Now here is some news and information that may be of interest to you and for which I request your prayers:

1. Darlene and I will be leaving by train for 10 days of ministry in California for a GGF Regional Evangelistic Rally on the 1st of October. This is real exciting time since it was here that I was introduced to the fellowship of "Grace" believers. We have not been there in 40 years. I was a pastor in Pomona and Lake Arrowhead. This is a great opportunity to renew friendships and make some new ones for our cowboy ministry. One of the many activities planned is an evangelistic meeting in a city park where I will give the message of salvation by using my "Gospel Ropes and Whips."

2.  I have been invited to minister at the National Youth Evangelism Association's - Youth Workers Training Seminars on October 13-18 in Evansville, Indiana.  Pray that all will go well and the Lord will give us souls for our hire.

3.  We have several cowboys and cowgirls from our cowboy camps that are coming along well with their cowboy skills. I am encouraging them to practice and prepare a ministry exhibition for the Cowboy Reunion in February. My dream is to prepare them to go to the parks, street corners, malls, camps and churches for a gospel ministry in the future.

4.  I am also in hopes that Carl, Clayton Schutter and Steve VanWyck will be able to travel with me in Michigan this winter to provide their Western Music and testimonies for promotional and gospel meetings. Please pray with me about this and for open doors. 

* We will need to carefully set the dates for     the 2009 Cowboy Camps.
* We will need to plan and promote a Camping Fundraiser.
* We will need to organize for future growth and development.

I envision a "Cowboy Camp Association" organized as a "franchise" given by BDTLB inc. wherein a General Director is appointed; Program Directors installed in each camp with oversight of facilities, staff and program and a bi-yearly meeting of an Advisory Counsel made up of BDTLB Executive Director; General Director; Program Directors; Property Owners; and Providers of horses, mules and tack.

6.  I am in hopes of starting at least one more New Cowboy Camp in the Grand Rapids Area - (Not possible without a great supply of God's grace and provision).

7.  I am in hopes of starting one - maybe two - Advanced Cowboy Camps for a limited number of those cowboys and cowgirls who have proven horsemanship and cowboy skills for this next summer.

8.  I am anxious to have in connection with these Advanced Camps a Soul-winning Course giving instruction on how to witness for Christ without fear, how to give a public testimony, how to preach an evangelistic message and conduct a street or open air meeting.

9.  I would like to dispel the rumor that I have retired. I hope you can see that my schedule is full. No, I'm not traveling as much as before. I have, in fact, shifted gears and am as busy and happy as ever in the Lord's work. I intend to continue to publish my Cowboy Lee Web Site - (CowboyLee.com) with a full compliment of articles and Bible studies. I will also provide some Bible Studies and Bible Briefs for Truth Aflame and other Publications as requested. I have a few New Bible Study Booklets and a book or two in the works and in hopes of finding a place to publish it this winter. Your prayers, encouragement and financial support is needed and welcome. 

10.  Prayer and cards of encouragement are needed and requested: 

 

Pastor David Hobbs is the owner, with his wife Sandy of the Victory Stables in Apollo Pennsylvania. He fell out of a hunting Tree Stand last week and received a concussion and 32 stitches to sew him up. Dave we sure do love you and pray for you.  

 

Matthew Plaggemars 2005, 2006 and 2008 camper at the Apollo and Missouri Cowboy Camp is recovering from surgery. He had his leg broken two years ago on a trampoline. It never healed properly and had to have it re-broken and pins and brace surgically installed in hopes it will heal correctly this time. He will be on crutches for another two months. The good news is that he will be able to go to school.

Chris Harrington

is the owner, with his wife Jody, of the IQ Harrington Ranch in La Junta, Colorado where we held our trail ride. I received this letter from Jody: "We found out in late June that Chris had prostrate cancer. He underwent CT scans and a bone scan to determine if the cancer had spread. He was immediately set up for surgery to remove and biopsy the lesions. This surgery took place on July 14. It was a fairly major and painful surgery for Chris. He was off work for two weeks and on light duty for a total of six weeks. Then on August 25th, Chris was admitted for same day surgery. According to his physician/surgeon there was a grave human error during the procedure. There are 2 gases used to freeze and thaw the different quadrants of the gland. The technician inadvertently had both tubes hooked up to the freezing gas, so he received additional freezing. The doctor believes the outcome will be satisfactory (the cancer cells killed) with no damage from more than the required freezing exposure, but he will have to undergo more tests to have conclusive results. Please keep us in your prayers in this regard. We know God is still in control and was when this 'mistake happened' so maybe it was not even a mistake at all - only God really knows. Chris is feeling well and has a very positive outlook about his situation, including all of what took place in the operating room!" We love these dear people! This is a time to care and pray.

