Most people may not think of cowboy boots and blue jeans as appropriate church attire, but local pastor Randy Harden does. That's mostly what he sees - in addition to riders on horseback - at Cowboy Church of LaFayette where he preaches.
"It's a place for people to come as you are," he said. "You don't need a suit and tie. We have cowboys, farmers and motorcycle riders. They are drawn to the outdoor atmosphere. It's definitely not your typical church. It's something different."
Mounted greeters at the gate welcome people to the church, which sits on 92 acres in Rock Spring on County Line Road, on Sunday mornings. Inside the barn entryway, a coffee shop sits to the left with free coffee and biscuits for guests to sample. Then, people are invited to step on down the aisle into the open-air barn to a seating area before the service starts at 10:30 a.m.
The church's guiding scripture verse is Revelations 19:14 that says, "We will ride with him." Harden and his wife and co-pastor Sandy preach through the whole Bible one chapter at a time.
When they're not preaching, the Hardens are farmers that grow hay in Rock Spring. They said they realized eight years ago in May that many of their customers did not attend church. So, they decided to start a cowboy church service to see how it would go as a test run.
Now the Hardens are part-time hay farmers and full-time pastors, harvesting souls for the church more than hay in the field.
Sunday service starts with singing followed with traditional preaching. The Hardens agree it is the setting that is the draw.
"You will notice that there is something special about this place. You can feel God all over this property," said Randy Harden. "We've had many souls saved at our altar and a numerous amount baptized in the creek."
The church began with 30 members in a 10-by-10-foot tent outside of a barn about one mile from the church's current location at 196 County Line Road; the church now boasts more than 500 members. Sandy Harden said some drive from Blue Ridge, Ga., and some from Alabama to attend the services.
"We are one of the only churches around on a farm with the Western lifestyle and rodeo events," said Randy Harden, adding that he has always been a horseback rider. "We try to keep the Western lifestyle alive. I like the laid-back atmosphere. You don't know who makes $100,000 or who makes $12,000. Everyone is equal at the Cowboy Church."