Recently my wife and I spent a month in the USA, firstly at a conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then a few weeks touring Utah and Colorado. We have been to the States many times and really enjoyed the scenery, places and people. Whenever we go, we try to find a church where we can worship on a Sunday. This time, we tried to keep churches within walking distance of the places we were staying – quite a challenge.

So we arrived at Colorado Springs, staying in the west part – Old Colorado City. To my surprise, we had a choice of at least 12 churches we could walk to, everything from Word of Faith Pentecostal to the Metropolitan Church of Christ and all shades in between and around. Funnily enough, there were no Episcopal or Anglican churches unless we drove, so they were ruled out.

The choice was bewildering, but one church jumped out as different – the Colorado Cowboys for Jesus Church. Now, I had always wanted to be a “Cowboy for Jesus” ever since I heard the legendary UK children’s worship leader, Ishmael, do a song of that title at a Spring Harvest in the 90s. I wanted to “love the baddies, not want to see them die, but want to see them living for the Lord!” [1]. So a church of that name was a “must-visit”.

We did wonder if we would be going to worship or to a concert, but within minutes of arriving at the church, our fears were allayed by listening to the conversations of the people arriving. These were people looking forward to being with Jesus, not a musical experience. Then there were the trappings of a church building, the open Bible, the Lord’s Table, and an amazing sign in front of the drum kit that said we were “talking to the Boss”.

So we did just that – started by talking to Jesus in prayer. Now, most of the men were in cowboy clothes, including the hats! Hats in church? What about the Apostle Paul saying we pray with heads uncovered? But at the start of the prayer, the hats came off, a lovely mark of respect. Then, back on for the opening song.

The songs were all country songs with gospel themes. We opened with “He Took Our Place”, a song popularised by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, two heroes of mine [3]. The chorus went:  

His hands are gently knocking on your door.
Outside He’s pleading to come in.
His heart is breaking as He waits for you,
to wash you free from every sin.  

This was worship that was back to basics; simple, direct and drawing us to the Saviour. I needed it. I had spent the last week dealing with all the comments on my blogs on Anglican church decline [4]. It was time to put the data and theories aside and enjoy the One for whom the church is about.

Meeting Place of the Colorado Cowboys for Jesus Church

After a few more songs, with fiddle and mandolin solos, it was time for the offering, collected in hats, of course! The song was Hank Williams’ “I Saw the Light” [5]. Not sure I ever thought I would sing a Hank Williams song in worship – but I’m so glad I did. Again, great words:

I was a fool to wander and stray,
Straight is the gate and narrow the way.
Now I have traded the wrong for the right,
Praise the Lord I saw the light

Perhaps if the Anglican churches in the West traded the wrong for the right, they might stop declining!! But the words are aimed at the individual, a reminder to us all to make sure we have “seen the light”.

The worship was led by one of the pastors, Vern Thomson, with his co-pastor, Joe Stephenson, on fiddle. Joe also preached a very helpful sermon on discernment. I learnt many things, but one thing stood out. Part of discernment is “horse sense”. That is cowboy speak for common sense, one of those gifts that are, perhaps, in short supply in the Western church at present.  

Pastors Vern Thomson and Joe Stephenson [6]

I guess if people from the UK were trying to classify the Colorado Cowboys for Jesus Church, they would say it is a “fresh expression”, ministering to a niche market of country/cowboy culture. It is true that anyone in this culture would feel really at home in the church. But I think the church’s real success lies in their simple, straightforward spirituality and their devotion to the Lord. A church with “horse sense”!

After a time of prayer, with requests drawn from the congregation, we were all too soon at the end. A big thank you to Vern, Joe and the congregation for a very blessed time in the Lord’s presence. One of the most inspiring and sincere worship services I have ever been to.

But there was one trick left – the closing song. In the last weeks, I have read so many people’s thoughts about church decline, what causes it and what we should do about it. What decisions should we make? What are the choices? If you have been one of those people, then the closing song has words that might be especially helpful to you:  

In the valley of decision,
tell me friend what will you do
This life has many choices,
eternity has two! [7]
 

Have you made the right choice?   Joshua 24:15, Matthew 16:15-16, Acts 2:37-38, Acts 16:30-31, Philippians 3:7-11, [8].    

References and Notes 

[1] The website of the Colorado Cowboys for Jesus describes their history and ministry.

[2] “I Want to be Cowboy for Jesus”, Ishamel (aka Ian Smale). YouTube, For Purchase. 

[3]  He Took your Place. Flatt and Scruggs. Words, Music.

Learning Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs’s guitar and banjo licks are a must for any budding electric guitar player.  

[4] Anglican Decline in the West: The Data
Anglican Decline in the West: Possible Reasons

[5] “I Saw the Light”. Hank Williams, Snr. Words. Music.

[6] For more publicity photos, see the Colorado Cowboys for Jesus Facebook Page.

[7] Eternity has Two. Dee Gaskin and John Swain. Performed by Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. Words. Music.

[8] The central thesis of the limited enthusiasm model, on which the church growth models are based, is that church growth comes through the production of enthusiasts. These Christian believers not only make new converts but turn them into enthusiasts. They also renew existing believers into enthusiasts. Enthusiasts become self-reproducing, a reinforcing feedback loop that drives exponential growth. Every God-sent revival tells this story. Conversely, decline comes from the inability to reproduce enthusiasts. http://www.churchmodel.org.uk/Lbdrmodel.html Thus, if you want to generate more enthusiasts, you need to be one! To be one, you need to make the right choice.

Set our hearts on fire with a passion for your Son,
oh but Lord, start with me.”
   

(Bryn Haworth – Start with Me)
 

Tags: , , , , , , ,