"I have an unusual testimony,"Todd Hervey, the Pastor at Circle J CowboyChurch says. "I spent most of my early yearsrunning from God."

Even though Todd was raised inthe church when growing up in Hervey,Arkansas on his family's 4400 acre ranchand was baptized at an early age, he nevertruly surrendered his life to the Lord. Toddworked as a professional horse trainerand ranch manager from his early teenageyears through college at Stephen F.AustinUniversity where he earned a degreein agriculture business with a minor inbusiness.However, it was while living inNacogdoches that things began to changefor Todd. First, he met his wife, Robyn.

"I stole her and brought herhome," Hervey says with a smile. Now theyhave been married 23 years. Robyn is areading specialist at Redwater Elementaryand they are the proud parents of Jim,Wes, Ty and Beth.

"My work has always called meaway from home," Todd says. "My family hasbeen my number one support through allthe changes in our lives. I am so thankful tothem."

Also, while living in Nacogdochesfor school, Todd started attending church atFeronia Hill Baptist Church.

"Alcohol had consumed my life tothis point," Todd says. "It just about destroyedmy life and everyone around me for manyyears. But, when I got back in church, I feltGod calling me to do ministry. I got out of thebar scene and quit drinking."

Todd had realized at a youngage that he could sing, so he started touse his voice to worship in church. Toddalso received invitations to lead worship atother churches, youth camps, concerts and

revivals. After this, Todd and Robin movedback to Texarkana where Todd got a job atHumco Pharmaceuticals, and they beganattending Trinity Baptist Church. At age 29,Todd was listening to the service and felt theLord calling him again.

"I had been living a life of works.Everything was right on the outside, buteverything was wrong on the inside. I wasvery active in church, but on my way to Hell,"Todd says. "The Lord really changed my

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ministry when I decided to give him controlof my life. I went from a singer at regionalevents to a national recording artist inChristian country music."

Todd worked with Rit Records andhad four #1 hits. He received recognitionfrom the Country Gospel Music Associationas Entertainer of the Year and traveledacross the nation.

"I knew from early on that I wasn'tan artist so that I could become a famoussinger," Todd says. "God had a differentplan. The music opened the door to secularvenues so that I could bring God's word. Ididn't just sing at churches, I did concerts atPRCA rodeos and fairgrounds. People keptsaying, 'Let's get this crazy cowboy in here.They will listen to him."

Todd's Living Water Tour was hispart-time work as he still worked full timeat Humco. But, his travels really showedhim the details of church ministry acrossthe country, and he started to feel acalling to help the church reach out to the"unchurched" population.

"When we looked at the numbersof decisions made from Living Water Tour,we found that 80% of the decisions camefrom outside the church and only 20% fromwithin," Todd says. "We saw a need in theunchurched western heritage culture. I wouldgive the names of those who made decisionsfor the Lord to the local pastors, but thisculture just didn't relate to the traditionalchurch."

As a "cowboy evangelist," Todd wassoon asked to be on the advisory board thatthe Baptist General Convention of Texas setup to start "cowboy" churches across thestate.

"We identified several barriers thatthe unchurched western heritage populationhad with traditional churches," Todd says."Things like fancy buildings, a traditionaldress code, feeling pressure to give money inthe offering, worship music they didn't knowand long-winded preaching were keepinga large group of people from coming tochurch."

The cowboy churches wereconstructed with these barriers in mind. Thebuildings are rustic, there is no dress code,offering boxes are located at the back of thechurch, the worship music is centered aroundcountry music and old hymns, and pastorsuse more parables and examples to show lifeapplication to the Word.

"People come to this church withface paint still on from the duck or deerhunting, flip flops and shorts, camo, or evenmud on their jeans from work at the ranch,"

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Todd says. "In fact, after church people areoften gathered in the parking lot comparingthe trophies from this morning's hunt. But,85% of the population of our church didn'ttransfer their letter from another church.These members are those who have neverfelt comfortable in a traditional church."

