Charles Kelly and daughter Sandie Dickey are active in Cross Brand Cowboy Church and both have gospel music CDs. The people of the Cross Brand Cowboy Church can’t wait until Sunday to gather together to worship through music and scripture. What’s different about that? Isn’t that usually the case with church-going folks? Sure it is. But how many of them come donned in cowboy hats and jeans and spend the rest of the afternoon in the rodeo arena out back?

“Rope the lost and turn them to Jesus, herd the strayed back on God’s trail, and allow the saved to graze on God’s goodness for eternal life.” That is the quote you’ll find on their website and newsletter. It is a church like not many you’ve seen that has gained in attendance from a dozen in 2002 to at least 1,000 on a regular basis, filling two services each Sunday.

This church is near and dear to the hearts of a Troup family who were among the group that formed this bunkhouse of believers. Sandie and Homer Dickey along with Rita and Charles Kelly, Sandie’s parents, all have active roles in the church that ministers to their people with a western heritage culture.

Reaching people right where they are, comfortable in their environment and their blue jeans, has been the key to bringing the masses in at Cross Brand Cowboy Church.

“No offering plate is passed, no one is asked to come down to the front to make a decision public,” Sandie said. “It works for us.”

The cowboy church is not new. It stems from the rodeos. When the cowboys/ cowgirls and their families are on the road for rodeo events, the ones who would normally attend church just gather up and have church before the events start. The idea grew and spread out to offer that same setting in a regular Sunday ser vice.

“We don’t have pews or stained glass,” Charles said. “And it is not unusual to see a spit cup in the floor.”

Charles and Sandie can both be found every service at the front of the room when it is time for the music. Sandie leads the congregation in songs that range from the traditional hymns to mainstream praise and worship. She is also quick to share a song she has written. This wife, mother and worship leader is also a song writer and singer who has just released her second CD.

Her first release in April 2008, “Writing on the Wall” led to continued writing and her new album, “Return to Sender” which includes nine of her own songs.

Hidden behind his talents at the harmonica, guitar, banjo, dulcimer is Charles. His first album, “Way Back to the Country,” was released within days of Sandie’s.

“Rita does all of the poetry writing,” Charles said. “I just sing or say what she writes.”

A house painter by trade, Charles has lived and worked in the Tyler/Whitehouse/ Troup area for more than 40 years, but has been writing, singing and reading cowboy poetry for only five of those years.

Sandie said he was just always too busy playing all those instruments to know that he could sing.

Check out Sandie’s music at www.SandieDickey.com and Charles’ at www.CharlesKelly @indieheaven.com.

Troup and Whitehouse businesses are doing their part to spread the word of these two local artists. CDs can be found for Sandie at Cavender’s in Tyler, Steele’s Feed and Seed in Troup. Charles’ can be found at Karen’s Health Food and Mama’s Fried Pies in Whitehouse and Steele’s Feed and Seed in Troup.

Father and daughter say they are just following what God has directed them to do. Given a purpose, they will continue down that path set before them.

All things work together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28