Cowboy Church

Cowboy churches have become popular in rural communities. There are not many in New Mexico but there is one in Pecos. The American Cowboy Churches (AFCC) celebrate the American Western Heritage and strive to encourage and support Christian churches that remove many of the barriers that might be found in more traditional churches and offer a more relaxed atmosphere focused on the Bible. The Cowboy Church Movement arose from a desire of people to attend a church where they felt they could "come as they are" and worship God in a comfortable and familiar setting. Most of the churches put on Rodeos periodically. The Pecos Cowboy Church has one every August. 

I attended the Pecos Valley Cowboy Church at their 10:30am Sunday service.

Real People with Real Faith  

Glen Strock is the Pastor, originally from Dixon, he previously made a name for himself as an Artist. The service started out with Cowboys with guitars leading the group in hymns then Prayers and Praise. Their prayers were quite extensive, they asked for audience requests and tried to answer as many personal prayers as they had time for. The minister then had a little talk with a posse of youngins before they went off to Sunday School. Minister Strock talked to them about how Perfect Love drives out Fear. In the middle of the service, they stopped for a brief intermission and had some food and fellowship. They were a very friendly group. 

The sermon was about Paul's unwavering faith in Jesus. After Paul was stoned, he was not deterred. He dusted himself off, got back up, and fearlessly went on doing the work of his Lord Jesus. He encouraged the members to hold your ground in your Faith and to not let your fears rule you. He spoke to the group about representing Christ and your Faith wherever you go and being a stable source of Faith in your Community. He talked about transforming power of viewing Trials as Opportunities. 

Life is a Rodeo, Hold onto the Reigns of God's Love and they will steer you in the right direction. 

Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. ~ Acts 14:22

The offering was given by people putting their tithes in a pair of saddle bags - so unique. After the service was a Chuck Wagon, a potluck, and there looked to be some wonderful food. 

They are currently meeting in a commercial building and have to break down their church every Sunday afternoon, but are looking to move to a permanent building. Many blessings to them in their search for the perfect home.  

  THANK YOU Pecos Cowboy Church for your warm welcome and Love of God. 

Church of the Nazarene

The Church of the Nazarene is located in every state in the U.S. and in over 157 world areas. It has a very strong emphasis on missions, with over 600 missionaries worldwide. Church of the Nazarene emerged from the Pentecostal and Methodist faith, with a belief in Entire Sanctification. It a protestant church of the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition that was founded in 1907 as the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene. The church dropped the name 'Pentecostal' due to "the modern Pentecostal tongues movement."

Holiday Park Church of the Nazarene calls itself a Life-Saving Station. Their mission states they, "pull men and women from the wreckage of sin and offer them new life and hope through Jesus Christ."

I attended the Holiday Park Church's 10:45 am Sunday service. They have a substantial group of Pakistani congregants, so they also have an Urdu Service at 7 pm on Sunday Evenings.

They started out with musical worship, then Pastor Michael Johnson gave his sermon. He referred to the members as Beloveds. The sermon was about Solomon and his fall from Wisdom to Folly. The minister gave congregants a Formula to Avoid Disaster:

A. Don't allow a little Wiggle Room 1 Kings 3:1-3
    There is no such thing as partial commitment. Bolster your Humility and Banish your Arrogance. 
B. Don't ever think that you can be the exception Deuteronomy 17:14-20
    Keep a close relationship with God. Do not take liberties in God's love. 

The Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” Deuteronomy 17:14

C. Deal with your weaknesses 1 Kings 11:1-8 
    Deal with the issues of your own lives, so that you do not perpetuate them on the generations to come. Glorify and be content with the Blessings you receive, do not always crave fro more or greater ones. 
D. Embrace correction 1 Kings 9:1-9
    Have a heart open to correction. 

"THERE ARE NO EXCEPTION CLAUSES IN DEVOTION"

Afterwards, they passed out communion to everyone as they remained seated. The bread appeared to be flatbread or Naan. There was a group prayer and then people took the sacraments. The services concluded with a send off prayer.

Several people greeted and welcomed me. 

THANK YOU Holiday Park Church of the Nazarene for sharing your service with me. 

Celebrate Wesleyan Church

The Wesleyan Church is a protestant, evangelical, holiness denomination. The Wesleyan church was originally part of the Methodist Church but split from it in the mid 1800's, due to disagreement about sanctification -- the process by which people become more holy. The church took its name after John Wesley the founder of the Methodist church. A fundamental teaching of the faith is, "a victorious Christian life is possible for all believers through the experience of both forgiveness of sins and the filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives." There are just a few Wesleyan Churches in Albuquerque. 

This past Sunday, I attended Celebrate Wesleyan Church's 10:45 service. Reverend John Bubbico conducted the service. It started with singing, a call to the altar, and prayers. Then Rev. Bubbico gave a very well prepared and moving sermon based on Romans 8:28

"All things work together for the good of those who love God."

Rev. Bubbico preached about the difficult times in life and how to not close yourself off from God during these times. He talked about using moments of grief and crisis as an opportunity to grow, to strengthen your relationship with God, and could even serve as some of life's best lessons. He talked about how attitudes are the biggest factor in determining how these moments affect you. He said, "Your attitude in life, affects your spiritual altitude." He also discussed the common pitfalls in how people choose to face life's challenges:

• Self Pity - Asking God "Why Me?" and soliciting pity about your circumstances from others
• Rebelling - Getting angry and trying to fight back against the sorrow or challenges you are facing - as if getting mad at God will really change things
• Breaking Through - Using the grief or sorrow for creating something good in your life. Always looking for the lesson or the good in the hard times.  

He encouraged us to put our Faith in God, because God has a way of pulling together the broken pieces and sculpting them into a beautiful new creation. 

It was a simple service, but very good insight into the Word of God. An elderly couple invited me to have lunch with them but I already had plans ♡♡ Very Sweet.  

OPEN YOUR MINDS AND HEARTS TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD. 

THANK YOU Celebrate Wesleyan Church for such a great and inspiring service and sermon.