As a duo of horses arrive in the arena at West Monroes
Ike-Hamilton Exposition Center, a crowd of 300 eagerly anticipate Paul Dailys
afternoon performance of roping a horse.
Before Daily enters the arena, the American and Christian flags
are displayed, with music such as the National Anthem played in the background.
It is around 2:30 when the professional roper makes his way
into the pavilion, dressed in his cowboy attire, with the horse he is going
to rope standing nearby. This is one of two performances the Jena resident will
do on this Saturday afternoon. The first show draws 150.
As a duo of horses arrive in the arena at West Monroes
Ike-Hamilton Exposition Center, a crowd of 300 eagerly anticipate Paul Dailys
afternoon performance of roping a horse.
Before Daily enters the arena, the American and Christian flags
are displayed, with music such as the National Anthem played in the background.
It is around 2:30 when the professional roper makes his way
into the pavilion, dressed in his cowboy attire, with the horse he is going
to rope standing nearby. This is one of two performances the Jena resident will
do on this Saturday afternoon. The first show draws 150.
While this may seem like a regular rodeo, that is far from
the truth.
By the end of the day, at least two people will accept Christ
as their personal savior as a result of this Roping for the Redeemer event,
recently sponsored by the Northeast Baptist Association.
“We reached a lot of folks,” says Burl Stewart, event
coordinator. ” It was a new concept for the association. It will be bigger
and better next year.”
Team roping competition was held throughout the day of the
event, with winners earning cash prizes.
Northeast Association team leader Andy Myrick says ropers from
Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Florida joined Louisianans for the event. About
250 persons in all competed in the team roping.
“One of the ropers was so impressed with what was going
on that when he got his money from the roping, he pulled out $100 he won and
told us to put it back into the ministry,” Myrick says. “Another guy
walked up and gave us a check for $1,000.
“God saw a need of reaching out to a group of people who
wouldnt go to church normally but would go to see Paul Daily or the puppets
(presented during the day by area churches). They got to sit down in the Ike-Hamilton
Center, and that would normally cost about $10-12 a person.”
It cost $5,000 to hold the event. But with the help of area
churches and individuals, God provided the funds, Myrick says.
Indeed, Northeast Baptist Association, promoted Roping for
the Redeemer with all of the churches, in addition to helping sponsor the event
itself.
“I was pleased with the results,” says Jerry Price,
director of missions for the Northeast association. “Those who were there
were richly blessed, and I look forward to this again next year.”
Price says more than 400 persons filled out cards to enter
in a drawing for door prizes as they walked into the pavilion where Daily performed.
He says someone from the association will sort through the cards and follow
up by providing area churches with the names.
As noted, the event featured not only roping events but a puppet
show by Loch Arbor Baptist Church in Monroe and Highland Baptist Church in West
Monroe.
In addition, the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Homes provided
a miniature horse, and area personalities, including former Milwaukee Brewers
baseball player Rusty Rugg, gave their testimonies throughout the day.
Myrick says this is the first time his association has held
an event similar to this, although it has sponsored a bass tournament in the
past.
Prayer was a vital part to the events success, Myrick
adds.
The night before the event, individuals participated in a prayer
walk at the center.
“We used the theme Its Time To Pray,
Myrick says. “We had many to walk, and the prayer walk acted on that theme.”
With the positive feedback he has received, Myrick and others
say this event will repeat itself next year, when they say they think more people
will participate.
“A lot of churches didnt know what to expect and didnt participate
as a result,” Steward notes. “Once they saw it was an evangelism event
and more than just roping, theyll get on board next year.”