Bull riders will testify about God's influence

By Carla Hinton

Published: February 15, 2007

A group of bull riders in town for a national bull-riding championship want to offer Oklahoma City something other than sports and entertainment: Jesus.

The Pro Bull Riders Outreach, created by professional bull rider Cody Custer, is hosting its first Heart of the Father Men's Conference on Saturday at the Ford Center. The free event is in conjunction with the Professional Bull Riders U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Challenger Tour Championship on Saturday and Sunday at the Ford Center.

Todd Pierce, pastor with the Pro Bull Riders, said bull riders such as Custer and Corey Navarre enjoy telling others how God is working in their lives.

They, along with outreach worship leader Brooks Brewer of Elk City and the Rev. Andy Taylor of Sayre, are encouraging males 13 and older to attend the conference to learn to experience God as their Father.

Pierce said too often the secular world defines masculinity, to the detriment of men and their families.

"What we see in the culture right now, particularly in Christian men, is a bit of confusion on how to be masculine and still be Christ-like.”

He said many bull riders — men whose chosen profession epitomizes the rough-and-tumble rodeo cowboy lifestyle — hope to share that they too fail and have fears, but look to God to help them show compassion to others and to love their wives and children.

Pierce and Brewer said the conference will include praise and worship and talks by the keynote speaker, Taylor, and Pierce. Also, they said bull riders will share their testimonies.

Also, Brewer said the first 3,000 conference participants will be given free tickets to the bull riders' championship event.