The relationship between horse and rider is similar to our relationship with God. Through interacting with horses all my life, including incredibly meaningful weeks attending Horse Camp as a child, I’ve witnessed God’s fingerprints displayed through horses profoundly.

When I was asked to pastor a week of Horse Camp, I had trouble putting pen to paper. Before the first chapel, I dropped to a knee and asked the Holy Spirit to guide my words. He answered my prayer with short messages using horses to illustrate points and answers to the questions of campers.

Mid-week, I asked if the campers wanted to accept Jesus into their hearts. I used a horse that didn’t enjoy her feet being picked up. I worked on her foot, and she walked away from me. Then, I applied pressure to guide her toward me. This happened a few times, and through my patient persistence she eventually wanted to be near me even if I was working on her foot.

I explained how it’s a beautiful picture of God working in our lives and how we can live in the middle with God because of Jesus’ sacrifice. After the talk, most of the campers accepted Jesus as their savior!

The rest of the week focused on equipping the campers to follow Jesus after heading home. The last chapel I just answered questions from campers. From goofy to intimate, the Holy Spirit led me through answering all of them. I ended the conversation like the earlier message, with an opportunity to come into the middle with Jesus.

Every camper went home as a believer in Christ! Cowboys don’t cry, we sweat through our eyeballs, and my eyes were exhausted that day.

-Derek Rossiter
Week 2 Horse Camp Pastor
Summer 2021