By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
ZACHARY – Since the launching of Cross Creek Cowboy Church in 2013, Pastor Josh Morris has talked to his congregation about being Jesus’ hands and feet.
In mid-August, they got that chance when many in the congregation stepped up and helped serve 600 hot meals, rescued horses and cleaned out the inside of homes heavily damaged from what has been called the 1,000-year flood.
All this happened despite the church getting 2 1/2 feet of water in its own building.
Fortunately, the water quickly receded and repairs already have been completed, Morris said, and he offered that many churches in the southern part of the state were not in as favorable a position.
But he said regardless of the situation facing a congregation, God can use the devastation caused by the flood for good.
“A lot of people have questions,” Morris said. “Where do they turn first? Church. This is where they come for encouragement when bad things happen. It gives us an opportunity to reach those who normally don’t go to church.”
“The love of Christ is what we are showing,” he continued. “What they need right now is for us to minister to them and get their needs met first. Then we can start sharing the Gospel.”
Morris said this kind of loving spirit in his congregation is a reason why they have grown from a group of 10 when he helped to start the church in March 2013, to averaging 80 in attendance just prior to the flood.
A native of St. Francisville, Morris and his wife Tara moved back to Louisiana after three years of Christian camp ministry in Texas, where they also helped to start two cowboy churches. They came home to Louisiana with the sole purpose of starting a cowboy church here.
The church offers several targeted outreach events, such as conducting worship services at secular rodeos, hosting their own rodeo events at local arenas and holding on-foot dummy roping ‘get together’ events once a month in its facilities – a former feed mill.
Cross Creek Cowboy Church Pastor Josh Morris baptizes a new believer.
During the week members and guests have the opportunity to attend men’s and women’s small group Bible studies – in homes and other community venues – called Round Pens, a take on the name for the area where a horse is trained.
“In a round pen, the horse learns respect and what the trainer is trying to get him to do,” Morris said. “It’s like that in our Bible studies, where we run in deep and learn more about what God is trying to teach us.”
While Cross Creek Cowboy Church relies on the traditional tithes, it also relies on funding from the Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions. The offering helps supplement some of Morris’ salary and provides funds used toward its outreach to the community.
“The offering frees me up to be out in the community and do what we need to do to reach our neighbors in need,” Morris said. “It’s been a blessing and there is no way we could have done the ministry outreaches we have done if it hadn’t been for the Georgia Barnette Offering.”
“God loves cowboys too,” Morris concluded. “We just need to show them that love.”
Cross Creek Cowboy Church is one of approximately 150 new churches that have been planted since 2010 with the help of Georgia Barnette gifts. Visit GeorgiaBarnette.org to learn more about the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering and how it helps churches grow.
