Written by Pastor Steve Kenny

I grew up in the big city of Calgary, Alberta, home of the Calgary Stampede, known as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.” Now, most people who lived in Calgary weren’t cowboys or ranchers. But for one week every year, EVERYONE became a cowboy. Why? Because it was part of our heritage. It reminded us of our western roots. And people didn’t just come from Calgary– they came from all over North America and around the world to experience it.

There’s just something about a cowboy. Maybe it’s the independence, the hard work, the adventure, or the idea of the Wild West. Whatever it is, people are intrigued by it. And that’s a big part of the reason we do Cowboy Church.

For one weekend every year, New Hope West becomes what I like to call “The Greatest Western Outreach in Oregon.” Oh…and people come. Wow, do they ever!! Some come because they’re trying to figure out what in the world “Cowboy Church” even is. Some hear about the music and special guests. Others come because someone told them there are Clydesdales, cows, and baby goats at church. Throw in some fresh kettle corn, incredible music, a whole lot of fun, and a life-changing message about Jesus, and you’ve got Cowboy Church. Oh, and did I mention it’s FREE? But underneath all the fun is something much more important.

Cowboy Church creates a touchpoint.

Mark 3 tells us that when people heard about what Jesus was doing, they came from far and wide. That has always stood out to me. Something was happening, people heard about it, and they came to see for themselves. That’s what we want to create.

Someone may turn down an invitation to “go to church.” But invite them to Cowboy Church and suddenly they’re curious.
“What’s Cowboy Church?” Sometimes curiosity is all it takes to get someone through the door. And when they arrive, we want them to experience more than horses, music, and kettle corn. We want them to experience a community that genuinely loves people—and ultimately, we want them to meet Jesus. But there’s another side to Cowboy Church that I love just as much.

Our students get to see what church CAN be.

For many of our college students, an event like this expands their entire concept of ministry. The whole campus becomes an evangelism zone. There are opportunities everywhere. Greeting people. Parking cars. Working with children. Helping with animals. Serving food. Running cameras. Producing the broadcast. Playing music. Managing technology. Coordinating artists. Setting up. Tearing down.

Who would have thought you could say, “I’m serving at church today,” and your assignment is cleaning a cow stall? That’s ministry too! And if you’re reading this on our blog, you probably already know that cleaning up a cow stall has more than a few ministry parallels.

For our music and production students, they have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of the best professionals in the industry. For students interested in leadership, they get a front-row seat to the enormous amount of planning and logistics required to move more than a thousand people safely on and off a campus while creating an experience that feels effortless to
our guests.

And for every student, there is the opportunity to simply meet people.

People who haven’t been to church in years.
People who have never been to church.
People who may be carrying hurt, questions, disappointment, or skepticism.

Suddenly ministry isn’t something you study in a classroom. It’s standing right in front of you, waiting in line to pet the baby goats. That may be one of the greatest things I’ve witnessed through these touch-point events. Yes, the crowds are exciting. The music is amazing. The campus looks incredible. But none of that is the win.

Changed lives are the win.

Someone came because they wanted to see a horse, hear incredible music, or eat some kettle corn. But while they were here, someone welcomed them. Someone learned their name. Someone listened to their story. And maybe, for the first time, they began to understand how much God loves them.

That’s why we do Cowboy Church.

At New Hope, we’ve often said, “We’ll do everything short of sin to win lost souls.” It doesn’t always have to look like Cowboy Church. The point isn’t the cowboy hat. The point is being willing to rethink what church can look like in order to reach someone who isn’t here yet.

Growing up in Calgary, I watched people come from all over the world for one week because something was happening, and they wanted to be part of it. Maybe that’s what I love most about Cowboy Church. For one weekend, something is happening at New Hope West. People hear about it. They get curious. They invite their friends. And they come.

But unlike the Stampede, our hope isn’t simply that they leave having had a great experience.

Our hope is that they leave having encountered Jesus.

That’s my life. That’s my mission. And that’s why I do what I do.
Changed lives. People meeting Jesus.

Everything else is just the touchpoint.