Doe Run pastor to preach at livestock market

Cowboy church begins Thursday

By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer

At the Farmington Livestock Market, they sell cows on Wednesday and horses on Saturday. They save souls on Thursday.

Beginning this week, the Cross Trail Cowboy Church will meet in the arena where livestock are sold. Pastor John Key hopes those who attend will be “sold out” for Jesus.

“This is for people who may go to horse shows on the weekend and can’t attend church and it’s for people who just don’t like the formality of a church,” Key explained.

Of course, in the beginning, he expects the services will attract the curious who want to see how cowboys worship. Key will preach from a feeding trough on the sawdust floor of the arena where the livestock are run through during sales. Church supporters will arrive on Thursday morning to shovel any manure out to make room for the worship band and the preacher. It’s likely the cows will be mooing with the music and the whole place will retain it’s barnyard smell, but Key says he doesn’t expect his congregation will mind. A portable cooler will be brought in to circulate cool air in the crowd.

There are 382 seats in the auditorium and the preacher hopes eventually, they’ll all be filled and then some.

“I think you’d be surprised how many people will welcome this kind of worship,” he said. “I’m hoping we will have at least 100 people for the first service.”

They’ll be greeted by folks on horseback in the parking lot and folks serving lemonade in the lobby. They won’t pass the plate for the offering, but rather will place a feed bucket on a table with a program beside it.

“If it’s ‘churchy,’ you won’t find it here,” said Key. “We’re the ‘unchurch’ like 7-Up was the uncola.”

He will, however, preach from the Bible. And as Jesus spoke to farmers and fishermen using stories they could understand, the Cowboy Preacher will do the same. His sermon at 7 p.m. Thursday is titled, “The Worthless Mule.”

Key, the preacher from Doe Run who lost his left arm in a farm accident five years ago, admits the church is a step of faith. But it’s a step that’s taking him into familiar territory. He grew up on a farm raising cows and horses in southern Illinois. He was even a rodeo clown for years. He owns 14 horses. Recently, he was out west with the cowboys helping to build a church on an Indian reservation in South Dakota.

David Bates is coordinating the music, which will have a bit of country flavor. Key said there are about 30 people working to bring the church together, including some from Harvest Christian Centre which has a ministry to people who like to ride horses. To spread the word, fliers have been posted in the sale barn that show a cowboy on the range with a cross beside him.

Key has been to the Cape County Cowboy Church for some ideas for the non-denominational congregation here. He said while some skeptics have told him they think his idea is more entertainment than worship, he believes God will honor the preaching of scripture and the service will fill a need.

“God says his word will not return void,” he said. “I believe this is God’s timing.”

To find out more, contact Key at crosstrail@reapnow.org.

The Livestock Market is located at 1600 Woodlawn Drive, Farmington. Cowboy hats and boots are optional.

Donna Hickman is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact her at 431-2010, ext. 138 or at dhickman@dailyjournalonline.com.

Archives Web Site Marketplace Obits Babies Jobs