Is this just a Texas phenomenon?

I've visited a few "Cowboy Church" services. It's what it sounds like. Usually a rural setting, very casual dress - cowboy hats and boots are quite prevalent, and traffic is directed by men and women on horses.

The preaching seems to be pretty conventional "old fashioned gospel" and the music (in the services I have visited) are some of the new praise choruses along with old fashioned gospel singing and hymns, accompanied by guitar and drums.

Interestingly, the Cowboy Churches with which I am familiar tend to be pastored by "Gene and Katie Johnson", for example. Husband and wife team. That's a little strange to me, being a Baptist, but my wife is as much "in the ministry" as I am - we're just not used to (nor would she ever allow) our names as "husband and wife" pastors.

Again, I can only speak for the services I have attended, but it certainly seems sincere and "real".

I have noticed several new Cowboy Churches popping up around my area, and was wondering if you have experienced these, either just observing that they are there, or you have actually attended services in one.

We lived for a while in El Paso. Country attire was normal even in church. I found it fascinating to see a preacher wearing a six-gun

(nobody snoozed during the sermon)

Cowboy churches are common here in the Southwest. They seem to be trendy at the moment, kind of like fashion.

Originally posted by Trout

Cowboy churches are common here in the Southwest. They seem to be trendy at the moment, kind of like fashion.

That's what I was kinda thinkin.
Kinda like preachers wearing dockers and black t-shirts and shaving their heads bald and preaching from a bar stool.

Originally posted by Country Preacher

That's what I was kinda thinkin.
Kinda like preachers wearing dockers and black t-shirts and shaving their heads bald and preaching from a bar stool.

BINGO

Originally posted by Trout

BINGO

I've only seen that in the Catholic churches, and not as much as in the past.
Perhaps another trendy thing.

There's one in my small Tennessee town, and I'm glad it's there for a couple of rodeo riding young men I know. It can't be worse than the nothing they'd be getting otherwise.

There is one in my area (at least one). I only know about it because the guy who used to lead music at my church also leads the music at the Cowboy Church ^TM.

The Cowboy Church ^TM meets on Tuesday nights not on Sunday. They have a common meal before each service. Only the husband (as far as I can tell) is considered to be the pastor.

I have only been to one service at that church, as a "guest" bass player.

The music and preaching service seem similar to what you described. (with the exception of singing the secular country song "If you're going through Hell.")

Edit to add: In addition to "cowboy" theme being prevalent, there also seemed to be a lot of "bikers" there too.

Originally posted by Lizard

There is one in my area (at least one). I only know about it because the guy who used to lead music at my church also leads the music at the Cowboy Church ^TM.

The Cowboy Church ^TM meets on Tuesday nights not on Sunday. They have a common meal before each service. Only the husband (as far as I can tell) is considered to be the pastor.

I have only been to one service at that church, as a "guest" bass player.

The music and preaching service seem similar to what you described. (with the exception of singing the secular country song "If you're going through Hell.")

Edit to add: In addition to "cowboy" theme being prevalent, there also seemed to be a lot of "bikers" there too.

Yeah, the "bikers" are the "iron horse" riders
Thanks for the info.