Photo Credit: Terri Moran
The Houston Livestock Show and RodeoTM provides everything you need to feel right at home, including a place of worship. The first Cowboy Church was held at the Rodeo over 40 years ago and is still attended by nationally renowned rodeo cowboys, rodeo clowns, law enforcement officers, exhibitors, volunteers and vendors. Different venues were used over the years — from the basement of the Astrodome, behind the bucking shoots, the Stockman’s Club, and the Sales Salon in the Horse Arena to its current location in the NRG Center.
According to their official website, the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys (FCC) was founded in 1974 by Wilbur Plaugher, the famous rodeo clown, and Mark Schricker, a National Finals Rodeo calf-roping and steer-wrestling champion. Their initial vision was focused on the ever-traveling rodeo cowboys who were away from home and church and would find themselves searching for houses of worship. So, instead of going to the church, the church came to them. Initially, Plaugher named the group the “Cowboy Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.” He began to receive requests for “Christian Cowboys” to come and speak at various rodeos, and the idea became popular. One of Plaugher’s famous quotes was, “I just want to know that I’m going to Heaven. I don’t care what kind of mansion God gives me — it can be an outhouse. I just want to be there.”
Cowboy Church is held every Sunday during the Show, with services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and attendance can range from 30 to 300 at any service. Over the years, numerous special guest speakers, singers and musicians have led the way to prayer. From Nashville to Los Angeles, an array of talent has shared in the joys of entertainment and worship.
This year, Leon Coffee, our beloved former “Barrelman” and bullfighting clown, opened the last Cowboy Church service of the season with prayer. Coffee has been a part of the Show for 31 years. He is an inductee in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and was recognized as the PRCA Clown of the Year. At the service, Chairman of the Board Pat Mann Phillips shared her personal testimony of how her journey to the pinnacle of Rodeo service as our first female chairman of the board has been guided by her faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Danny Biddy is the chaplain for FCC who delivers the message at each service. His wife, Dana, and their son help as a family dedicated to the mission. “Worship has always been a vital part of Western culture. Just look at all the Western movies ever made, and you see churches, a preacher, someone praying, etc., in a scene somewhere,” Biddy said.
Biddy also stated, “It is important to note that the services, though Christian in nature, are not sponsored or affiliated with any denomination. We do our best to be a positive experience for our Lord and RODEOHOUSTON®. It’s a privilege to share and lead the worship services at the largest Rodeo in the world.”
Four years ago, Gail and Ken Jacobson joined Cowboy Church with communion after every service. They have a special room set up to pray and deliver the Eucharist, also known as Communion or The Lord’s Supper. All participants are welcome. Gail and Ken have been committed volunteers of the Rodeo for decades.
During the Rodeo, many people are traveling and away from their home church, so these services provide a sense of community and support. It represents a true Texas welcome at the Rodeo. Bob Devine, a Lifetime Vice President of the Show and the chairman of the board of the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys, has been there from the beginning. Reflecting on the impact of Cowboy Church on his life, Devine said, “Cowboy Church brings people to Christ and helps us to become closer to people who attend the church services. Come join us. I think you’ll like it.”