John Myers

John grew up on a big farm and ranch operation in Kansas. He learned the meaning of work driving tractors from the age of 8 and working a herd of 800 cattle. John went to college, got an Associate Degree in Wood Technology and took off for Dallas in 1982. He worked as a furniture maker, trim carpenter, and furniture factory manager for most of the 80’s. John attended a semester each at CFNI, Dallas Bible College and Wycliffe SIL (taking first year Greek in 6 weeks, not recommended!) during these years. In 1988 he completed a Bachelor’s degree at UT Dallas and worked in commercial real estate.

John met Sue at a Bible Church in North Dallas. On their first date they fell asleep watching “The Life of Brian”. Incredibly, the went out again. In 1988 John married Sue. The country boy in blue jeans married the big city CPA. (Green Acres is the place for me…) Within a few years Christie and Michael were born and the happy household was underway. In 1994 they moved to the little town (pop. 13,000) of Allen.

In 1991 John changed careers to recruiting, formed his own agency and had success until Y2K, offshore manufacturing, and 9/11 killed the client base. The Lord used the economic downturn to get John’s attention. John began studies part time at Dallas Theological Seminary in 2002. In 2004 John felt the call to start a church.

Soon the Cowboy Church model came to his attention. He immediately identified with the model taught at the Ranch House School by Ron Nolen. All the honest to goodness, genuine, practical character from a country upbringing rang true to the Cowboy Church. After identifying a stockyards and a stable he heard the Love and War ad on The Range 95.3FM which mentioned camp meetings. John cold called the owner, Tye, and said, “You went to camp meetings as a kid. How about doing a cowboy church?” Tye’s immediate response was “Yes, I’ve been wanting to do one for two years.” (About the time John started seminary if you’re counting.)

Narrow Trail Cowboy Church was born two weeks later, October 2004. Two years later, many lives have been touch, many changed, and many have strengthened their relationship with the Lord. John will be the first to say, “Its not about how great we are. We just have to get where the Lord wants us and show up. Keep showing up and see what He does through you.”

I was born in Austin, Texas. I became a Christian at Young Life in High School where I was also a 3-sport letterman and bull rider. I graduated Texas Tech University in Lubbock in 1975. I have 2 daughters, Jenny and Abbey. I was the Deacon of the Learning Center for 8 years at Fellowship Bible Church and on the Executive Board for Young Life. My hobbies are hunting (I shot my first deer at age 5), fishing and following the Red Raiders. My professional experience is in Commercial Real Estate which has been for 31 years.
 

I was born in Laredo, Texas on May 28, 1968. Moved to the Hill Country shortly thereafter (Kerrville) and grew up there. This is where I was exposed to Cowboy Camp Meetings (monthly Cowboy Church). I graduated college from Stephen F. Austin in 1990...of course, the Father of Texas!

I grew up in the restaurant business, from bussing tables and dishwashing in my parents restaurant (My dad was a career chamber of commerce guy, but they had a weekend resort restaurant on the side) to night manager for a truck stop in my four years of high school.

After graduating college, I went to work for Mr. Gattis in Austin and was promoted to the corporate office in Kerrville, Texas (believe it or not) and hated the "desk job". That's when I knew restaurant was in my blood. I left in 1992 and went to work for On the Border Restaurant here in Dallas. Brinker International bought OTB a couple of years later, so I worked for Brinker for about 6 years. I met Kim while at On the Border and we quickly were married at the Grand Canyon, on the highest point overlooking the southern rim, at sunset.  I think all will agree that I way out-punted my coverage on this one!  God blessed me with Kim. Her understanding, patience, support and Love are immeasurable.

I left Brinker with the then V.P. Creed Ford when I convinced him to franchise a Chili's in, once again, Kerrville, Texas! I had been working on a business plan for Love and War in Texas for a number of years when my lifelong friend, Travis Shull, said "you know the restaurant business and I know how to find a building".  He works for GE commercial real estate. We actually did make the decision floating down the Frio River and listening to Gary P. Nunn! Being a musician and loving to eat, my passions were (besides wanting to play QB for the Dallas Cowboys) food, music and Texas.  The latter probably because of my Dad's leadership roles in the Chambers of commerce, Texas Tourism Association, Hill Country Tourism Association and the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial Council (chairman). So it was an easy decision to make.

Kim and I had Zoe in January of 1997, so I was outnumbered until February of 2000 when Wyatt was born. If I married out of my league, I REALLY pulled something off by being blessed by these two. We all survived Kim's stroke in 2002...(kind of a freak deal, not a concern anymore) and a couple of years later I was speaking on the radio and John took my comments about Cowboy church to heart. He called me and we agreed.

We both wanted to start a Cowboy Church. I had the building and the want to and John could preach and felt the calling....perfect!  Of course putting God first, I plan to open LAW in Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio and maybe Lubbock and College Station. I don't want to make a huge chain out of this deal, just sort of a "Texas Embassy" in each major city in Texas....sort of like an outpost.