A passion for horses and spreading the gospel message were combined May 5 during Lookout Mountain Baptist Association’s first-ever Christian Cowboy Gathering, held at the Cherokee County Livestock Arena in Sand Rock.
More than 100 people came out for the event, which included demonstrations on shoeing a horse and wagon rides behind a pair of matching mules.
“We decided that an afternoon of music, games, demonstrations, food and rides, all carefully pointing to the peace and joy of Christian living, would help spread the word that the local churches were friendly and fun places to be,” said Lloyd Borden, director of missions for Lookout Mountain Association.
Jerome Manley, youth director for Lookout Mountain Association and Welcome Hill Baptist Church, Fort Payne, added that the gathering offered an opportunity to reach the community in a relaxed atmosphere outside the confines of a church.
“It was a casual atmosphere, and people are more apt to ministry in a casual atmosphere,” he said.
While the emphasis on horses might seem a curious way to minister, Borden said people love horses whether they are familiar with them or not.
“Whether it be trail rides or rodeos, there’s a big population out there (that) if you involve a horse in [an event], it perks up their interest,” he said.
The cowboy theme was emphasized by the Cowboy Church of Marshall County in Marshall Baptist Association, which provided a dummy calf-roping machine and a display of cowboy memorabilia. The church also distributed copies of a cowboy Bible that it created with a picture of a cowboy on the front and several key passages marked that relate to horses.
The gathering was arranged to open with music, break for activities and close with music and an invitation. Two Christian bluegrass bands, The Bailey Family and The Flint River Boys, performed during the event.
According to Borden, “[f]ood was abundant and so was the fellowship.”
“The most precious moment of the day came as the afternoon came to a close and … Terry Burke, pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, (Collinsville) gave a tremendous devotion, reminding listeners of the grace of God, and a tender invitation to anyone who was led to surrender their life to Jesus Christ,” he said.
The gathering was an offshoot of an event the association held last year with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions that featured a horse whisperer who tamed wild horses and rode them, all while presenting the gospel.
“We were trying (with this year’s event) to keep that theme alive,” Borden said.
Volunteers from Lookout Mountain Association churches helped with horseshoe games and grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.
In addition, Manley said more than $200 raised from those concessions will also help the association’s youth attend an associational youth retreat July 13–15 in Rockford.
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