The rails where the livestock is led out for bid is a small pen in the front of the barn. The band was set up behind the rails. A stand up bass, a slide guitar, an electric guitar, an acoustical, a banjo and several women who sang. The music was good with a down home, country twang to it. The lead singer dropped his pick and said "I won't be putting this back in my mouth." The crowd laughed, it is a very casual group to put it mildly.
When the music ended Scott, the minister introduced me right off the bat and I went up front, took the mike and made my plea. Scott delivered a really good, spirit filled sermon. I looked down as a movement caught my eye, a dog had wandered in and looked at the preacher for a few minutes, then walked back out. He returned a few times. When it was all over, people began to sign my roster. I told them I had never seen a dog in church before. They said that last week, a chicken was clucking in the seats, looking for a place to lay an egg and the week before that a rooster sat in the seats watching the whole sermon. These are country people and they don't mind, they said a cow will moo right behind the wall and everyone will say "amen!"
I got eight volunteers, three wagons with mules to pull them and a lot of new friends as well as a new church home. I invited the kids next Sunday, they have to experience this. We have a building with central air and heat, just need the money for the land which is coming. I'm glad that I joined now because it will lose the rustic charm of chickens, dogs and roosters in the congregation once we move in, but it is a great group of people.
I started in Spurger at the big First Baptist Church. I was introduced to the head of the deacons who listened to my plea to talk about "Back in the Saddle" to the congregation. He didn't seem to warm to the idea at all and regarded me with a jaded eye for some reason. He said he would present it to the other deacons and assistant pastor and for me to call him back.
So I needed cement and went to Kirbyville, that's when I remembered the Cowboy church. I saw a flier on the window announcing the rodeo that they put on and was writing down the number when a girl who works there said they meet right down the road at 10:30. It was 10:15 when I got my ticket to pick up my supplies around back. I pulled back there and a truck was in the bay where the cement was, I looked at my watch... ten minutes to go before the service so I left for the church.
They hold it now at an old auction barn. I got there and saw a crowd of people wearing jeans and cowboys hats standing outside. I parked and asked a girl who the preacher was, "My daddy, right here." she introduced me to Scott. He was wearing jeans, boots, a work coat and a cowboy hat. He listened to my story about want to talk to the congregation about my program, he smiled and said, "How about today?" I got a cup of coffee and mingled with the crowd standing in the cold. I saw old cowboy boots with mud and manure on them, overalls and flannel shirts but a lot of smiles.
A bell like a cow bell rang and we moved into the auction barn. There are rows of old, worn seats going up where people sit and bid on the livestock. The rails where the livestock is led out for bid is a small pen in the front of the barn. The band was set up behind the rails. A stand up bass, a slide guitar, an electric guitar, an acoustical, a banjo and several women who sang. The music was good with a down home, country twang to it. The lead singer dropped his pick and said "I won't be putting this back in my mouth." The crowd laughed, it is a very casual group to put it mildly.
When the music ended Scott, the minister introduced me right off the bat and I went up front, took the mike and made my plea. Scott delivered a really good, spirit filled sermon. I looked down as a movement caught my eye, a dog had wandered in and looked at the preacher for a few minutes, then walked back out. He returned a few times. When it was all over, people began to sign my roster. I told them I had never seen a dog in church before. They said that last week, a chicken was clucking in the seats, looking for a place to lay an egg and the week before that a rooster sat in the seats watching the whole sermon. These are country people and they don't mind, they said a cow will moo right behind the wall and everyone will say "amen!"
I got eight volunteers, three wagons with mules to pull them and a lot of new friends as well as a new church home. I invited the kids next Sunday, they have to experience this. We have a building with central air and heat, just need the money for the land which is coming. I'm glad that I joined now because it will lose the rustic charm of chickens, dogs and roosters in the congregation once we move in, but it is a great group of people.
