Sammy Gilbreath says Alabama Baptists are committed to “coloring outside the lines” when it comes to their evangelism efforts. And he’s quick to add that means outside state lines, too.
The Horse Whisperer event, an outreach crusade shaped and perfected by Alabama Baptists over the past five years, rode into Florida May 10 with Gilbreath guiding the reins.
Some 7,000 people turned out for the event at the Escambia County Equestrian Center in Pensacola, Fla., showing up in cowboy duds and packing the seats, standing around the fences and sitting in the dirt on the fringes of the arena. They watched intently as horse trainer Paul Daily presented the gospel, using the gentling of a wild horse as the centerpiece.
And it all started in Alabama, where Baptists’ commitment to Intentional Evangelism spurred the success of a program that reaches out to the folks who spend Sundays rodeoing and riding rather than sitting in the pew, said Gilbreath, director of evangelism for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).
“Churches have been very willing to try other types of events, and the Horse Whisperer has been wildly successful,” he said. “We do it for one week each year, with each night’s event in a different location in Alabama, plus an extra event every now and then. We’ve already got associations on the waiting list.”
The more than 40 gospel horse-tamings in Alabama in the past five years have all taken place in different Baptist associations, some in large arenas and others in rural settings. The average crowd is 2,500 at the SBOM-sponsored events, Gilbreath said, and there are always decisions made.
“We’ve got something that seems to be working, and we’re very willing to share,” he said. “That’s what Southern Baptist cooperation is all about. It’s fun to get together with other state evangelism directors and share and say, ‘Just because it works in our state doesn’t mean it will work in yours. But if you want to try it, we’ll be glad to train you and consult you.’”
It wasn’t long before Florida Baptists took him up on his offer.
When someone recently loaned a video of the Horse Whisperer to Buck Waters, a member of Olive Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla., he somehow lost the copy. When Waters called Gilbreath to see if he could get another, the next thing he knew, the two were planning the first Florida event.
“I don’t do horse stuff, but God told me to grab hold of it,” said Waters, who has a ministry of his own to surfers. “I called him (Gilbreath) just to talk, and he was off the chart in hospitality and graciousness. When Baptists start crossing state lines, He overflows the cup. God is blessing us for Sammy being obedient to His call.”
Waters got Gilbreath connected with Troy Bush, minister of evangelism and missions at Olive Baptist, and Bush got the two local Baptist associations on board.
“The collaboration between the church and two associations and the Alabama Baptist State Convention is as good a picture as can be given to the primary roles of partnership for evangelism and missions,” he said.
His church and churches in Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Baptist associations began recruiting volunteers to cook, wrap and sell hot dogs; help in the arena; pass out fliers; park cars; and counsel those who responded to the invitation.
Bush and associational leaders also came to Montgomery on Gilbreath’s invitation to talk through preparations and train on the methods Alabama Baptists have used with these events. “Everyone demonstrated a great Kingdom spirit instead of an empire perspective,” Bush said. “And God is really using this to touch a lot of lives in our community.”
The event was marketed strategically to non-Christians in the area and specifically in the horse community. Fliers were posted at local barns and arenas, and no churches were listed in the advertisements as sponsoring the event in order to emphasize its areawide intent.
“From the very beginning, I told [church members] that I don’t want a bunch of saved people coming — that’s a waste of our time,” said Eric Sheaffer, associate director of missions for Pensacola Bay Association. “I don’t want folks coming who are saved unless they bring a lost person. Don’t come by yourself — don’t take up space.”
The 7,000 who showed up made history in the county and arena for the event’s size and widespread draw.
“It was phenomenal. There were seeds planted that will bear fruit for a long, long time,” Gilbreath said. “The horse just happens to be the tool, but when you remove the horse, it becomes a stadium crusade — a harvest event.”
Florida Baptists are already following up with those who made decisions, dividing the cards among the churches in the associations. “It’s been a real shot in the arm for us, and I’m hoping it’s something we will be able to do more here in the state,” said David Burton, director of evangelism for the Florida Baptist Convention. “It is a great benefit and learning curve for the directors of missions and a great catalyst to promote for other parts of the state.”
And Baptists in North Carolina are right behind them, looking into implementing the model developed by Alabama.
Gilbreath said when he, Daily and others kicked it off in Alabama, he had no idea it would get so big. “Anywhere I can get 7,000 people to come to hear the gospel in the middle of the week, I’ll take it,” he said with a laugh.
Share with others: