While our recording studio gets an upgraded look (new windows and carpeting), and with our dedicated host taking a short break, we bring you one of our all-time favorite interviews from 2011.  We will return to new episodes in the coming weeks, but after 119 consecutive interviews we thought it would be okay if we took a short break.  Plus, your host will be attending “cowboy church” in Ellensburg on Sunday, September 2.  In the meantime, please sign up for our Facebook fan page to get updates on what is coming in the future.

Most people have never heard of “cowboy churches.”  While religion has always been part of the pioneering West, there has been a new movement in the western US,  Canada and even Mexico to promote rural outreach, particularly to individuals such as rodeo wranglers who might not otherwise be enticed by a traditional church.  Daniel Stiles — an ordained minister with the Trinity Fellowship in Sayre, Oklahoma, and a the regular announcer at Cody Night Rodeo — talks about the world of rodeo and cowboy church ministries.  We start with insight into Dan’s personal religious journey from a kid in a small town in Missouri, through his bull riding experiences, and look at how he eventually connected with Trinity Fellowship.  Along that path, we get an idea for what it is like to ride an angry 2,000 lb cow.  Dan then leads us into a discussion of the various challenges facing a pastor who has taken on the task of ministering to young, single males (and females).  He recounts various lessons learned on this journey as well as providing us with a number of very inspirational stories.  These lessons not only apply to rodeo ministries, but also contain insights into running a ministry in general.  We also discuss the role of Trinity Fellowship and other “cowboy church” organizations such as Riding High Ministries, as well as inspirational individuals such as Andy Taylor, Cody Custer, and Lane Frost.  Although we have some short audio problems about three quarters of the way through the podcast, the interview is well worth listening through to the very end as Dan shares some personal thoughts about the direction of religion in today’s society.  By all admissions, this interview was a personal indulgence for me and turned out to be one of my favorite interviews to date.  If you made it this far in the description, leave a little “yee haw” in the discussion box below. Thanks!  Recorded: July 13, 2011.

RELATED LINKS

Trinity Fellowship in Sayre, OK (Andy Taylor, lead pastor).  You can view streaming video of services from this website.

Riding High Ministries (Todd & Leslie Pierce).

Camp of Champions & Young Riders, a youth ministry program that is all cowboy and cowgirl.

Cody Night Rodeo in Cody, WY.  (and the official Facebook fan page for CNR.)

Cody Custer’s story on CBN.

Lane Frost tribute page.

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One Response to “Daniel Stiles on Cowboy Churches”

1. Research On Religion | Jeff Henig on Prison Ministry says:

   April 8, 2015 at 11:17 pm

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