“Come As You Are” Cowboy Country Church

“Come As You Are” Cowboy Country Church AG WORLD I was driving through the middle of southern Oklahoma cowboy country last year when I came across Beaver Creek Cowboy Church The sand-colored metal building had a cross above the entrance and a billowing American flag out front It was a Saturday but the door was open Chairs were neatly arranged around circular tables with colorful checked cloths all situated on a sand floor On one side was a raised wooden stage with a small lectern speakers on tripods and stands that held guitars and a banjo An old rugged cross stood near the wall A website directory of cowboy country churches lists Beaver Creek as one of about 400 such churches in 36 states Some of them have words like corral barbed wire wrangler halo and eternal stars in their name Preacher Gary Thurman a retired carpentry instructor and horseman has led services at Beaver Creek for 8 1/2 years “It’s a come as you are church People arrive by pickup horseback 4-wheelers and typically wear Western attire Some even bring their dogs ” Beaver Creek’s 80 to 90-min service offers country praise music Christian story-telling a message and then dinner at around noon There might also be pony rides or barrel racing for the youngsters a horse show or a small rodeo for the parishoners along with plenty of friendly hugs and laughter One parishoner notes on his Facebook page “We’re just country people galloping into God’s good graces ” Apparently that galloping starts at a young age at Beaver Creek because a small electric bronco sits just in front of the stage Thurman says it’s one of the things they use to keep young people involved and interested Beaver Creek has 70 to 80 people attending each Sunday and other cowboy churches number 10 guests to as many as 1 700 in the Cowboy Church of Ellis County Texas One even serves a post-service meal around an authentic Chuckwagon A regular worshiper says “We believe God puts us all here for a reason and it doesn’t make any difference how we celebrate our faith as long as we do it ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Beaver Creek Cowboy Church RR1 Box 184 Duncan Okla 73533

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