It's Time to Cowboy Up!
Marthasville Family Finds
Mission at Cowboy Camp
By
Cindy Gladden
Record Staff Writer
Warren County Record
Editors Note: this is an updated newspaper
article
Neil and Diana Schnaath
of Marthasville have found
a different way to spend their summer vacations. They load up their mules, a
Tennessee Walker, a Clydesdale and a big brown Labrador and head to the
hills.Cowboy Lee's Cowboy Adventure Camp was their
destination.
|
The site of the Missouri camp this year is located on a
farm near Hermann, Missouri owned by Neil's brother, Vernon.
From July 26-August 1 at the Little Bear Creek Ranch
and will be host to 17 teenagers from Texas, Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Most of the teens
had never ridden a horse before or worn cowboy duds or camped out in the
open.
"The idea," said Cowboy Lee
Homoki, "is to capture the attention of boys and girls - get them away
from the TV and video games."
Homoki, originally from the state of Arizona, grew
up as a "real cowboy," traveling with Wild West Shows and rodeos in his spare
time. Homoki said his day job as a cowboy was grueling work and he learned a lot
about himself.
"I want them to love horses," he said. "I want them to be able to face
obstacles with a can-do attitude."
Schnaath, a charter member of
St. Louis Bible Fellowship Church, met Homoki when he made a
guest appearance at the church and spoke about his "Bible Doctrines
to Live By" ministry.
A new vision was born among them to start a cowboy
camp. Schnaath offered to provide his horses and help get the ball
rolling.
Four years later, the camp has evolved from an
all-boy camp to a week-long camp for boys and girls ages 12-19. In addition to
the Missouri camp, the adventure is offered in Pennsylvania, South Dakota and
Michigan.
The all-volunteer staff included two professional
horse trainers, Jessica Hobbs from the state of Pennsylvania
and Julie Finck from South Dakota. Campers were partnered up
with their own steed for the week and the trainers taught them the fundamentals
of horsemanship.
In addition to grooming, tacking and feeding their horses, the
campers sleep in wide open spaces, swap tales around the campfire, eat cowboy
grub, and learn roping and riding.
They discovered from experience what the popular
phrase "cowboy up" means. One female rider was dragged along the arena fence,
taking a spill and ripping her boot from top to toe.
"She was back on her horse right away," said
Schnaath. "She's a real trooper."
Everyone was fair game as the budding cowboys and
cowgirls practiced their roping skills. If you were standing out in the open,
you were liable to be a target for their lariats.
A wild bull ride was a popular competition among
the campers. The "bull's" torso, actually, a barrel suspended by ropes, could be
a tough ride, depending on the buckaroos who were manning the ropes controlling
the bull.
Each day special activities were planned for the
campers. Pro-horse trainer, Dennis Cappel and a 13-foot python
were among the visitors.
One night the campers participated in a hike with
infrared visors. They were surprised at how close to camp wild creatures
prowled.
In addition to all of the cowboy fun, campers
participated in Bible studies twice a day and Cowboy Church each evening. The
Schnaath's pastor, Rick Owsley, and other volunteers from the
church were willing volunteers.
Manning the chuckwagon were Diana
Schnaath, Scott and Christine Jewett,
from Michigan and Texan Ann and "Red" Leone.
Fresh homemade beef jerky was on the Thursday lunch menu. Campers are sometimes
introduced to elk, buffalo and wild boar meat.
A "Showdeo" is held
Saturday as campers prepare to return home. Parents watch from outside the arena
as campers displayed their newly gained horsemanship skills, receiving
recognition for their personal successes.
The Schnaaths share a passion with Homoki, hoping the campers'
experiences will be a life-changing spiritual adventure.
Schnaath said Homoki has received letters from
mothers mystified by the changes they see in their children after a week at
camp.
"I dream about being able to pass on something,"
said Homoki. "I want them to experience the loneliness and isolation a cowboy
feels so they can think about what is important in their lives. The closest
relationship a cowboy can have is with God, his wife, his children, his horse
and his dog."
|
|
| OUR CAMPS AND OUTREACH ARE
EXPANDING:
How we praise God. If there has ever been
anything accomplished, lasting or praise worthy...We give the God of Grace all
the glory! There are three camps that are standing in need this year. They are
pictured on the side column. We believe that we are obligated to tell God's
people the need and then TOGETHER we take to the Lord in prayer, believing He
will supply.
We are promoting three Cowboy Pancake Breakfasts in the
Grand Rapids Area:
April 18th at the Beacon Light Community
Church, 6031 East Apple Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan. Phone #
231-788-4053
May 2nd at the Rush Creek Bible
Church, 2334 76th Street SW, Byron Center, Michigan,
Phone# 616-583-7600
May 9th at the Coopersville Bible
Church, 35 Hillcrest Street, Coopersville, Michigan,
Phone # 616-997-6188
Your presence will be an encouragement to us
and your gifts will help provide sponsorships for the "wanna'be" cowboys and
cowgirls.
