DIAMOND – To put it kindly, the horse had a bit of an ugly personality.
But Horse Whisperer James Frazier knew that the horse’s heart, head and feet would connect as directorship and respect are established. Through gentle pressure and direction and a deliberate plan, he earned the trust of the young colt, saddling and riding it for the first time.
“The horse whisperer spoke to the crowd about the parallels between the horse’s relationship with its trainer and our relationship with Christ,” said Ron Crow, pastor at First Baptist Church Diamond (FBC). Just as Frazier tamed this colt, even so God applies pressure and direction to show us the plan He has for our lives, if we will give our trust and obedience to Him and follow His will.
FBC hosted its 10th annual Horse Whisperer event, Sept. 20, at Doc Haskins Arena here and drew a crowd of around 2,000 people across eight states. Diamond’s population is 900. Crow said eight people came to Christ as a result, and several others came forward to rededicate their lives.
“God has been in this event since we started it ten years ago, and every year we get to be part of what He’s doing,” Crow said. “It’s phenomenal to see God take such a simple thing like people’s fascination with horses and make it into something that brings people to Himself.”
Along with the horse whisperer’s presentation, the event also included musical entertainment, a chainsaw carver, buggy and horseback rides, crowd games, a prayer balloon launch and door prizes.
Crow said the event, from the entertainment to the barbeque to the bounce houses, was 100 percent free for all who came. One woman, while enjoying her authentic cowboy coffee, even walked around the arena in search of a donation bucket or something to show her appreciation, but there was none.
“We do this because we love our community, and we want to reach out to them,” Crow said.
The church had 186 volunteers working the event in some way, and Crow said all of it comes together after just one hour-long planning meeting.
“Everyone in the church has embraced this event, and as we delegate and add new things each year everyone follows the Lord’s leading and it comes together,” he said. “It always turns out to be an amazing event, and we give God the glory for that.”
Check out this Facebook photo album from the event: