Page 8A
FAITH
East Oregonian
Friday, June 19, 2015
Cowboy pastor teaches brokenness
Lesson for EOCI
inmates centers on
obedience to God
By KATHY ANEY
East Oregonian
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush speaks to
residents during a town hall meeting Wednesday in
Pella, Iowa.
Jeb Bush: ‘I don’t
think we should
politicize our faith’
Francis is an extraordinary
leader of a church whose
teachings I try to follow,
WASHINGTON, Iowa — and it doesn’t need to get
Jeb Bush cautioned against any more complicated than
blending politics and religion that,” Bush said. “But I think
Wednesday, signaling he it’s better to solve this in the
will not necessarily heed political realm.”
Bush has said he accepts
the pope or pander to social
conservatives on policy in his WKH VFLHQWL¿F SUHPLVH WKDW
campaign for the Republican the climate is changing and
believes that examining the
nomination.
“I don’t think we should causes should be a priority.
politicize our faith,” he said, But he’s contended that the
speaking in a state where science is not clear on how
evangelical Christians wield much global warming comes
VLJQL¿FDQWSROLWLFDOLQÀXHQFH from human activity.
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“I think religion ought to be
about making us better as to Iowa as a candidate, was
people and less about things asked at a public event what he
that end up getting into the would do to put God in public
life. He sidestepped some-
political realm.”
His comments came on the what, saying he would more
eve of an encyclical by Pope broadly promote the defense
Francis that is expected to of religious liberty. “The next
HQGRUVHWKHVFLHQWL¿FYLHZWKDW president needs to establish
human activity contributes to religious freedom as one of the
climate change — a conclusion ¿UVWIUHHGRPV´KHVDLG
Daniel
Wright,
a
challenged by many Republi-
electronics
cans and several of the party’s 32-year-old
salesman from eastern Iowa,
candidates for president.
Bush, who converted to said Bush was unafraid of the
Catholicism, suggested he question, which impressed
will not be beholden to a him, but he felt he dodged it.
³6SHFL¿FDOO\,ZDVWDONLQJ
faith-driven policy agenda
wherever it comes from about God, not religion
because his religion is a collectively, from a Christian
personal beacon, not a polit- point of view,” Wright said.
“I would have loved to have
ical roadmap.
“I go to church to have kept the question on God and
my faith nourished, to have not religion as a whole.”
It was a rapid introduction
my faith challenged,” the
former Florida governor told to Iowa caucus politics for
reporters after the outdoor Bush, whose positions on
meeting with about 75 immigration and education
eastern Iowa Republicans have raised questions among
in the back yard of a local some on the right about
supporter. “That’s why I go whether he’s conservative
to Mass. I don’t go to Mass enough. He’s been reaching
for economic policy or for RXW WR LQÀXHQWLDO &KULVWLDQ
conservatives for months
things in politics.”
On the coming encyclical, but has spent less time in
he said he would read and Iowa than some other leading
UHÀHFW RQ LW ³, WKLQN 3RSH rivals.
By THOMAS BEAUMONT
Associated Press
BRIEFLY
Free workshop
traces genealogy
HERMISTON — A
genealogy workshop
designed to help people learn
more about their roots will
feature live presentations,
videos and hands-on
computer labs.
The Family Discovery
Day is hosted by the
Hermiston Stake of the
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. The free
event is Saturday, June
27 from 8:30 a.m. to 3
p.m. at 850 S.W. 11th St.,
Hermiston. A brown bag
lunch will be provided.
The event will include
activities for all ages.
6SHFL¿FSURJUDPVIRU
children from ages 5-11 run
from 12:15-3 p.m.
For more information,
call 541-571-1706. Due to
some class size limitations,
those planning to attend are
asked to register at www.lds.
org/familydiscoveryday.
In addition, the Family
History Center is open to the
public for research Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays
from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For
more information, call
Jeanette Byers at 541-667-
7668.
Nazarene church
celebrates with
special service
HERMISTON — A
special God & Country Day
is planned at the Hermiston
Church of the Nazarene.