Each Camp has physical and material needs as
well. Summer will be here soon. Our camping season begins on June 9th. Would you
PLEASE Look over what supplies are needed for our
"SUPPLY WAGONS." Please help if you can.
SONSHINE RANCH SUPPLY
WAGON:
1. Volunteers and Work Days... we'll schedule you with a project and
dates needed.
2. Fund Raiser...last year our Santa Fe Trail Ride was a very
successful fund-raiser for the cowboy camps. This year we are going to have
a"Cowboy" Pancake Breakfast to attract attention and ask for help.
3. Construct horse arena and corrals.
4. Loan of a Tractor with post hole auger and operator
5. Gift of lumber, posts and railing or other in-kind gifts are very much
appreciated and SonShine Ranch Cowboy Camp can give a tax receipt for these
donations.
6. Help construct hitching posts and rails
7. Help constructing Temporary Showers. We will need water heater, PVC
pipe, Shower heads and tarps.
8. Help constructing railing in barn loft for cowboy bunkhouse.
9. Help constructing "Bucking Barrel"
10. Help to prepare locations for cowgirl's tents
11. Help building campfire circle and place to prepare "Cowboy Grub"
12. Loan of trail horses and tack
13. Gift of Hay and grain
14. Loads of Sand for Arena and Corrals ...we'll need some serious help
here.
15. Help clearing brush from trail ride route
16. Loan of 5-6 yearling calves for "Team Sorting"
17. Loan of two , medium sized goats for "Goat Tying"
18. Volunteer Wranglers...applications, background check and interviews
required because we are a Christian Youth Ministry. Call Cowboy Lee -
616-822-4822
19. Volunteers for Cowboy Church music... Christian, Cowboy, Western or
Country Music - Call Cowboy Lee
20. Gift of 3 or 4 10x20 military style wall
tents
21. Gift of 25' X 40' tent
22. Gift of Buckboard
23. Loan of Hay
wagon
24. Gift of Buggy Horse Harness
25. Chuck Wagon
26. Gift of
Campfire Cooking Utensils
27. Volunteer Bus Driver and Program Assistant for
the "Street Bus" Gospel Team with a "CDL."
28. Gift or loan of 2 "Port-Jon"
Toilets
29. Scholarships for cowboy and cowgirl
campers. The cost of each camper is $350.00. This is an urgent need.
Believe me any amount will help and is tax deductible.
Give a call to Steve
Rookus at 269-208-1020 or Carolyn Rookus 616-990-3320 and let them know of your
availability to help or donate. You may also call our Bible Doctrines to Live By
office at 616-785-3618. Be sure to tell them it is forSonShine Ranch Cowboy Camp
Remember, your gift is tax deductible.
HORSE HAVEN RANCH SUPPLY
WAGON
1. Draft
saddle and bridle and a new bit for our Belgian, Hanz = $800.
2. A Vaulting
Circingle for General. This is used instead of a saddle for vaulting and
therapeutic riding = $1400.
3. Three fly blankets for summer - $60 each X3 =
$180.
4. Lead ropes and halters - $30 each X 3 = $90.
5. Bridles, halters,
saddles are very much needed.
6. Lumber and hardware for two shelters to be
built in two different pastures - $900 X 2 = $1800.
7. Food and supplies for
all our big events and mini camps - plates, cups, dry goods like napkins, paper
towels, toilet paper, cereal, pancake mixes, noodles, spaghetti sauce,
etc.
8. New riding helmets - $30 each X 4 = $120.
9. Kitchen supplies like
two large kettles/pans and a wok.
10. A "horse decorated" 6' fire ring for
our fire pit.
11. Three horse blankets for winter - $80 each X 3 =
$240.
12. Replace our hayloft floor.
13. Enclose room in the hayloft for
winter activities.
14. Dig pond in woodsy wetlands.
15. Grant writing and
marketing help.
16. Office help once a week - about 3 hours.
17. Make a
Power Point for HHRM
18. Financial Assistance is needed the most at this time
in the way of monthly donations of $20 to $50 per month. It takes $4000 in
donations each month to cover expenses. We have almost $1000 in faith promises
but still need $3000 in monthly commitments. One time gifts are also very
helpful.
19. Volunteers to work with girls and doing chores on a regular
basis.
Horse Haven Ranch Ministries gives tax receipts for all
donations.