  

Joel and Susan McGarvey assumed the directorship of BDTLB in January. I'm very pleased for his accomplishments and thankful that he has taken the reins of the ministry. His schedule is full and has been profitable in terms of spiritual results. Right now he is preaching in Wisconsin and wrote: "Our meetings in West Bend went very well. They had hoped to get some people from the neighborhood and did get around 5 couples/families. Some stayed for the meeting and four made decisions for Christ. One of the couples that accepted Christ on Saturday evening was in church Sunday morning. PTL!" A letter or note is always welcome along with prayers as traveling is difficult and being away from home and familiar faces and places is hard to take.

Diana Schnaath the "happy nurse" and cooks helper in Missouri Camp has thankfully recovered from having her veins stripped during the last week of camp. However, she has to go thru the recovery process again this coming week as she has to have the same surgery on the other leg. We can never thank Diane and Neil enough for their love and partnership with us. They are in our heart and our prayers.

Judy Schnaath

is the only staff member to have won the coveted "Cowboy Up Award" at the Missouri Adult Retreat! Judy asks for your prayers. She is the environmental engineer at the place of her employment. As such she has been asked to go to China for one or two months to teach environmental issues to the employers. Being away from home in a foreign environment will not be easy and prayers are welcome. Vernon and Judy are the owners of the "Little Bear Creek  Ranch" which is home to our Missouri Cowboy Camp. Vernon will also need your prayers too because he don't know how to cook. He may get tired of beans as a can of beans is all he knows how to cook.

Dennis Cappel who has so graciously donated his time and talents each year at our Missouri Camp to give a demonstration of training a "green" horse brought a wild mustang and gave a unforgettable demonstration. Dennis was selected to compete in the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover in Fort Worth, Texas in September featuring America's best horse trainers working with wild American Mustangs over 100 days. Dennis wrote, "The purpose of the competition is to showcase the beauty, versatility, and trainability of these rugged horses that roam freely on public lands throughout the West, where they are protected by the Bureau of Land Management under Federal law. The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to ensure herd health and protect rangeland resources. Thousands of removed animals are then made available each year to the public for adoption. All of the animals involved in the "Makeover" competition will be available for adoption at the Fort Worth event in September."  Dennis also shared the dream of establishing the "Hope Givers Working Ranch" which is a place where young men will have the opportunity to work with horses, cattle, and mentors from all walks of life to gain education, outstanding moral, social, and behavior skills. These men will develop leadership, communication, and people skills that will turn them into eagles among men. I want to thank Dennis and Cindy for their partnership with us. We love them! Let's promise to pray for them and their needs.

Alicia and Jessica Hobbs; Julie Finck; Micah Graham all have been staff or campers for our cowboy camps and are enrolled in courses of theological studies. Alicia is a 1st year student at Grace Bible College; Jessica is a 2nd year student at the St. Louis Theological Seminary; Micah and Julie are 2nd year students at the Dakota Bible Institute in Tabor, South Dakota. Folks, these young people are the reservoir for future leaders in our churches and cowboy ministries. There is no more worthy object for our prayers and support. Pray that God will protect and provide for these young'ins! Encourage them with your prayers and notes.