The church invites
everyone to attend and
celebrate God and his
blessings on the country. The
special service is Sunday,
June 28 at 10:30 a.m. at
1520 W. Orchard Ave.,
Hermiston. A barbecue will
follow the service.
For more information,
visit www.facebook.com/
events/1430590223916887
or call 541-567-3677.
Aglow fellowship
meets in July
WALLA WALLA —
Shellie Canada, who has
served for many years with
Aglow International, will
share about her experiences
in the upcoming gathering
of Walla Walla Aglow
Community Lighthouse.
Aglow, which started
in 1967, is an international
organization that seeks to
minister to its members and
share God’s word in the
community.
Everyone is invited
Saturday, July 11 from
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at
Whitman Court, 305 Ash
St., Walla Walla. A freewill
offering will be taken for the
event, which includes lunch.
For more information,
call Paula McKee at
509-220-1408 or Darya
Tucker at 509-876-1668.
For more about Aglow,
visit www.facebook.com/
aglowtricities or www.
aglow.org.
Father’s Day car
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Made to Thrive
HERMISTON — New
Hope Community Church
will host a Father’s Day
Show N’ Shine car show
from 9 a.m. to noon June
21 at the church, 1350 S.
Highway 395. Registration
begins at 8 a.m. There is a
$10 entry fee, and trophies
will be awarded by class.
For more information, call
541-567-8441.
The 100 inmates gazed at
something they hadn’t seen
for a while — a horse.
A Tovera mare nervously
circled the pen as the men
soaked in the sight on
Monday on the grounds of
the Eastern Oregon Correc-
tional Institution. During
the next 30 minutes, Pastor
Todd Pierce, of Riding High
Ministries, would use his
horse whispering skills to
break the colt.
Pierce, a former jockey and
professional bronc rider from
Idaho, doesn’t bother hiding
his faith under a bushel, or his
cowboy hat. He quoted scrip-
ture during his microphone
check. “I am the way, the
truth and the life,” he intoned.
“No one comes to the Father
except through me.”
While Pierce tested
his
equipment,
Roses
and
Champagne
(aka
6XPPHU ÀLFNHG KHU HDUV
and eyeballed the inmates.
She seemed oblivious to
the Brown Family Band
performing a Patsy Cline
song on the prison lawn. The
musicians eased into “I Am a
Man of Constant Sorrow,” a
song that no doubt resonated
with many of the men.
“I am a man of constant
sorrow. I’ve seen trouble all
my days.”
Pierce himself experi-
enced trouble in days past
with addiction and violence,
eventually evolving into a
man of faith. As a profes-
sional cowboy, Pierce
competed in the Pendleton
Round-Up six times, and
now serves as chaplain for
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Todd Pierce, of Riding High Ministries, breaks a colt
as inmates from Eastern Oregon Correctional Institu-
tion watch Monday.
Professional Bull Rider
athletes.
Pierce stepped into the
enclosure and sized up the
mare as she began running
in circles. Summer’s owner,
Jackie Peck, executive
assistant to EOCI Superin-
tendent Jeri Taylor, watched
with curiosity as Pierce
approached her horse.
“She’s only been broke
to the lead,” Peck said. “She
hasn’t been saddled.”
The inmates observed
as Pierce drove the mare
around and around the rail
using a rope that never
actually touched the animal.
As he worked, the cowboy
talked to the men about
people who feel trapped
and directionless and go in
circles.
Finally, the horse slowed
and approached Pierce. He
stroked her head. Before
long, he had slipped a bridle
over Summer’s nose with
only mild protest. When he
eased onto her back like a
human blanket, she did some
quick stomps and turns.
She calmed as he repeated
several times. Slowly, Pierce
said, Summer was opening
her heart to him.
Pierce isn’t a guy who gets
HDVLO\ UXIÀHG 7KLV SHUVRQ-
ality trait serves him well.
“As long as she’s looking
at me, she’s feeling peace,”
Pierce said. “I’m communi-
cating to her that she’s safe.
As long as I have peace, she
senses that.”