Please come to the Ranch on June 13 to check out our first ever
"Farm Auction." The funds from this will also help us purchse the needed items
listed above.Go to www.horsehavenranch ministries.com for more information on
this "Farm Auction."
Please Call Nancy Goodrich, Founder and Director at:
269-793-3060
HERITAGE HOMESTEAD
RANCH SUPPLY WAGON
...A letter from Pastor Joel and Linda Finck
says:
Dear Lee
Here are some needs that we could use some help
with; perhaps some Christian friends would like to donate some money
towards.
1, We would like to put up a shower house/outhouse.
2.
Donations for:
Concerete work for the floor.
Plumbing supplies
A sink
A toilet
General carpentry supplies
We have the building that we will move on site
after we pour the concrete slab.
3, We would like to continue to improve
the cook house. Some improvements would be
Buy 2 new
doors
Finish insulating the walls and ceiling and adding
beadboard (or some other cover)
Improve the floor.
We
continue to pray for you and Darlene and all your partners at BDTLB!!
We love
you and look forward to working with you again this summer!
Yahoo!! In Christ
Alone,
Joel and Linda Finck
.....Heritage
Homestead.....
|
|
Life is short
Death is sure
Sin is the curse
but
Christ is the cure!
Friends, I'm dedicated to winning these boys and girls
for Christ and I need your prayers and help. There is no greater need than for
generous sponsorships for needy campers and summer supplies. God Bless you and
we'll meet in the "Throne Room."
Sincerely,
Cowboy Lee
Director of Cowboy Lee's Cowboy Adventure
Camps
a service arm of Bible Doctrines Publications
COWBOY MISSION
Neil and Diana Schnaath
of Marthasville, Missouri, are co-founders of Cowboy Lee's Cowboy Adventure Camp
which was held July 26 - August, 2008 near Hermann. In the background is Susie,
a Clydesdale, who accompanies the
Schnaaths.
|
PARTNERS
Matt
Wanda, from the state o Wisconsin, was teamed up with Bud, one of Neil
Schnaath's mules, during Cowboy Adventure Camp held last year near Hermann,
Missouri. Schnaath, of Marthasville, co-founder of the camp, provided mules
Sammy, Noel and Della; Thunder, a Tennessee Walking horse; and Susie, a
Clydesdale mare for the campers' riding
pleasure.
|
SonShine
Ranch
"Live like a
Cowboy"
45143 28th Avenue,
Bangor,
Michigan
Driving Directions:
From Grand Rapids, Michigan, travel South on US 131 to the South Haven
Exit go West on 43 for 14 miles, in Glendale, go North (Right) at blinking light
and go 1 mile on Co. Road 665 and turn West (Left) on 28th Avenue for 1 and 1/2
miles to curve in the road. SonShine Ranch farmhouse is on the
left.
Hope to see you here: Staff will meet on Sunday
June 14th for orientation and set up camp on Monday the 15th. Campers to arrive
early on the 16th and leave Saturday the 20th at
Noon!
|
|
Horse Haven Ranch
1993 135th Avenue
Hopkins,
Michigan
"Giving Girls a
Purpose"
A place where we have plenty of room to expand programs and
effectively bring more girls and families to a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ.
Horse Haven Ranch Ministries is in its 4th year of ministry.
SonShine Ranch and Horse Haven Ranch are
two "Horse Ministries" working with youth that call Rush Creek Bible
Church our home church. It is a joy and a privilege to cooperate in
Lord's Work form time to time.
|
|
Heritage Homestead Ranch
30448 427th Ave
Tabor, South Dakota
Driving Directions:
From the East (Chicago, IL)
West on I-88 Partial toll road (140 Miles)
Take exit 1B to merge onto I-80 W toward Des Moines (186 Miles)
Take the exit
onto I-80 W toward Council Bluffs/Omaha (95.2 Miles)
Take exit 27 to merge
onto I-680 W toward N Omaha/Sioux City (16.6 Miles)Take exit 13B to merge onto
I-29 N toward Sioux City (107 Miles)
Take exit 26 for SD-50 toward
Vermillion/Yankton (0.2 Miles)
Turn left at SD-50 (33.0 Miles)
Turn right
at Broadway Ave/US-81 N (2.6 Miles) Turn left at SD-50 (10 Miles) Turn right
onto 430th Ave (3.6 Miles) 30539 430th Ave., Tabor, SD
|
|
|
|
|
|
Articles 
(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
![[Quote article in website]](http://bibledoctrines.org/components/com_maxcomment/templates/expand/images/quotethis.gif "[Quote article in website]")
![[Print]](http://bibledoctrines.org/components/com_maxcomment/templates/expand/images/print.gif)
![[Send to friend]](http://bibledoctrines.org/components/com_maxcomment/templates/expand/images/email.gif)
