Sermon on the mount

Group mixes faith, horseplay

August 1. 2006

By JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman

WASILLA - Tim Avritt twists both ends of his bushy mustache, saddles a horse most every chance he gets and wears a cowboy hat that looks like it could have grown naturally from the top of his head.

&#8220I was born and raised with horses,” he explains. &#8220Been on horseback since I was in diapers.”

These days, Avritt is a lean middle-aged cowboy, the lines on his face shaped from decades of driving cattle and rabble-rousing under the New Mexico sun.

Avritt moved to Alaska 11 years ago and still owns a few horses, but his foolhardy ways are behind him. These days, he spends a lot of time talking about his most trusted riding partner - Jesus.

Seven years ago, Avritt and his wife, Debbie, founded the Alaska chapter of Cowboys for Christ, a horse-lover's group that weaves Gospel messages into horsemanship lessons and trail rides.

This past weekend, Tim and Debbie ran the eighth annual Mat-Valley Cowboys for Christ Family Horse Camp. Nearly 70 people turned up at Greenfields Stable in Wasilla to ride horses and take in Gospel preaching.

&#8220The horses are the same way we are until we find God,” Tim explained, as he prepared for the first night of camp. &#8220It goes hand in hand, because God wants to get a hold of us to do his will, just like we want to get a hold of these horses and have them do what we want.”

The Cowboys for Christ Alaska chapter is tied to an international organization with groups in all 50 states and 38 countries. They also boast more than 43,000 members from England to Turkey. Their ranks even include President George W. Bush, who once wore a Cowboys for Christ belt buckle during a nationally televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ted Pressley - better known as &#8220Brother Ted” - founded Cowboys for Christ 36 years ago. He's a 68-year-old former rodeo man and a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Brother Ted feels called to reach the common man.

Speaking by telephone Saturday from his home in Fort Worth, Texas, Pressley explained his inspiration in founding Cowboys for Christ.

&#8220All men and women are looking for something,” he articulated in his Texas accent. &#8220There's a void in life. Whether you live in downtown New York or West Texas, Christ is the only thing that will fill it.”

After graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Pressley tried his hand as a pastor but never felt peace until he returned to his cowboy roots.

Pressley now travels the world, speaking at churches, rodeos, state fairs, livestock shows, universities and just about anywhere where people want to hear the Gospel message preached from the mouth of a Texas cowboy. He also hosts his own television show and publishes a national livestock tabloid called the Christian Ranchman.

Over the years, his unique blend of cowboy culture and nondenominational Christianity has captured the attention of national television, radio and newspaper outlets.

Pressley visited Alaska the last two summers to preach at the annual Mat-Su camp. He couldn't make it this year, however, so Tim and Debbie filled in.

Debbie is a sturdy, muscular woman who shoes horses for a living. She said she meets a lot of non-churchgoers who want to find a place to worship, but they aren't familiar with church life and don't know how to break in.

That's where Cowboys for Christ enters, she said.

&#8220A lot of people are curious and want to be involved with Christian people but they don't know how to start,” she explained. &#8220The horses are an intermediate way.”

Cowboys for Christ encourages members to find a local church. But the group doesn't push any one denomination over another, so long as the church sticks to what Cowboys for Christ considers to be the Bible basics.

In recent years, the Mat-Su has grown into an oasis for horse-lovers seeking space to raise and ride their animals. More horse owners are moving out from Anchorage, Debbie explained, and many times they need to learn basic horsemanship skills.

&#8220We've noticed a lot of the people in Alaska are pretty new horse owners,” she said. &#8220Our little niche is helping them out.”

Throughout the year, the Alaska group holds trail rides, horse competitions, handling classes, barn dances and sleigh rides. Prayers and Bible verses are never far from the fun.

Palmer resident Robert Davila just started riding horses. Last weekend was his first encounter with Cowboys for Christ.

He learned a few techniques to turn and stop his horse, but confessed he was a bit saddle-sore after riding three straight days.

&#8220My bottom can tell you I just started,” he explained.

Davila sat nearby one particular horse that stampeded in circles around a small corral. The horse wasn't ready to ride due to a propensity to buck riders.

Like many at the camp, Davila saw a spiritual lesson in the restless animal.

&#8220That horse, if it's a trouble horse, will find all kinds of turmoil in life until it bends its will,” he mused. &#8220Once it bends its way of thinking, it will find peace and comfort - same with us and God.”

Contact Joel Davidson at

352-2266 or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.