COCHRANE, AB-The professor of preaching at Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary-located 15 minutes west of Calgary-maintains an outside-the-classroom ministry that assists Christian ranchers in reaching their colleagues with the good news of Jesus Christ.

For almost five years, Mike McGough has served as chaplain for the Alberta Cattlemen’s Fellowship (ACF), a group of Christian ranchers, cattle buyers, farmers and rodeo performers interested in bringing the gospel to their associates in the ranching industry.

"ACF asked me to be the speaker at their annual meeting several years ago," says McGough, "and thereafter approached me to serve as their chaplain. Basically, I function as a pastor to the group, although most members are actively involved in churches.

"People in the ranching community can be tough to reach with the news of God’s love," McGough adds, "because they’re usually out on remote ranches, far from a church and leading quite an independent lifestyle."

As part of his duties with ACF, McGough has developed a number of programs and other initiatives intended to reach even more ranchers.

One of the group’s most effective strategies has been the distribution of a series of gospel tracts featuring six members of ACF. Participants, ranging from a barrel racer to cattle buyers and rodeo queens, share diverse testimonies regarding their salvation experiences and the joys and challenges of pursuing a personal walk with God.

"We’ve had a good response to the tracts," says McGough. "People have been very receptive especially since those featured are local folks they know."

ACF members passed out some 500 tracts during the 2003 Calgary Stampede and at other ranching-related events. Churches affiliated with ACF distributed another 200 or so when inviting people to similar events. Red Deer River Ranches near Sundre, Alberta, make the tracts available in their guest ranching facilities for visitors.

To augment the tract ministry, ACF holds two pancake breakfasts each July during the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. McGough says the breakfasts have brought as many as 1,400 people together where the gospel has been presented through music and personal testimony.

The group also sponsored Paul Daily, a Christian horse whisperer, who gave demonstrations during the Stampede. Daily blends his horse-taming techniques with a clear and concise presentation of the gospel to captivated onlookers.

"The objective of a horse whisperer," says McGough, "is to train and ride a horse that’s never been ridden before in about an hour and a half, without hitting or whipping the horse. Daily is very effective is using the way he brings a horse into submission as an example of the gentle manner in which God deals with us."

ACF sponsored six horse-whispering demonstrations this past summer in rural Alberta, attracting a lot of interest. Several people responded to the invitation to become Christians.

"Daily asks them to come forward and tie a knot in a set of reins as a symbol of their commitment to Christ," notes McGough, "an act that all good ranchers can easily relate to."

McGough says he values the experience with the ranchers because it allows him to get out of the classroom and into the community where hands-on ministry truly takes place.

"Being part of ACF allows me to meet people I would never have met had I stayed on the seminary campus."

(with files from Doy Cave, director of public relations at Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta.)