he CT hristian Ranchman We're not trying to build an organization. We're trying to fill the Kingdom of God. Volume 44, Number 6 "..By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another." John 13:35 Nov / Dec 2020 Cowboys For Christ Gettysburg there were many thousands of conversions lack of food. Most had injuries that would de- to Christianity. North and south. Our guide said bilitate the best, but they sang, and they Gathering numerous times” there were no atheist on the praised God. They had Church. They had By Chaplain Joel Nupp battlefield.” We had over 23 riders that took come to a place where they realized they had the tour which was 4 hours long. no control of their next breath; let alone their What a glorious 3 days of fellowship and We came back to a sermon and music from next day. They had come to a complete trail riding at the battlefield by horseback at Chaplain Brad Rinehart. Brad gave a great acknowledgement of God and His presence. Gettysburg. Hosted by Chaplains Joel and message of hope. Dinner was catered and Maybe just maybe, the soldiers that perished Sheryl Nupp. Of C.H.A.P.S. Chapter Cowboys 30 were fed. After dinner we had a continued didn’t really die at all; they are free Indeed. for Christ out of Chambersburg PA. message from Brad and Chaplain Steve This wasn’t our first rodeo and this won’t Friday started off with pizza and a mes- Sellars. Steve gave a heartfelt message as to be our last. And we have a living Savior that sage from Chaplains Joel Nupp and Chap- the involvement in his ministry of young people gives us hope. I honor the sacrifices of these lain Dale Brenneman. Guitar playing and in the educational field. We had music and men of the Civil War and the many of 911. All singing into the night. testimony from the different Chaplains. The the ones that went before us. Because of Saturday started out with a message from Lord is sure enough moving in a powerful way. Christ himself who gave His life for us that we Joel and a hearty breakfast prepared by Bud We sang and fellowship well into the evening. can understand the real meaning of sacrifice. and Diane. We had a registered guide take Sunday morning, we had coffee and do- Thank you, Lord. us 4 hours through the battlefield. We were nuts. A truly personal and blessed Sermon by For our many blessings, however how big, all amazed by the involvement of the Chap- our exuberant and tireless leader Dr. Dave however so small, lain program initially started by Abraham Lin- Harvey. thank you, Chaplain Joel Nupp coln for the troops. We were uplifted and en- Chaplain Joel finished out the weekend couraged by the importance that these Chap- with a message of hope and encourage- lains were to these soldiers. The Christian ment. Commission took care of men regardless if The weekend started off on a date we all they were fighting for the north or the south. will never forget; 911. Our country has been They took on parental duties and strengthen under attack from the very beginning and religious beliefs and wrote letters home since most notably because of our walk with there were many soldiers that couldn’t read Christ. We were encouraged that even in or write. Imagine being so far away from home the death and carnage of the civil war, men in the heat of a Pennsylvania summer with sang praises to God, many wounded men; little food and water. Around 50,000 men died scared, hungry and sick from dirty water and and thousands of horses. But in this time also 284 . o N t i m r e P TX , h t r o W t r o F ID A P 111 76 TX , h rt o W rt Fo ge a t os P . S . U 7557 x o B . O . P rg O fit o r P - on N st i r h C r Fo s y bo w o C Page 2 * THE CHRISTIAN RANCHMAN * Nov / Dec 2020 Ordination of Cowboy Chaplain Joe began to need help to go to the bathroom and to eat and was just becoming more and more Jesse Bowman By Bill Smith dependent on care. I kept pressing him to make by Dave Harvey things right with God. It just never happened. He I first met Joe when he was teaching a leather refused and it saddened me to know he was headed class. I worked with saddles and was interested in for Hell. I was so very blessed to be invited to becoming more knowledgeable in carving. Having speak at the first Cowboy Church at the Amelia On Monday, I had to go to New Orleans for a this common interest and that he had also been a two-day meeting. On my way I stopped by to visit Spring Trail Ride on Sept. 19-20. Nick Hall Boy Scout leader, which I admired, created a Joe to tell him I would be gone until Wednesday. was riding at Iron Mountain Horse Camp in friendship. I had always wanted to be a Boy Scout His condition was so bad I told him I was afraid he Ivanhoe Virginia when we were there and he and now I was with a man who had all the would not make it and I wanted to pray with him asked me if I would come and preach at their knowledge. and get things right with God. He loudly went ride. He said that they always have a Blue As time progressed, I also became friends with through the rejection I had heard so many times Grass Gospel band come to play and sing, his family. His wife was a regular volunteer at a and members of the staff had heard as well. local nursing home which was looking for someone Tuesday morning about noon, Joe’s son called but they have never had preaching. I was or a group to represent a Protestant church once a greatly honored to speak at the first Cowboy to tell me his father had died around 2:30 AM. Joe month. She asked if I could find someone. I tried, had called for assistance to the bathroom and back Church at their ride and we had a very special but finally had to ask some of my friends to help service with the Ordination of Jesse Bowman, to his bed. Before he got in the bed, Joe prayed and we fulfilled that opportunity. Many years later the sinner’s prayer, climbed back in bed and died. from Heathsville, VA. Jesse is our newest we were filling it right up to this pandemic. Chaplain, please welcome him and please Now I have given you some background as to keep him and his wife Mary in your prayers how mine and Joe’s lives touched. What I did not as they have a cowboy church ministry and a tell you was that Joe did not know the Lord. He Testimony youth ministry. Amelia Springs has a spring was getting up in age and his health was beginning By Casey McGehee and fall ride and Cowboys For Christ has been to fail. He had a problem with alcohol. One day his wife called me to come and help pick him up in booked to have the preaching there for their The year was 1998, I was married, and my wife the large backyard where he had fallen. I did and was pregnant with our only child. I’d like to say I spring and fall rides from now on; praise the we sat in the kitchen and talked over a cup of LORD. was a functional alcoholic but the more I think about coffee. I told him I had prayed to God for strength it the more I see how far from the truth that was. In to carry him across the yard and into the kitchen. fact, about the only thing functional was that I hadn’t We became good friends and I learned a lot in loss my job that at that time I had for 12 years. My my leather work and how to be a great Boy Scout wife and I were living with her mother while we leader. My business and the fact we lived near had a house built, with us cramping her lifestyle, each other allowed me free time to visit. It also the pregnancy and my drinking the tension was allowed me time as I needed it to lift Joe as he fell over whelming. I never drank for the taste, I drank more often and needed help. We began to have for the effect, I drank for the escape I found alcohol times together just to share. We were both patriots provided. Not only could I seemingly escape the and love for our country came up often. At every reality of the day but of the past and feel sorry for opportunity I would try to mention a Christian idea, myself for all the wrongs I felt had been done to God and Country. On more than one occasion me. My wife and mother-in-law had had enough of Joe said to me “Now Bill, I love you for all you do my behavior and I was given an ultimatum; clean for me, but when it comes to this “God Thing” we up my act, quit drinking or get out.