Bummin Around

COWBOY CHURCH

Bringing in the sheep has taken on new meaning at United Producers Stockyard in Bourbon County.

Since late November, Dwayne Waldrup has taken center stage in the auction ring as pastor of the Blue Grass Cowboy Church.

Among the first of its kind in Kentucky, Blue Grass is one of 46 churches affiliated with the Cowboy Church Network of North America.

Founded in North Carolina, the churches serve modern-day cowboys occupied by horse show events and trail riding on weekends.

Having a place of worship that catered to people normally in saddles on Sunday instead of pews only made good horse sense. From the beginning, services have been held on week nights in a casual atmosphere. Although all matter of dress is accepted, worshippers are encouraged to come in their everyday work clothes including cowboy hats, blue jeans and boots.

Waldrup and his wife Donna were members of one of the non-traditional churches in the Ashville, North Carolina area when she was offered a promotion by AT&T. Her move up the ladder led them to the Winchester area where her husband soon answered to an even higher calling.

A former grocery store manager with no formal training in theology, Waldrup says the path leading to formation of Blue Grass Cowboy Church has been marked by “faith and trust in the Lord.”

“He has supplied every need,” said the pastor.

One of the first needs was to find a facility and get the word out about services. That was met through flyers, classified ads in area newspapers and an appearance on a Mt. Sterling radio station. The advertising resulted in five different groups responding to a call for gospel/Blue Grass bands.

With band members and their families making up a big part of the audience, the first service was held on Nov. 27, 2007. Four of the 24 people attending that night accepted Christ. Since then, attendance has grown to as high as 61 for the weekly Tuesday night services. Waldrup is encouraged by the fact that “at least one person has accepted Christ at every service.”

Stockyards employee Susie Buchanan is among those who have not missed a meeting. Her duties include everything from acting as a secretary to cleaning out the stalls and chasing cattle.

“I like it. You come in your blue jeans even if you have cow ____ up to your____,” said the feisty Pendleton County resident, using jesters instead of words to make her point. “I was needing something in my life, and I hope this is it.”

Attendees are welcome to bring their dogs or other pets into the services.

Three dogs rested in their owner’s arms or sat beside them at a recent gathering of the congregation, including Bukus, a large, white Boxer. “He’s a regular,” said Mark Johnston, a handsome cowpoke decked out in cowboy hat and boots beside his wife, Tammy.

No Shepherds were among the flock, a disappointment to me and I’m sure to Tucky too, but there was a cute little Beagle Terrier mix that I’m sure he’d like to meet again.l

Dogs are excused from standing when services are kicked off with members rising for the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by prayer and several numbers from an area Country-Western or Blue Grass group.

Waldrup says his church is non-denominational but based on Southern Baptist principles, and all are welcome regardless of their faith or status in the community.

He stresses the church is here to offer an alternative to traditional services and “not to steal members from other churches.”

Members of other churches are encouraged to become a “partner” at the cowboy church while continuing to tithe at their home church.

“Anybody who can stand my Southern-fried English is welcome,” he says.

Other than the requirement of coming up with $800 per month for rent, there have been few problems with having services at the stockyards, according to the Waldrups.

And that problem will be resolved in March when the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in nearby Paris becomes the new church home. “Best of all, it’s rent-free,“ said the smiling pastor.

There’s plenty of room for us to host horse related shows and competitions, and even a playground outside our door with a replica of Noah’s Ark atop the Jungle Jim.”

- Don White is a seasoned journalist with an expansive award winning background. He and his pal will provide stories from all across Kentucky.