Everybody is invited to attend whether they are a cowboy, a cowboy at heart, and the public in general are more than welcome to attend the church located out in the country.

Steven Curnutte, right, pastor of the Gulf Plains Cowboy Church, is pictured with his son Will in the Gulf Plains Cowboy Church. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) “Anybody and everybody is invited to attend,” said Seven Curnutte, pastor of the Gulf Plains Cowboy Church.

As a visitor walks into the barn that was converted into the Gulf Plains Cowboy Church, the entrance sign states: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with thee.”

“It doesn’t make any difference if we have one here,” said Curnutte. “One can be ministered as the same as 100.”

Located at 3322 North Country Road, church services begin at 10:45 a.m. Sunday accompanied with country gospel music. The music group includes Curnutte and his son, Will. Both play the guitar and are accomplished musicians. The other group members are Jeff Melde and Charles Meyers, both of Bishop.

Steven Curnutte serves as pastor of the Gulf Plains Cowboy Church located on 3322 N. CR. 1036. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) The Gulf Plains Cowboy Church main church activity is participating in the Arena Ministry. GPCC monthly Rodeo Playdays offer rodeo events for the entire family. This past week-end members of the church assisted with the rodeo events held in Robstown. Curnutte conducts full church services at these rodeos. Baptisms are also offered at the arena activities.

Curnutte has been involved with the cowboy culture all of his life working as a young boy with cattle and horses with his grandfather and his father, the late R.O. “Bob” Curnette Jr. of Kingsville. He grew up working cattle, branding, breaking and training horses. He worked on ranches for several years as an adult and later worked in the oil field for 28 years before retiring.

“The cowboy culture is a chosen life style and a person has to love the outdoors, land and animals: “It becomes natural,” said Curnutte, who despite losing one of his legs, still rides his horse.

After converting a barn into a church with his personal cowboy possessions, Curnutte opened the church in March 2008. He noted that people can attend the services in casual wear.

“God called me to start a church here,” he said. He had served as an assistant pastor at the Cross Trials Cowboy Church in Orange Grove, Texas. Curnutte is a member of the Texas Fellowship of Cowboy Churches based in Waxahachie, Texas. Currently, there are 155 cowboy churches in Texas.

He serves as a full time minister with a membership that flunctuates from 25 to 50 members. Curnutte presided at a funeral service with about 150 people present in September. The church’s décor reflects the cowboy culture with colorful saddle blankets, angels made from horseshoes, a cross made from horseshoes, a cross made from barbed wire, ropes. Two saddles are located in the front of the church. One saddle was made in 1965 by Curnutte’s father and given to him as a gift.

The pastor states the purpose of the Gulf Plains Cowboy Church is to reach the American cowboy, whether he is a true working cowboy or a cowboy at heart, he still has that cowboy heart, mind and soul. He is also referring to the cowgirls.

“Our mission is to lead the “Cowboy” to God through his word,” Curnette said. “The Cowboy is a breed of its own.”

He stated the Cowboy is a very large part of the American history with a large part of the history been made right here in South Texas.

He referred to the city of Kingsville on land that was donated by the King Ranch. These lands were considered the “Gulf Plains” of Texas. Thus, the name of the Gulf Plains Cowboy Church originated.

Curnutte stated Kingsville was established in 1904 and the legacy of the working cowboy remains intact. He believes the cowboy legend will continue in modern times, although, there is new and modern technology.

“The cowboys today live their lives and work by many of the old ways of life,” he stated.

Curnutte, who was born in Kingsville and raised in Bishop, left this area in 1980 and came back here in 2003. His mother, Nelda Whittington, lived in Kingsville along with many of her family members. His interest with religious endeavors began early in life when his parents sent him to parochial schools. He graduated from Bishop High School in 1970.

His son Will, 17, assists his father with church activities and remains his right hand man. Both father and son praise each other and it is obvious there is much respect and love between them. Will became involved with church activities since he was 12 years old. He said he participates in church work because he wants to do so.

“Will is a tremendous musician and singer,” said Curnutte. “He is my right hand man.”

“My father is my best friend and we are very close,” Will said

“My friends like to hang out with him too,” Will said during the interview held Monday morning at the church. The family live next door to the church.

Curnutte’s wife, Paula, assists with all aspects of church activities. Paula Curnutte worked as an office manager for oil field companies until she retired in 2007.

The couple also has a daughter, Erica, who lives in Seattle, Wash.

“We are praying for new land for church facilities, and a rodeo arena which is part of the cowboy church structure, and we believe we will be blessed with this goal in time,” said Paula Curnutte.

For more information on the Gulf Plains Cowboy Church, the Curnuttes can be contacted at 361-701-2674 or 361-701-2675.