Soon, the horse allowed
Pierce to climb onto her bare
back and they circumnavi-
gated the enclosure several
times. Then, he signaled his
son, Colton, to carry in the
¿QDOSLHFHRIHTXLSPHQW²D
saddle. The horse expressed
irritation, but allowed Pierce
to strap it on. As he worked
the buckle, he warned the
men to step back from the
fence. Summer would need
to buck. They watched as the
horse got wild and airborne,
before again returning to
Pierce.
“It’s a battle,” Pierce said.
“Her instincts are saying one
thing and her heart is saying
another.”
The cowboy climbed
aboard.
As horse and man trotted
around the ring, Pierce made
sure the inmates didn’t miss
the metaphors. The colt
breaking was something
of a life lesson for anyone
focused on life’s distractions
instead of the man upstairs.
“Every one of us is born
with an instinct of indepen-
dence … it robs most people
of the freedom they can have
in Him,” Pierce said. “God’s
not wanting to have control
over you, he’s wanting to
have connection with you.”
The horse trainer assured
the inmates they could expe-
rience God’s peace even
inside a prison.
“Although you can’t
change your address right
now,” he told the inmates,
“freedom is available to you.”
———
Contact Kathy Aney at
kaney@eastoregonian.com
or call 541-966-0810.
Church
Directory
s h i
W o r
p w i t h u s !
Adams Community
Churc h
Duane Geyer, Pastor
140 N. Main,
Adams, OR
566-9457
Worship
9 am
OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR
www.graceandmercylutheran.org
Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided)
Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School
Check Out our Facebook Page or Website for
More Information
541-289-4535
Tom Inch, Pastor
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
164 E. Main St. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston
Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672
“Proclaiming God’s word,
growing in God’s grace”
FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM
SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM
712 SW 27 TH ST.
541-276-1894
www.fcogpendleton.com
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
Living Word
Christian Center
in Mission for Christ LCMC
Sunday Worship Service
10:00 AM
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 PM
-Presbyterian Church (USA)-
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Pendleton
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Open Hearted...Open Minded
401 Northgate • Pendleton
278-8082
www.faithpendleton.org
www.livingwordcc.com
Community
Presbyterian Churc h
Faith Center Church
241 SE Second St. Pendleton
(541)276-3809
www.pendletonepiscopal.org
Sunday Morning Worship 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday Worship Noon
Wednesday Evening Prayer
and Pot Luck 6:00 p.m.
All Are Welcome
Come meet Jesus at
PENDLETON
BAPTIST CHURCH
3202 S.W. Nye Avenue, Pendleton, OR
541-276-7590
Sunday Morning Worship
8:30 & 11:00 AM
Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM
Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM
Awana Kids Club
Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM
K - 6th Grade (Sept-May)
P eace L utheran C hurch
210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA
Join us Sundays
9:30
Sunday
Worship
9:30 am am
Sunday
Worship
10:30 am Fellowship
11:00 am Sunday School & Adult Class
Sharon Miller, Pastor
( Oregon Trail Room )
Red Lion Hotel
Family service 9am Sunday
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
Nursery provided for all services
Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM
Sunday Worship . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 AM
All People
Are Welcome
Scripture, Tradition
and Reason
Grace Baptist Church
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
6:00 pm
Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
~Come and be at Peace~
on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday
Worshiping God • Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
Sunday School 9:30 am
14 Martin Drive,
Summer Sunday Worship
Umatilla, OR
10:00 am
922-3250
Wed. 7:00 pm
Praise, Prophecy & Prayer
Worship: 10 AM Sunday
Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady
School at 11:30
pendletonfaithcenter.org
Seventh-Day
Adventist Churc h
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
To share your
worship times
call
Amanda Jacobs
541-278-2683
Sunday Worship Services:
9 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.
First United
Methodist Churc h
352 SE 2nd St., Pendleton, O R
Office 276-2616
New Pastor Dr. Jim Pierce
Worship Service 9:00 AM
Fellowship 10:15 AM
Broadcast KUMA 11:00 AM
Childcare Available
Choir practice
Sundays 8:30 AM
585 SW Birch, Pilot Rock, OR 97868
(541) 443-2500
prbconline.blogspot.com
Sunday School: 9:30 am
Worship Service: 10:45 am
Wednesday Services:
Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm
Youth Group: 7:00 pm