ELLINWOOD — Cowboy Church is moving from the home of Healing Hearts Ranch Director Scott Stinemetz to Calvary Baptist Church, 307 West A, in Ellinwood, starting Nov. 7. Services will be every Wednesday at 7 p.m.
“God has given me a new and exciting call to start a cowboy church in Barton County. I’ve never been more excited about anything,” Stinemetz said. “This has been something that has been very hard for me to surrender to as I can relate to Moses when he gives excuses about his slow speech and tongue. I forcefully ignored His call for some time now due to my inability to speak and unwillingness to do so. But with many different Aarons in my life and forced opportunities I have surrendered to His will in this area.
“Five years ago I married an amazing woman of faith; 1 1/2 years later God very clearly told me that it was time to do what I was meant to do – two months before (our son) Daniel was born in March. I put in my 30-day notice in April to work full-time at Healing Hearts Ranch, trusting completely that God would take care of us, and He has with abundance,” Stinemetz continued. “So here I am again telling my wife Amy God has placed a new call on my life to start a cowboy church, with a baby on the way. As soon as we said yes we were immediately financially blessed by the CBA (Central Baptist Association) and the Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist Association, as well as individuals who believed very strongly in what we are called to do.”
Cowboy church is a come-as-you-are, relaxed atmosphere with faith-based ministry from the Bible, but the sermons draw from cowboy ways. The music is mostly old hymns, played on guitar.
“Our style is just a little bit different and we realize that there are people out there that, for one reason or another, have stopped or won’t go to a traditional church service,” Stinemetz said. “We don’t ‘pass the offering plate.’ Those who want to contribute their tithes and offerings may do so by putting something in the cowboy hat at the back of the church. We have some chairs and mostly hay bales to sit on. Hats, boots, spurs and dirty wranglers welcome!”