Rope and Candice Myers are a very busy couple these days. Rope is a full time rodeo cowboy and Candice has a music ministry. Rope is preparing for his 6th NFR appearance. He is currently sitting 7th in the world standings in the steer wrestling (at this writing 10/16/00)

Candice is working on her 2nd Christian cowboy album, "Straight and Narrow." Her first album "Beyond the Temporary" had 3 top 5 singles on the Christian Country Chart. She will perform and speak at approximately 50 events this year.

Rope and Candice's careers require extensive traveling, but they try to go together as much as possible. They are able to coordinate many of Candice's appearances at or near Rope's rodeos. Rope said as difficult as it might seem sometimes, it is amazing when they are in the Lord's will, how things work out

The Myers' have two sons, Layton, 3 and Holden, 1 who travel with them also. Rope said their children are such a blessing and he has learned so much about God and love from their child-like faith. He said one touching moment for him was when he was rodeoing and called hom and Layton told him he had prayed that his Daddy would be safe and hapy while driving. Another time their family dog Ali had been stepped on by a bull, and next morning when she was not limping Layton said it was because he had prayed for her the night before. Rope said that the affirmation of God in their lives is sometimes just overwhelming,

Rope said he gave his life to the Lord Jesus when he was about 12 years old at a Little Britches Rodeo. He had grown up going to Sunday School occasionally, but the only church services he attended were at youth rodeos. He said he is so grateful to Coy Huffman and others who give so unselfishly at the rodeos and plant so many seeds. He said he received God as Savior but did not put Him as Lord of his life until he was much older. He said he put rodeo first and allowed it to be his god.

Rodeo success has always been fairly easy for Rope, he won numberous saddles, buckles and and titles at youth rodeos. In 1987 Rope won 2nd in the calf roping for the year in the High School Rodeo Association. That same year he also won 2nd in calf roping and 2nd in the steer wrestling at the National Little Britches Rodeo Finals.

In college Rope went to Sam Houston Sate University in Huntsville, Texas where he won the average and 2nd for teh year in the steer wrestling at the College National Finals rodeo. He said in high school he was so in to rodeo that he couldn't hardly think of much else. He said, "God totally protected me, even when I was so far away from him." Rope is fond of Romans 5:3 "...through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of glory of God."

Success followed Rope even to the professional level where he qualified for the NFR his rookie year in the steer wrestling and has since made every NFR. But with all those accomplishments Rope said there was still a hole in his life. He said he had begun to realize his priorities were out of order and in 1995 started attending church again. But at that time he said the seeds he was sowing were only thorns. He began to think the only thing missing in his life was a wife.

In 1995 while flying to a rodeo Rope ran into an old friend, Candice Pyle, who was a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines. When they were kids both of their fathers ran separate indoor arenas in Kansas. They had grown up together rodeoing but had lost contact. They seemed to hit it off pretty well and 10 months later they were married.

Even with the perfect wife Rope said he still had some holes in his life. He said God brought him to the realization that he had to put the Lord first in his life. It was not until that time that Rope began to feel the real peace that only God can give. He is so thankful for such a godly wife and the blessings for their sons.

Rope said one thing that really helped him in his spiritual walk was what he called, his first assignment, I Corinthians 13, the chapter of love. He siad he read it every day for a month and received so much blessing from it. He really felt the Lord taught him how to be a better father, husband and Christian brother from these scriptures.

The Myers' goal is to server the Lord whereever He leads them. Rope said he has fasted and prayed and knows he is supposed to rodeo now. And the future is in God's hands. He said he might even be lead to the ministry.

Candice knows her calling is with her ministry. "White Riate Music." "White stands for Candice and Riata for Rope." rope said part of his contribution to her ministry is to haul and help take care of all of her equipment. Candice and Rope know that the Lord is doing awesome things with Candice's ministry.

They owe much gratitude to the people that have helped them. One in particular is Andy Taylor of Trinity Fellowship Church in Sayer, Oklahoma. Andy used to rodeo himself, riding bulls, and he has been such a rock and source of wisdom for them. He is their mentor and has helped shepherd them. Rope said he has shared in their triumphs, and trials. He and his church have been a great model for them. Their motto is to show the heart and everything else.

Their church, First Assembly of God in Van, Texas, where they live and their pastor, David McLain are also an important source of their spiritual inspiration. Others were Lynn Schall of Twin Falls, Idaho who they met at a minister's conference and Dave Morrison.

Rope would like to also give credit to his mom, Fanchone, who is a school teacher in Stafford, Oklahoma and his Dad, Butch, who rodeos out of Athens, Texas. Butch was a great model to learn how to rodeo and how to be a winner. He has been to the NFR 11 times and 2 times set the record for the average at the Finals. He said he is so proud of his Dad too for his Christian growth in the last few years, and that he has "Gone on with God:'

Cash is Rope's younger brother who is also a great cowboy. He is currently sitting 5th in the world standings in the steer wrestling. Rope said he is very proud of his brother's accomplishments. Their sister, Tigh and her husband Chad Hyatt, rodeo and have a new baby boy, Quade, Rope said his family is very important to him and is thankful they have been able to maintain a close relationship.

Rope said, 'Whether it be family, rodeo, job, etc., we must always seek the Lord first and all his righteousness .... and that 1 day in His house is better than 1,000 elsewhere. He likes Romans 12:1-2,"Therefore, I urge you, brothers In view of God's mercy, to, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Rope was instrumental in helping start a bible study at some of the PRCA rodeos. He said that he and Alan Bach had the same vision for this bible study. They have had 10-11, meetings so far and have had anywhere from 10 to 40 or more people. He said it was just amazing to see people come in and how they are all seeking the same thing. He said there is not a single leader, but the whole group comes together to serve.

Rope and. Candice's goal in life is to live victorious lives for God. They try to walk by faith, not by sight. Rope said we need to learn to be content wherever the Lord leads us. And there is where we will find comfort.

Reproduced from the Christian Cowboy Magazine, November/December 2000, page 3 Christian Cowboys and Friends Ronnie Christian P.O. Box 248, Bandera, TX 78003-0248 Phone: (830)796-7027 E-mail: rcrodeo@christiancowboy.org