Just off the Highway 287 bypass on the western edge of Waxahachie, Texas, the Cowboy Church of Ellis County has built something that looks more like a working ranch than a typical sanctuary. The property stretches across an arena, a children's building, a youth building known as the Ranch House, and a main worship center, all tied together by an unmistakable Western identity. Hats, boots, and blue jeans are welcome here, and the church's driving purpose is simple: changing lives by boldly proclaiming the Gospel to the Western culture.
Head to Heart, Heart to Hands, Hands to Feet
The church's tagline, "HEAD TO HEART. HEART TO HANDS. HANDS TO FEET.", captures the way the congregation tries to move belief into action. Worship is meant to engage the mind, soften the heart, and send people out to serve. Senior Pastor Chris Maddox, a long-time Ellis County resident, businessman, and competitive team roper, has shepherded the church for more than twenty years, serving first as a team leader, then as administrator and executive pastor before stepping into his current role.
A Gospel-Centered Faith
The Cowboy Church of Ellis County keeps its beliefs centered on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which it calls "the best and most important news that anyone will ever hear." Teaching emphasizes the sinfulness of humanity, the grace of God shown through Christ's death and resurrection, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit for daily living, the hope of eternal life for those who follow Christ, and the urgency of sharing that hope with others. Members are taught to see themselves as Christ's ambassadors, carrying a message of reconciliation into a world that still needs to hear it.
Sunday Mornings in the Worship Center
Sunday services are held at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with the later service also livestreamed on Facebook. Both services are come-as-you-are, and most people dress casual - hats, boots, and blue jeans are all fine. The format pairs roughly thirty minutes of Christian Country music from a live band with thirty to forty-five minutes of in-depth Bible teaching. Nursery care is available during both services, and children through sixth grade are dismissed to Junior Ranchers in the Children's Building, while older youth are invited to age-appropriate programming.
Monday Night Arena Church
One of the most distinctive things about the Cowboy Church happens every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the outdoor arena. Arena Church is an informal worship gathering that begins with music and teaching, then rolls straight into team roping practice. Families can come to watch, or bring a horse and join in. The arena is also home to other weekly horsemanship ministries, including Tuesday night Barrel Racing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and the Bass Club, which competes in Christian-fellowship bass fishing tournaments and shares the Gospel and personal testimonies at each event.
Junior Ranchers and Ranch House Youth
Children and students have a place of their own at the Cowboy Church. Junior Ranchers meets during both Sunday services and again on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for kids in grades one through six, offering age-appropriate Bible study in a welcoming environment in the Children's Building. Ranch House Youth, for students in grades seven through twelve, gathers in the Ranch House Youth Building directly behind the main sanctuary on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. Children Minister Rebecca Crandall leads the younger group, while Youth Minister Chris "CJ" Douglas and Associate Youth Minister Kris Rinaldi invest in the teens.
Connect Groups and Small-Group Life
The church's small-group ministry, called Connect Groups, is described as the front line of its mission. The stated vision is for 100 percent of weekend attendance to be connected to a life-changing, disciple-making small group. Anyone can fill out a form and be matched with a group that fits their season of life and schedule.
A Stable of Ministries
Volunteer opportunities at the Cowboy Church read like a list of small Texas institutions. Beyond the arena activities, the church runs 4D Game Time (a monthly board-game and fellowship night on the third Saturday), Calf Roping and Breakaway Roping, Poles, Buckout events, the Lord's Wranglers, and Cowboy Kid's. There are breakfasts for men and women, prayer gatherings, a Hospitality Team, a Bulletin Team, a Landscaping Team, a Media Team, and a Sign Language ministry that opens worship to the deaf community. Care and recovery ministries include Bridge to Recovery, Grief Share, Heart to Heart, Hidden Miracles, a Crisis Response team, a Veterans Support Ministry, and a Women's Care Team. Women of Grace and a Young Adults ministry round out the generational outreach.
The Team Behind the Work
Beyond Senior Pastor Chris Maddox, the staff includes Connections Pastor Ray Boyd (who holds a master's in counseling from Texas A&M-Commerce), Ministries Pastor Boone Reitz, Families Pastor Matt Sosebee, Operations Pastor Lloyd White, Music Minister Curtis McConnell, Media Coordinator Kaitlyn Thomas, Ministry Coordinator Melissa Alejos, Operations Coordinator Kathy Tiller, Maintenance Coordinator Billy Robinson, and Facilities Staff members Robert Miller and Kevin Oginski. Elders Stan Winters, Reggie Underwood, and Tony Folkers provide spiritual oversight, and a long list of Lay Pastors supports ministry across the campus.
Planning a Visit
The church sits at 2374 W. Highway 287 Bypass in Waxahachie. Visitors can park in the Front Parking lot near the Worship Center or use the Rear Parking near the arena. The on-campus map also points to the Children's Center, the Welcome Wagon (a starting point for newcomers), and the Ranch House Youth building. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and can be reached at (972) 935-9801. Giving is available through Realm, and a weekly newsletter keeps the wider community informed of events and studies.