Cowboy Church takes Ten Commandments to Capitol by horse

DUNCAN, Okla._A Texas pastor, who arrived in Oklahoma Tuesday night via horseback, has one mission in mind, to replace the Ten Commandments monument recently removed from the Oklahoma Capitol.

The pastor says the monument's controversial removal did not sit well with him or the Texoma Cowboy Church in Wichita Falls. So, that's why he and six others took it upon themselves to have a much smaller one made, with plans of presenting it to Governor Mary Fallin following a 100-mile journey by horse.

After making the decision Sunday, the group headed out early Tuesday morning with a 20-pound plaque inscribed with the Ten Commandments in tow. And while the several day journey won't be easy, they say it will be worth it.

Texoma Cowboy Church Pastor John Riggs says he and his fellow church members have taken to horseback, hoping to right a wrong after the decision was made to remove the monument.

"For me personally, my heart is just broken over the state of our country and the direction it's going," Pastor Riggs said.

Riggs says he believes the Ten Commandments, in some capacity, should be represented on state grounds. After all, he says they were the values the country was founded on.

"They are historical in our country, in our nation, and critical for our nation to stay and move and function as people," he said.

Pastor Riggs says while some people may think his church's actions are extreme, he says they're simply standing up for what they believe in.

"We've really got to take action now. For me, my faith in God is everything to me," he said.

However, Pastor Riggs says he understands not everyone believes what he believes.

"I appreciate people that have enough backbone and enough heart to stand up for what they believe in, even if it's not something I believe in and they do," he said.

Pastor Riggs says by traveling via horseback, it symbolizes what he feels people in America need to do.

"We're going back to the grassroots, because it's not easy, but we want people to know we need to go back and not forward. Go back to things we've left behind, which is primarily one nation under God," he said.

For Pastor Riggs the 10 Commandments are a symbol he wants his family to always live by.

"I want my kids to grow up in an America that glorifies and honors God, not something that is way out in left field that we can't recognize this country," he said.

The group plans on arriving in Oklahoma City by Friday afternoon. And if they're able to meet with Governor Fallin, they hope to persuade her to display their plaque somewhere on state grounds.

The group will stay in Rush Springs Wednesday night. They are encouraging anyone who wants join and ride in with them to do so if they are near you. Anyone interested in joining can call the church at 940-687-2237.