February 9, 2000
Cowboy church aims to rope 'em in
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___BROOKESMITH--Charlie Lackey knows the story about Jesus telling his disciples he wanted to make them "fishers of men."
___Lackey hopes to rope a few, too.
___Lackey came to Brookesmith Baptist Church a few months back with two purposes in mind: Minister to the community's young people and start a cowboy church.
___"I've been doing youth ministry for several years and have a real heart for young people, but I also wanted to start a cowboy church. This is the best of both worlds," he explained.
___Lackey was raised around the rodeo, and he and his family remain actively involved. It was the needs he came across and a change in attitude among rodeo aficionados that led him to believe the time was right for an expansion of his ministry.
___"It's virtually an untouched area," he said. "Cowboys are receptive to the gospel right now, and there's a window of opportunity. There's a return to the family among people who rodeo, and an effort to change the image of the cowboy as a barroom brawler. That hasn't always been the case."
___To give those searching for Christ a place to find him, Lackey began a cowboy church Feb. 3 on Highway 377 between Brookesmith and Brownwood. The church meets at 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
___"It's not going to be different in the preaching and presentation of the gospel, but it is going to be a more relaxed atmosphere," he said. "While traditional churches are pretty good at accepting people no matter how they are dressed, a lot of cowboys and farmers think you have to wear a suit and tie to go to a traditional church. They will feel more comfortable here in their hats and jeans."
___A decal on Lackey's pickup simply says "Cowboy Church" and gives a telephone number. That simple message already has gotten Lackey stopped three times by interested prospects.
___"The other night, a guy flagged me down and asked when it was going to start and where it was going to be. He told me, 'We used to go to church years ago, but we started rodeoing and got out of it. This cowboy church may be just what we're looking for.'"
___Lackey stresses that no attempt is being made to compete with traditional churches meeting on Sunday. He said the cowboy church will be for those who wouldn't normally come to a traditional church, because they would either feel awkward or have misconceptions about traditional churches. His desire is that many will come to the cowboy church, come to know Christ, grow as Christians and then funnel into Sunday churches.
___"Some will never attend a traditional Sunday church, though, and I know that. The important thing is that they come to know Christ," he said.
___Lackey is looking to do more than baptize people, though.
___"Our goal is to break the cycle of becoming a Christian and then falling back into the old lifestyle. People are creatures of habit, though, and if we don't provide them something different, that's just what they are going to do.
___"We're wanting to not only see people saved, but lives changed through discipleship and being involved in people's lives on an almost daily basis."
___Lackey believes Jesus is the Good Shepherd; he just wants to help round up some stray calves.
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