Families in York, South Carolina, saddled up to ride horses, hear the Gospel, and share a meal together.  

Faith Rising Community Church hosted its second annual Cowboy Camp. Pastor Berry Chatas said, “Cowboy Camp is a place where you can come and learn about how God’s creation works all around us through these beautiful animals and to find out who Jesus is and who he can be to you.” 

But just days before, the scene was very different. Hurricane Helene ripped through the Southeast, wiping out power for thousands in the area and causing widespread damage. Faith Rising Community Church pressed forward with the event, seeing it as more than just a fun day; it was an opportunity to serve. “The level of devastation that’s in this immediate community is pretty bad,” Chatas said. “God brought us here for this.” 

It also provided an opportunity to tangibly meet the needs of their neighbors by providing free lunches. With transportation limited because of downed trees, church members rode golf carts to local homes to invite them for lunch. “We are inviting everybody. We’re just going to serve food until we run out,” Chatas said. 

Saddling Up for the Gospel

When Chatas learned about the efforts of Carolinas Cowboy Church in Fort Lawn, S.C., he asked the church to partner for an outreach event in York.  He shared that the partnership has been a blessing and has helped them reach their neighbors. “There are so many lost people in this area, and we want to show them the true meaning of who Jesus is,” Chatas said.  

Faith Rising partnered with Carolinas Cowboy Church to host the event. “We are a mission-minded church, and we use horses the cowboy way to share and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Pastor Mike Mulligan of Carolinas Cowboy Church said.  

“These horses are like a magnet,” Mulligan said, sharing that children and adults alike are drawn to them. “Each kid that gets a horse ride gets to walk through and learn about the Gospel of Christ.” 

A Church on Mission

Faith Rising Church began through a Bible study in Berry and Carol Chatas’ living room and later transitioned to share space at the York Baptist Association to hold services. In 2023, the church purchased its building in York. 

 
Robert Winkler, executive director and men’s ministry leader at Faith Rising, shared that reaching the community is of first importance. “We really just want to be a part of the community,” Winkler said. “We are to witness to the world. And if they aren’t coming to us, then we need to go to them, because that’s the Great Commission.”