A church leader in Ohio has earned himself the nickname 'Cowboy pastor' after his unusual evangelism technique – riding a bull in church as a way to share the Gospel.
Former professional bull-rider Pastor Lawrence Bishop II has built a ring inside Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio, and hopes to attract people who otherwise wouldn't set foot inside a place of worship.
"You know, the Bible said to compel them to come in, and so that's what we're doing," he told ABC's Nightline. "It didn't say how to compel them. It just said compel them to come in, so ... this is a tool."
In one Wednesday night service witnessed by ABC, Bishop rode a bull for about three seconds before being bucked off, and trampled by the raging animal. He managed to get out of the arena, however, and delivered an impassioned sermon to his congregation after which some 300 responded to the altar call.
"I don't have very many talents other than riding stuff that bucks or playing music," Bishop said. "So I've used both to spread the gospel and try to bring people to Jesus."
His mother Darlene, who started Solid Rock with Bishop's late father, said she thought her son was "crazy" when he suggested bull riding in church, but that it seems to be working. "People love to come to church. It's an exciting place," she said.
"I don't know if many churches have a cowboy for a preacher, but it sure makes it exciting because there was never a dull moment with my husband or my son that has taken his place.
"We call our church an extreme church because we don't do anything just normal. My husband used to say the seven last words of a dying church is 'never seen it done this way before'."
