Contact: Jeff Smith, 704-888-2081, js@cowboycn.org; Pastor David Barnes, 252-243-7078; both with the Cowboy Church Network; photos available

WILSON, North Carolina, Aug. 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pull on your boots and grab your Bible! It’s time to worship Cowboy Style! There’s a new church coming to town, and it is a bit different than the traditional church. The Down East Cowboy Church is sure to raise a few eyebrows with their unconventional method of worship.

Instead of suits, ties and wing tipped shoes, they will be wearing blue jeans, big belt buckles and cowboy boots and instead of a fancy baptism pool, the Cowboy Church will baptize their converts in a horse trough!

The church will meet every Tuesday in Wilson, North Carolina, starting August 29th in the livestock arena at the Wilson County Fairgrounds, 2331 US 301 Hwy South.

Cowboy preacher David Barnes has scheduled the church service on Tuesday evening to offer people who are out of town or working on Sunday an alterative time to attend church.

The service will open at 7:00 pm with a patriotic presentation of flags on horseback. Al Batten and his blue grass friends will lead in a toe tapping, hand clapping good time. Pastor Barnes has invited Cowboy Missionary Jeff Smith to preach the first service at the Down East Cowboy Church.

Smith is the founder of the Cowboy Church Network of North America. Over the past three years, he has assisted in the planting of more than 28 cowboy churches. His partnership with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the North American Mission Board enables him to train and equip others to plant cowboy churches throughout America and Canada. His mission is to impact the cowboy culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ by planting cowboy churches in every county.

Smith said, “At first glance some folks will think we have watered down the gospel to draw a crowd but nothing could be farther from the truth. We preach a very clear gospel message. The Bible is our statement of faith, and bringing hope to a lost world is our goal”.

The Down East Cowboy Church is a ministry of the Bible Missionary Baptist Church where David Barnes serves as senior pastor. Barnes said, “I believe the cowboy church will reach people whom mainstream churches have not reached with the good news of Jesus Christ.” He feels that the Cowboy Church will be an open door for people who will not go to a traditional church.

Barnes said, “I have had a great love for horses all my life. Now God is allowing me to use that love to share the love of Jesus with others who share a love for horses. I believe that the cowboy church will not only reach horse people but anyone who has a love for the outdoors.”

For more information go to www.cowboycn.org or call pastor Barnes at 252-243-7078.