Ellis County Cowboy Church, thefirst cowboy church was established inWaxahachie, Texas, 12 years ago. Now,they have an attendance of over 2000people. The Texas Fellowship ofCowboy Churches was formed, andthen, because as Todd explains it,"You can't put a fence around Godin Texas," cowboy churches spreadacross the south, and soon theAmerican Fellowship of CowboyChurches was started. Today thereare over 200 churches built on thismodel with another 30 in the making.

"God is doing this greatwork in our country," Todd says."He's blessed the Biblical model ofthe church like the ones Paul usedto reach the Gentiles, church for theunchurched."

During the time Todd wasserving on the advisory board, he hadalso started working as a music ministerat First Baptist Church Wake Village. Toddand his family felt at home in the church,especially since they still supported Todd'straveling ministry on the weekends, but soon,Todd and Robin felt like they were beingcalled away from the church.

"This was such a hard decision,"Todd says. "This is an incredible church.The people are just amazing, and they reallysupported my family. They had a great youthand children's ministry; this is the kind ofchurch you want to raise your family in."

First Baptist Church Wake Villagealong with Cross Trails Cowboy Churchin Fairly, Texas, the Texas Fellowship ofCowboy Churches and the Baptist GeneralConvention of Texas, wanted to start acowboy church in Texarkana and asked Toddto start as an interim pastor.

"I was looking hard for a pastor,"Todd says with a laugh, "but then I realizedGod was calling me here. Now, I'm having a

ball."In the seven years Todd has been

pastor of the Circle J Cowboy Church, theyhave baptized over 380 people in a horsetrough, sent out six pastors and started threemission churches.

"We are commanded in the GreatCommission in Matthew 28:19-20 to go outand make disciples. I just want to be a goodshepherd to the herd God has brought to this

church," Todd says.In order to reach disciples, the

Cowboy church hosts outreach opportunitiesevery week at their covered arena. Theevents include ranch rodeos, ranch cuttings,ranch sortings, team ropings, barrel racing,ranch versatility classes, bull riding, and lotsof events for kids."

"We share the message at everyevent," Todd says. "Some of these peoplewill come to a rodeo, but are afraid of thechurch. Once they come here, we hope theysee the building, meet our members andthink, 'Maybe I will show up on Sunday,"

The church also offers a churchservice at 10:30 Sunday morning and aservice at 6:30 on Wednesdays includinga session for youth called "Rip, Jump andSnort" and a session for children, or "LittleBuckaroos." Another fellowship optionincludes the Round Pen meetings wheregroups meet across 7 different countiesat various ranches, barns or workshops to

fellowship and study the Word."We found that many people are

intimidated by being invited to a Bible study,"Todd says. "So, we promise that we won'task anyone to pray, read the Bible or putthem on the spot to ask questions. Instead,we try to someone who had never been tochurch feel safe and welcome."

Also, the church has developedtheir website, with help from Don Walker at

Creative Edits. Visitors to the website canlisten to messages, watch videos, audiomessages, and study any topic at theirown pace.

"My eyes are being opened to howGod uses media to reach people," Toddsays. "One of our members was having areally hard time in his life. He drove out tothe lake and listened to messages onlinefor four hours straight and acceptedJesus that day in his car. He found Godthrough our website. We don't know howmany more people this tool has helped."

The church is currently hoping toexpand their outdoor arena to become amultipurpose and education center withseveral climate-controlled rooms. Toddhopes it becomes the "biggest youth

hangout on Wednesday night in region.""We are hoping to start up a youth

ranch rodeo practice," Todd says. "Seasonedcowboys will be teaching young people andchildren roping and ranch skills, as well asbuilding relationships with these kids. Theywill share how they surrendered their live toChrist and how He changed their lives."

Todd is praying that God will providefinancial means to achieve their goals toexpand this building as it will serve asanother opportunity to reach young peopleand kids in the region. Todd also hopes thatone day the church will be debt-free so thatthey can focus more on discipleship andmentoring of other young men called into theministry.

"I get to meet with every personwho comes to know the Lord as a part of thisgreat church," Todd says. "I love to see themgrow spiritually and see where God leadsthem. God changes lives and seeing thathappen right here in our community is thebest part of my job,"

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