Behind The Chutes Cowboy Church shares resources, plants seeds of the gospel at Amarillo Fair & Rodeo

When Steve Belote moved to Amarillo in 2020 to plant and pastor Behind The Chutes Cowboy Church, his love for rodeo and Western culture inspired him to serve as a member on the fair board for the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo. 

“I grew up [doing] rodeo. I was a cowboy for a long time [before] I went into the military, so I had rodeo in me from a young age. And then when I got involved with Cowboy Church ministries, [my love for rodeo] overflowed into it,” said Belote. 

Later, in September 2021, Belote encouraged his congregation to get involved in reaching the rodeo attendees for Christ by setting up a booth where church members pass out “literature, handouts, [promotional materials] about the church, and give away Bibles and daily devotionals” that relate the gospel to each rodeo event.

Kay Archer, a Behind The Chutes Cowboy Church founding member, said “everything changed” when she started attending Behind The Chutes. 

“I went to churches my whole life, but once I came to the cowboy church, it's like everything changed… [and I understood that] God is open to all [people],” said Archer.

Since 2022, she has volunteered at the booth. She said that each year she is surprised by how curious young people are about Jesus.   

“They [say], ‘I don't know how God is involved in this in the rodeo,’ [and] we just get to talking on that topic, and it just keeps on going and going,” said Archer. “They're just curious. They want to know [and we get to] plant that seed.”

While his church members man the booth, Belote is behind the chutes, to “take care of the roping boxes and [other needs] back there with the ropers, and then on the other side with the bucking chutes where they have the bucking events.” He takes that opportunity to “talk to the cowboys [about Jesus] and pray with the [rodeo] clowns.” 

“It's fun trying to put Jesus in rodeo… [and showing cowboys that] you can worship God anywhere,” said Belote. 

Cowboy church movement “opens up a different door” for ministry

Belote said cowboy church ministry “opens up a different door to minister to these [cowboys] where you wouldn't have a chance with them otherwise.” 

“You get cowboys back in the back, and they kneel down and pray [before their event]. You pray whether [you’re] religious or not,” explained Belote. “[So by ministering to them], we're actually making that door [to get to Jesus] wider.”

Belote recalled how a church member and high school friend, Marty, has been impacted by “the cowboy church movement.” 

“I reached out, and he was just getting out of jail again, and we took him in. I got him involved with the ministry, and he got him involved in church, and for the last three years now, he's been clean. He's dedicated his life back to Christ,” said Belote. “If it wasn't for the cowboy church movement, I don't think he’d have ever come to Christ.” 

Belote said Marty volunteers at the church’s Tri-State Fair & Rodeo booth and shares his testimony with those he encounters. 

“Now, he's got a purpose, and because he knows that Christ is with him and has helped him get through this, he’s sharing that through [our] ministry, being up there and talking to those guys while he works that booth [at the rodeo],” said Belote. 

Planting seeds, making disciples

Belote said Behind The Chutes has grown by having a presence at the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo. 

“I do get some locals, they come out to church because of [the booth], just to check it out because a lot of people haven't heard about the cowboy ministry. They don't know it's out there,” said Belote. “So, it’s about getting the word out to people [about the ministry].” 

Belote shared that another church member and volunteer has particularly contributed to that growth. 

“She knew a lot of barrel racers, so with her knowing the people that she knew, she's able to go [to the rodeo] and work that booth and share the Word of Christ with [barrel racers] and bring a few to church that way,” said Belote. 

Belote said the heart behind the church's presence at the rodeo is to “go out and make disciples.” 

“People think Cowboy Church is just about cowboys. It's not. It's about Christ, and it's about bringing everybody, no matter who they are, [to Christ],” said Belote. “We can't save anybody, but we can sure plant a bunch of seeds. 

To learn more about Texas Baptists Western Heritage, visit txb.org/ministries/western-heritage.