(On a personal note, this was the first pig roast I've ever attended. I spent more time asking questions about how to cook the pig in an in-ground pit than I did eat. That was pretty cool!)
Monday, June 15, 2009
First Baptist Church of New Castle - June 14th, 2009
I had the chance to visit the First Baptist Church of New Castle, CO this past Sunday before heading to the Rifle Rodeo Bible Camp. The pastor organized an outdoor service at a church member's ranch a few miles out of town and had a pig roast afterwards. This was a great time for me to fellowship with the friends that we have built there in New Castle and to encourage them with the Word! There were a few students from the church that are attending the Rifle RBC.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Flint Hills Rodeo - June 5th-7th, 2009
I had the opportunity to share with our friends at the Flint Hills Community Church in ministering at the Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City, KS. The Flint Hills Rodeo is one of the oldest outdoor rodeos in Kansas and has a history of being one of the first rodeos that many pro cowboys from the Midwest entered. This is my second year of helping and it is the church's fourth year of putting up a booth at the rodeo. As with all rodeos, we are just now starting to get into the point where some good relationships are being built. We had the chance to encourage one of the rodeo's bullfighters. Keep praying that we can continue that relationship throughout the rest of the year!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
FCC Rodeo Bible Camp Directors' Conference - May 28th-30th, 2009
Since their inception many years ago, the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys' Rodeo Bible Camps have been one of the greatest tools that the FCC has to impact this world for the cause of Christ. Countless lives have been changed (many of whom are at the top of their event in the PRCA standings) throughout the years. This year 17 local chapters are organizing and manning camps in five states.
In my ten or so years of teaching and preaching at RBC's I have noticed that each camp, while excelling at reaching their community for Christ, has unique strengths. I have always thought that the Kersey/Greeley, CO camp has shown incredible resourcefulness (literally building a camp out of a field every year - then tearing it down when it is all done), the La Veta, CO camp has shown tenacity (when it comes to making sure that every camper feels loved and goes home with something), the Colorado Springs, CO camp has shown diligence (in organizing some of the largest camps that we've had), the Rifle camp has shown endurance (with only a few people putting on a great camp), and the Pampa, TX has shown great faith (I can't tell you how many times the camp has had only a handful of students pre-registered but the Lord always seems to fill up the camp at the last minute). These are only a few of the great camps that have been going for many years. Each and every FCC RBC has a great story and a history of reaching our youth!
I have always thought that if we could get these camps (or at least the directors) together in a meeting that the Lord could use such a meeting for His glory!
Thanks to Harold Daniels (FCC Executive Director) and Charlie Kingsbury (Board Chairman) that meeting was a reality just a few weeks ago. The conference was held in conjunction with the Camp of Champions at Trinity Fellowship of Sayre, OK. The directors had the chance to visit with some world champion instructors, witness another camp's program, ask the FCC National Office Staff business questions, and share with each other some trials and praises from their years of experience.
I believe that the Lord has, at the very least, used this conference to build up a good relationship between the camp directors and the National Office. I know that the directors were blessed by the time together and I can't wait to see how the Lord uses this conference next year!
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Psalm 27:17).
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Eastside Bible Church Missions Conference - April 29th-May 3rd, 2009
At the end of April I had the opportunity to fellowship with our friends at the Eastside Bible Church in Morton, IL. As you might recall, I met Eastside's Pastor Steve Weber at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2007 and the Lord has been building our relationship ever since. It was great to spend time with the church family and hear about the other missionaries that Eastside supports.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Emmaus Mennonite Church - April 24th, 2009
On April 24th, 2009 Leslie had the opportunity to share with the Emmaus Mennonite Willing Workers' group. The same day we held a get together at the Burns, KS community center to share details about our ministry with some friends and family in the area. Leslie's sister attends Emmaus and helped with both events.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
A Faithful Testimony - March 9th, 2009
Last month I had the opportunity to partner again with the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys in coordinating the ministry at the National Western Stock Show. I have said many times (probably too much) that the National Western is one of my favorite ministries because it has such a great history as a rodeo and it is such a hospitable environment for ministry. This year was no different and I believe that the Lord used His Word in Denver in a mighty way!
During my time at the National Western I was able chat with a rancher who I had seen for several years at the National Western outreaches but had never had the chance to visit with. As we began to talk, Terry explained that he had visited a National Western Cowboy Church Service over ten years earlier while he was participating in a livestock show early on a Sunday morning. He was a man who had no church background and had never given a second thought to the Lord or eternity.
While attending that service Terry heard the Gospel for the first time and placed his faith in Christ. Praise God! For him, starting a relationship with Christ seemed like an easy choice. He had never before heard the truth and had a chance to respond. Since his commitment to Christ he has been active in his local church and has been faithful to make all three Cowboy Church Services at the National Western for the past ten years.
The fact that the Lord has given us such favor with the livestock shows in Denver and Houston has allowed us to put our service information on the livestock show’s schedule. I believe that this is one of the major reasons why so many like Terry visit one of our outreach services while attending a livestock show or rodeo. They come for the rodeo and leave with a life-changing relationship! What a huge opportunity that the Lord has given us.
I’m sure that there are many more like Terry at each rodeo where we minister...please keep them in your prayers. We will be heading to Houston this week to hold more life-changing outreaches. Please pray specifically for those services as well as our travel to and from Houston.
We love you and we can’t wait to give you a report on the Lord’s work in Houston!
In Christ’s Service,
Cory
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