Little Church on the Ranch

One of my favorite times in my life has been having church in a building on our ranch. Many of you remember all the fun we had at the ranch...here is a story I wrote about it, and hopefully, it will bring some memories back for you!
Little Church on the Ranch

Our Pastor son returned from a mission’s trip to India. He announced that the Lord has told him to start a new church here in our valley. As we all know when God speaks we listen!! At the time he was working as a youth pastor at a local church and we were all enjoying having the youth at our ranch paint balling, having retreats, and other great activities. Now, with God’s word in his head it was time for a change.
We had just finished putting up a huge Quonset hut and built a room attached in the front of it to resemble a old western hotel. As the family stood admiring the two story building you could almost see the horses tied to the railings and hear laughter coming from within. Beside it was an old tin building that had a false front and a sign saying “Well Fargo Bank” and another with “Black Smith”. Right in front of that building was a covered wagon. On the other side of the Old Hotel is the Bunk House with a sign that says, “Grandchildren Welcomed”. With our little western town complete it was time to now decide what to do with the Old Hotel. My husband said, “It will be perfect place to display my old cars”. Our daughter that loves Karaoke and dancing said, “What a great dance hall”. Our son stood tall and said,” It is God’s House, the new Church. Guess who won?
The little church on the ranch began. We met every Friday night at 7:00 and people from all different churches came from all the communities in the valley. At first it was a few then grew rapidly to about 50-60. The local casino donated there old bingo chairs that supplied each person with comfort even though they were pink, we appreciated them. I made sure the building was clean and the brownies and lemonade were made. Our son preached most nights and our daughter in love led worship. We had several others playing drums and guitars.
I remember one night when my son had a special speaker from out of town come in. He and his wife stayed in the bunk house for the weekend. Henry loved my German Shepard named Max and he was his best friend. I’ll never forget the look on my son’s face when Henry told him that he would not preach unless Max was right next to him up front. You see my children did not partially like the animals in the building. Somehow they always came in, like it or not!
It was wonderful! I would sit and watch older ladies sitting holding and petting cats that wondered in, and big dogs laying sleeping on the floor. You could see the sun set through the big window and hear horses whining out in the pasture. Several times a bird or two would get caught flying around in the big Quonset hut.
This little church continued for a year or so until we out grew it and moved to town. It was lovely seeing all denominations together in unity on common ground. I believe the ranch was a place we all could meet and not feel guilty about Sunday morning church. It was a place to go and be with other Christians and share the love of the Lord.
The main element was always there, Jesus never missed a Friday night.