Rodeo Service Draws 15,000 to Nashville Church Where 100 People Gave Lives to Christ
Can a church service become an all-out indoor rodeo complete with dirt floors and bucking bulls? Just ask the Rev. Maury Davis of the Cornerstone Nashville megachurch who did just that this past Independence Day weekend.
"It [the rodeo] came from the idea of how do we compel people to come into the house [of God]? Jesus said, 'Compel them to come in, that my house may be full,'" Davis told The Tennessean. "We're hoping that every person that comes into this room is ready to meet the Lord."
Davis also felt that celebrating the Fourth of July with a rodeo at his church made sense since the holiday tends to focus on God and country.
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"There is something about a rodeo that reminds me of simpler times in America," said Davis in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "I want to share with everyone who attends the message that America is the greatest place in the world; and with all these festivities, this will be a church service you will never forget."
It appears that many took advantage of the free entertainment and Gospel message. In an email to CP, Cornerstone Nashville Marketing Director Eric Moore, said, "We ended up with approximately 15,000 attendees with over 100 first-time salvations during the event."
The festivities were free and open to the public and included a fireworks show, which was considered to be the largest in Nashville and was synchronized with a high-tech laser show, as well as patriotic and country music along with appearances by leading Nashville recording artists.
But the pastor's main focus was on pointing attendees to Jesus, winning souls for His Kingdom, and demonstrating that believers can enjoy themselves and have a good time. "You can have fun as a Christian," Davis said.
Approved by the International Pro Rodeo Association, the free indoor rodeo event ran Wednesday night through Sunday morning. During each show there was prayer, singing, a sermon, an altar call urging visitors to commit their lives Christ, and an offering collection.
Cornerstone Nashville, which hosted a similar rodeo show in 2010, has been known to put on elaborate productions using special effects, props and costumes to help demonstrate the pastor's sermons.
Watch portions of Cornerstone Nashville's fireworks and laser display here:
