Cowboy Gospel comes to Sisters

Cowboy Gospel, in all its glory, was the theme Friday night, February 23, at Sisters Coffee Company.

The evening's main attraction was an old friend of the coffee house, Bob Moulton. Moulton's first connection with the establishment was not through his music but through his masonry. Moulton built the compelling river rock fireplace that adds a special ambiance to the premises.

Today, more often than engaging in his art of masonry, Moulton strums his guitar and sings while interjecting the wisdom of the Lord into his program. Passing on the "Word" has become his calling.

Sisters Coffee Company co-owner Winfield Durham told The Nugget that he and his wife Joy like to have the building used for ministries.

"It's a good fit for us. I don't think we would have ever been able to build this without God. A lot of people forget that," Durham said.

Moulton lived in Sisters with his wife Liz and four children in the 1980s before Sisters had a high school. Moulton's children were very much involved in sports, and the commute to and from Redmond for all of the extra-curricular activities became too much for the family. The Moultons decided to move to Redmond, where they resided until two years ago when they were called to Cody, Wyoming.

Moulton is affiliated with Cowboy Church International and spends his time in Cody preaching at rodeos, building his own cowboy congregation and conducing gospel services at local RV parks. Being a team roper, Moulton understands the mindsets of cowboys, and bringing church to them is the practical thing to do.

"There's so many cowboy churches being developed all over the United States. As cowboys, we just thought, man, we need to take church to the rodeos on Sundays because the cowboys are busy rodeoing and can't go to a local church," Moulton said.

His services are held at the rodeo arena, and fans as well as the rodeo contestants attend. Moulton sings and shares God's word.

On Tuesday nights, Moulton pastors his own cowboy church at the Holiday Inn in Cody. In his spare time Moulton works with his son Shawn. The pair have started a masonry business in Cody.

During the off season, Moulton travels extensively throughout the Northwest ministering at venues like Sisters Coffee Company and at churches. He had performed in McMinnville and Eugene before coming to Sisters.

"Everybody wants us to come and minister at their church. We can't make it to all of them. Here we just have a real bond. We love Sisters," Moulton said.

Vicki Court of Terrebonne has known Moulton for years, as she works at the cleaners where he takes his jeans. She heard Moulton minister for the first time on Friday night.

"It was great. I felt like goin' to church," she said.

Patricia Vargas and her husband and two sons drove from Prineville. Sixteen-year-old John said it was new to him to hear a cowboy talking about Jesus.

"It was very friendly. It was intriguing to me," he said.

"Sisters is the type of place where people go home at night," Durham mused. "That's cool, but if you go to a function at the school, you realize there's a lot of people around here. We like to reach out to the people who live here. We just like to be a stepping stone - a place where people can go and get a touch from the Lord and see that he is good - hopefully quench a thirst," Durham said.

For more information about Cowboy Church International go to: http://www.prorodeoministries.com.