Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Billboard/Poster/Sign (any or all) (12/02/10)
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TITLE: Cowboy Church | Previous Challenge Entry
By Terri Schroeder
12/08/10 -
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This year people came from thirty-three states and six countries, including Australia, to participate in this event, the Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match. It was billed as "the largest rifle-shooting event in Montana since the Custer massacre" on posters everywhere. Commonly known as "Quigley," it's an annual event held on Father's Day weekend north of Forsyth, Montana. Quigley began as a result of the movie, Quigley Down Under, starring Tom Selleck.
In 2008 my husband was a shooter, and I tagged along to be his spotter and moral support. He, along with 600 other participants, would be shooting at six targets; eight shots at each position; with ranges from 225 yards to almost 800 yards. Doing simple math, 28,848 rounds would be fired during the competition; and one could safely double that amount for the practice shots taken in the three days leading up to the weekend competition.
On Saturday night, after the competition ended for the day and the milk-can stew was cooking, we strolled over to the bulletin board to check the standings and advertisements. Tomorrow would be the final day of the match. Among the shooting posters, we saw a notice:
Sunday morning, the crack of dawn
In the pasture, beyond the fence
Everyone Welcome!
In the cool of the morning as dawn was breaking, we made our way over; I carefully avoided stepping on the cow chips. Folding chairs had been set up; in all, about thirty people showed up for the Cowboy Church, a remnant. Two cowboys led us in prayer; they strummed their guitars while we sang hymns and made a joyful noise unto the Lord with our off-key singing. Next, they shared the cowboy version of the
Ten Commandments:
1. Just one God.
2. Honor your Ma and Pa.
3. No telling tales or gossipin'.
4. Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
5. Put nothin' before God.
6. No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
7. No killin'.
8. Watch your mouth.
9. Don't take what ain't yours.
10. Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.
The sermon pointed out that for many of the Quigley participants, shooting was a religion; their guns were their gods. Winning the contest was everything to them; yet, in a year or two, nobody would remember who the winner was, except the winner himself. How futile, how foolish, is that? The gospel was presented in the most basic way I'd ever heard. In closing, New Testaments were passed out.
I've attended many church services, but this was the most unpretentious, unadulterated, reverent worship service I'd ever attended. I marveled that God would send two humble servants to share his good news in such an uninviting, simple surrounding. Yet, for a Savior who was born in a manger, why was I surprised that he would willingly meet us in a cattle pasture? Jesus the Savior, he's always willing to commune with us wherever we may be.
The days at Quigley will forever be etched in our memories; it was an enjoyable, unforgettable experience. But the high point of the week was the Cowboy Church--what a blessing! I'll admit, at times, the blasts from those guns was nerve-racking; but every time I think of Quigley, I hear that small, still voice as it spoke to my heart at the Cowboy Church: Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10 NKJV)
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I saw a short video about the ministry of a cowboy church once. They got people there who would have never come to church otherwise. I like how you shared that friendly, non-threatening atmosphere of the cowboy church with your readers.
Awesomely done!