Though Malibu has evolved from the once-prominent sense of rural ranching, the “cowboy” in many Malibu residents remains alive and kicking.
Morten Wengler, leader of Malibu’s Cowboys for Christ chapter, has been wrangling up people for coffee and prayer six days a week at 7 a.m. for the past 38 years in Point Dume. The group meets in front of the Point Dume post office before later heading to Lily’s Cafe. Attendance ranges daily from one person to “a crowd,” according to Wengler.
“We are not just feeding horses, roping cattle and planting crops, we are nourishing people with prayer and planting seeds of hope everyday,” said Wengler, who leads the Malibu chapter of the national prayer ministry.
The national ministry came to light 42 years ago in Texas when late founder of Cowboys for Christ, Ted Pressley, reached out to horse lovers, farmers, ranchers and people alike to gather together and pray for each other.
“We have over 50 chapters all over the country now … We have contractors, plumbers, teachers, and just about every type of person in our group today,” said Wengler.
While Malibu is home to a large equestrian society, Wengler assures people they don’t have to be a rancher or cowboy to join them for prayer.
“We are all children of God. I encourage everyone to unite with us in prayer,” he said.
Nationally, Cowboys For Christ has developed a vast scope of influence.
“We are the outreach to rodeos, trail rides, horse sales and services, and horse shows. We provide the ministry for those who gather. We have no buildings,” said Dave Harvey, president of the national organization of Cowboys for Christ.
Harvey believes it is important to keep the cowboy way of life alive because of what it symbolizes.
“There is a lot more cowboy and cowgirl in all of us than we realize,” said Harvey. “Hard work, honest living, and being thankful for our land, food and blessings are citizen.”
Up until a few weeks ago, the Malibu group was normally seated at a table in Lily’s Cafe after morning prayer at the post office. But now, the cafe owner, Lily Castro, has swapped out the table for a bench. In a letter to The Malibu Times last week, Wengler called the new furniture “the end of an era. He said the new table didn’t allow enough intimacy for chat, but other diners speculate that the 6-foot 8-inch Wengler just may not have been comfortable sitting on the new church-style bench.
“The table problem has since been resolved,” said Castro, who has owned the restaurant for more than 24 years. “I had to replace the big table and chairs in the center of the cafe with a bench style table because chairs were blocking the aisles.”
“Change is OK and the power of prayer has helped so many people in Malibu throughout the years,” said Wengler. “We just have a different table now.”
The group of cowboys also provides demonstrations and clinics to help people learn about their industry. For example, they set up clinics to teach adults and kids about horses and how to grow as horsemen.
“There are many possibilities for this kind of ministry. It gets people involved with things they love to do and learn about God in the process,” said Harvey.