Wray, Colorado is a community of about 2200 souls on the Eastern edge of Colorado. Folks in Wray are solid, sensible hard working “salt of the earth” types who love each other and love America…(insert a Chevy commercial here)…Wray is about as rural and classic American as you can find anywhere.

The picture to the right is one of my all time favorite pictures for at least two reasons. First, it is a picture of two pastors who both serve in Wray. I know a lot of people who would say that one church would be plenty for a community as small as Wray. But these two pastors love God and each other and they also care enough about the people of Wray to build different “bridges of discipleship” to reach them. Harold and Barbara Jackson are the couple on the left. They pastor Wray Assembly of God. The couple on the right are Duke and Beth Edwards. They pastor Wray Cowboy Church…also affiliated with the Assemblies of God. Yes, you read it correctly. There are two Assemblies of God churches in Wray, Colorado, population 2200. And Harold is glad Duke is there. And Duke is glad Harold is there.

Both churches connect with a very distinct set of people in Wray. Harold and Barbara connect well with those who desire a more traditional worship experience. Duke and Beth connect with “cowboys” who generally feel out of place in a “traditional” setting. Both churches are doing well and even find ways to do things together from time to time. I’m so thankful that Pastor Jackson didn’t tell Duke he wasn’t welcome in Wray when Duke expressed a desire to start a cowboy church. I’m also thankful that the Rocky Mountain District was visionary enough to let this unique situation become a reality. Hopefully, it won’t be unique in the future.

Which brings me to the second reason I like this picture. The picture has Duke in it. Duke is a most unique leader who loves rural America and is determined to make sure that the people in rural America are not forgotten. When Duke was younger, he was a champion bull rider on the pro-rodeo circuit making a ton of money, but an injury knocked him out of competition and forced him to re-evaluate his life. Now he’s a US Missionary Rodeo Chaplain planting churches in rural America. Duke sent me this note the other day. “I was looking for stats regarding Rural Churches, trying to find out a rate at which they were closing. The stat people in Springfield couldn’t tell me, so I started calling the Districts to gather the info myself. Keep in mind that all Districts haven’t reported and some gave me ratios and some gave me numbers, plus the number of years they went back varied, but still these stats have some weight. There are about 3,300 rural A/G churches in the United States. For every 3 that close, 1 new one opens. However 60% of the new churches in rural America that open, are from church splits. And 90% of the time both the old church and the new church die in 5 years or less. What I am still trying to find is the average number of Rural A/G Churches that close each year. If I can figure that then I can figure an extinction rate. Right now from the data I have, the Rural A/G Church will be non-existent in about 18 years unless something changes. I know this email isn’t good news, but it lights a fire in me, and makes me want to plant rural churches even more.”

I thank God for people like Harold and Barbara Jackson and Duke and Beth Edwards. They are true champions who are discipling their communities empowered by God’s Spirit. It is a privilege to be on their team!