An Update from Cowboy Church by Blair Bates
Well, rodeo season is upon us right now! This is a short update regarding our schedule for Cowboy church and to tell you about some exciting news as of late.
First of all we have secured roughly 10 rodeos' in which Cowboy Valley church has permission to host a church service at each event. Our first one was on April 10-11 at Deadman's Creek, BC. The rest are as follows:
May 1-2 - Williams Lake (Speaking at Williams Lake Alliance Church)
May 8-9 - Armstrong (Rodeo Announcer)
May 15-16 - Merritt
May 23-24 - Quesnel (Rodeo Announcer)
May 29-30 - Valemont
June 11-13 - Merritt BC Championships
August - Canadian Nationals Virden Manitoba
September - Chilliwack
September- Kamloops (at Deadman's Creek grounds)
October - Peachland (Rodeo Announcer)
As you can see we are going to be really busy. We have been working frantically to get out truck ready for traveling. I have figured out we will be traveling a minimum of 70 hours of travel time just in BC alone for this spring and fall.
That is our schedule; here is some more amazing news. Over the winter a national magazine that is produced by the Alliance church of Canada has done a feature article on Cowboy Valley Church and the magazine will be out in the next few weeks, sometime the beginning of May. It has been in the works for several months and from what I hear it is really going to be great! On the cover will be a picture of Jessie (our rodeo queen) on a horse named Reno going around the second barrel at a High school rodeo over a year ago. On top of that, there was an international conference of Alliance leadership who met in Turkey, and part of their message regarding ministry in Canada was focused on Cowboy Valley Church. We are a small ministry that is valued by God and he supports us in the mission he has given us.
Our hope with these events taking place will hopefully lead other people here in Canada that have an idea to reach people for Christ to know that their heart and ideas for the lost are valued and important to God. If you have the desire to see people know God, simply ask him to show you what you can do and then wait upon him to lead you. It starts only with one prayer. Our desire is to reach an unreached group in our own country and God is opening the doors and enabling us to do this. God lead someone to each of our lives to bring us to the Kingdom, let's be that person lead by God to bring others to the knowledge and depth of God's love for those who need to know it. Cowboy church is a small underfunded ministry that flies by the seat of its saddle, lead by an emotional but passionate novice cowboy who can sing and tell stories; and I pray every day for these lives we touch.
As for cowboy church, our needs have grown tremendously and there is much need for some finances and equipment. We are trusting in God for his provision in the days ahead. If you would like to support this ministry that is getting national and world wide attention, then send your cheque to
Cowboy Valley Church
3523 Creekview Cres
Westbank, BC V4T 3C4
All cheques must be made out to CPD, just ensure you put in your notes, Cowboy Valley Church ministries.
All donations are tax receiptable through the Christian and Missionary Alliance church of Canada through the Canadian Pacific District here in BC.
Please pray for the following items:
Safe travel
God's provision
Favor with the Cowboy community
Wisdom to sing and preach the right stuff to this community
God bless you all and we'll keep you up to date