 

Chasing a Dream:

Recently Jeff Bertram pastor, of Old Bethel Bible Church in Alpha, Kentucky made us an offer to dream and pray about. He has offered us approximately 600 acres of property that could be used for a National Cowboy Lee's Retreat and Conference Center for year around camps and horse training facilities to be used for Christ and Christian Ministry. This property is located about 75 miles West of I-75 and 6 miles South of Monticello, Kentucky. This is the perfect place. Rolling, wooded hills with the year around "Canada Creek," suitable for swimming running through it. His price to us would be $450,000. Would you dare to dream and pray about this? Pray that God would raise up some godly investors who would help make this a reality.  I am going to organize an "Exploratory, Fact Finding Tour" with an invitation for you to get on board our Motor home this coming January 2009 to come with me to look at the property, evaluate it, and envision what God could do. Let me know if you'd be willing to come along and give some advice, opinions or suggestions. Send me an E-mail at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
A word spoken in season to him that is weary: These encouraging words come from Ron and Nancy Clark. "Since this was our first Cowboy Camp experience, we weren't sure what to expect. We can safely say that it has been an experience! A wonderful one! We were glad to be invited and hope to attend again. Ronnie and I were blessed by the knowledgeable men who led the Bible studies. It is always beneficial to have the truth and the doctrines of the Grace message reinforced and to increase our knowledge and understanding of God's Word. The fellowship was fantastic. There was a special spirit among the participants. The many new people we met are not just acquaintances - they are brothers and sisters in Christ - friends for life, and even longer! Once again, Lee and Darlene and Joel and Susan have made us feel part of the family of BDTLB. We were fed physically and spiritually - which are both needs we require to be met! This week has been one we'll always cherish."
 
Just a thought!

I have wondered about "Jesse and Frank James" and boys and girls? Perhaps that is a strange connection to make. Let me see if I can explain myself. Over the years I have had a great interest in American History and young people. I normally do not read novels however, history has captured my attention and I read any thing that might touch the west, cowboys or horses. Recently, I read a couple of books about Jesse and Frank James and the Civil War. I have, of course, arrived at an opinion about what is truth, legend or myth concerning the James Brothers and I'm not willing to open that can of worms with only limited space and time now. However, I could not help but wonder if these murderous, thieving outlaws might not have turned out to be God fearing servants of the Lord if their home life had been different? And I wonder about the boys and girls that we chance to meet or come to our Cowboy Camp. What will their future be?

 Concerning the James Brothers:

 1)     What if their father, who was a popular fundamentalist, Bible believing preacher who was the founder of two Baptist churches and one of the founding regents of the famous William Jewett Baptist College, had stayed home and nurtured his sons in the things of the Lord instead of abandoning them and their mother so he could be a missionary to the California gold fields? (A similar story may be told about David Livingstone, who abandoned family and home at an inappropriate time to be a missionary.)
2)     What if their Uncle, who was a popular Methodius preacher, would have taken these boys under his wings and helped them during their young formative years?
3)     What if their extended families and community, who were well rooted in the revival culture of the Bible Belt, had shown some "milk of human kindness" to them in the hour of their need?
4)     What if their first - and wealthy - step father had loved these boys instead of farming them out to foster homes and forbidding them to live in his home?
5)     What if their second step father, who was a medical doctor with little backbone to be the head of the house, had shown as much concern for their spiritual welfare as he did for their physical welfare?
6)     What if their Mother, who was a domineering, argumentative, hateful woman, had not encouraged them in their rebellion and revenge?
7)     What if Frank and Jesse, who showed a genuine interest in education, scholarship and religion, had been taught the gospel and the Word of God "rightly divided"?  Frank was a Shakespearian Scholar. Jesse was well versed in the Scriptures and could quote the Bible extensively. Jesse attended church with his wife and children and contributed to the Baptist and Presbyterian Church regularly even during his outlaw days.

I don't know about you, but it is not hard for me to imagine that this same sad scenario has been and will continue to be re-enacted again and again in the lives of boys and girls for lack of someone to care. Cowboy Lee's Cowboy Camps can do very little to satisfy the need for many boys and girls who are at risk. But, it is possible that we have changed the course of some boy or girl's life because they heard the gospel and been saved this past summer. It is possible that our love and influence has spared them from making the wrong choices. Who knows, but what one of those boy and girls would have become the next "Frank or Jesse" if you had not prayed and given or invested a week as a staff member at cowboy camp or prayed and given?

Dear Friends, Staff Member and BDTLB Board Members, Thank You! And, God help us all to do more!
 
Riding for the Brand - - - LJC
 

  Cowboy Lee