Travelers along the highway between Granbury and Glen Rose are surprised when they first see a rather large log church on the east side of the highway about half way between the two towns. This log church represents the fulfillment of a dream of its pastor, Jeff Copenhaver, and his wife, Sherry.

Jeff and Sherry Copenhaver's vision for New Frontier Cowboy Church became a reality October 19th, 1997. Located just seven miles south of historic Granbury on Highway 144, the log structure sits nestled on five acres among a grove of beautiful pine (yes, pine!) trees. In fact, these trees, planted by Texas A & M University, are the only pines within a 250-mile radius! Little did anyone know this plot of land would one day become answered prayer for all concerned: The Mennonites, original owners of the property, hoped to always keep the land in the hands of fellow Christians and those who would be good stewards of the land. All Sherry Copenhaver "knew" when they began the search for property in the mid 1990's was that pine trees were a "must have" before they would make any purchase of the land. The rest, as they say, is history!

The non-denominational New Frontier Cowboy Church conducts weekly Tuesday services at 6:00pm with prayer meetings on Wednesday night at 6:00 PM.

Adjoining the church's property to the east is Jeff's "Master's Championship" rodeo arena, where every year in the spring the Southern Regional competition is held. The ministry's business office is located just across the road and next to the family residence.

The Copenhaver name is well known in professional rodeo and among its cowboys. Deb Copenhaver, Jeff's dad, was a World Champion saddle bronc rider, and Jeff added his name to the ranks in 1975 after winning the title of World Champion Calf Roper. The Pacific Northwest was the family's original home, but Jeff "discovered" Texas in December 1971 when he came to Aledo for a regional event. Good people, milder weather, and plenty of rodeos influenced Jeff to relocate to the Fort Worth area in 1976. That move also brought Sherry, a farm girl from Canada, into his life; and they married in September 1978.

In the early 1980's, Jeff and Sherry went to Canada to host free calf-roping schools for kids, fulfilling the desire to share Christ and Christian fundamentals along with their championship roping techniques. After returning to the U.S., they spent time traveling to various Indian reservations, once again teaching calf roping to interested youth.

The fall of 1985 found Jeff the newly elected president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Cowboy Chapter-now renamed the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys. While president, he began holding worship services at various rodeos around the country. Even the Stockyards of Fort Worth-specifically the Auction Barn & Stockyard Hotel-played host to several of the worship services. Billy Bob's held its first "Cowboy Church" service in January 1986, and Jeff continued to pastor there (using the bull-riding arena for seating) until the bar sold two years later. Is it any wonder this unique ministry found itself written into articles in the New York Times and featured on The 700 club?

Jeff and Sherry moved their church to the Granbury area around 1990. After years of traveling and ministering to large groups of professional cowboys, they continued to pastor, using the small church at Nubbin Ridge to house their services. It was during this phase of their lives that a new dream began to take shape, and plans for a "log church among the pines" were underway. The New Frontier Cowboy Church became a reality and was dedicated in the fall of 1997. Now, almost six years later, 2003 finds this dynamic duo having added additional ministries to their list of accomplishments such as: "The Master's Championships."

Jeffs "Masters" series has grown into a popular event for youth 18 and under. With seven scheduled regional rodeos-from Arizona to Canada to Mississippi, to name but a few-young men & women compete for terrific cash and prizes awarded annually.

If you have a genuine hunger and thirst for God and a desire to see God move in your life, this may be the church home for you.