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Spring WAGG events feature hymns and hooves
From soulful songs to healing hooves, WAGG’s spring events offered a powerful mix of worship, fellowship, and faith-based outreach
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WINFIELD — The Winfield Area Grateful Gathering (WAGG) offered two powerful community events this spring, combining music, ministry, and horse-led healing in gatherings that centered on faith and connection. Residents from across Southeast Iowa gathered in Winfield and Mount Union to share songs of praise and witness the transformative impact of equine therapy.
On Sunday, April 27, the Hemsworth family — John, Mandy, Ben, and Gabe — performed a heartfelt concert at First Presbyterian Church in Winfield. Daughter Celia did not attend. The performance wove together worship music and personal testimony, demonstrating the family’s long-standing commitment to faith through music.
John and Mandy, known across the region as the acoustic folk-gospel duo “The Tinders,” have shared their music ministry since 2007. Ben and Gabe, performing as “The Hemsworth Brothers,” frequently appear at churches and community events throughout Iowa. While Celia missed the concert, she remains active in worship music in Mason City. After the concert, guests gathered in the church’s fellowship hall for refreshments and conversation.
On Saturday, May 3, WAGG shifted its focus from hymns to hooves with an event at Cornerstone Farm near Mount Union. Cornerstone cofounder Greta Cummings and ministry partner Stephanie White led demonstrations that blended horsemanship with biblical teaching and emotional development. Guests experienced two unique programs: Equine-Assisted Learning with the Virtuous Cowgirls and biblical Horsemanship with Cummings.
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL), a cornerstone of the farm’s mission, invites individuals to engage with horses through guided activities like grooming, leading, and ground-based exercises. These interactions create opportunities for participants to explore emotions, build confidence, and improve social skills. Horses, known for their sensitivity and non-judgmental presence, reflect human behavior and offer a safe environment for self-discovery. The Virtuous Cowgirls, a youth ministry group at the farm, demonstrated how EAL fosters trust, empathy, and resilience in girls learning to grow spiritually and emotionally.
Cummings then led a biblical Horsemanship session, where she taught how principles of faith — such as patience, trust, and leadership — apply both in the arena and in life. By connecting Scripture to equine behavior and handling, she showed how a deeper relationship with horses can mirror a believer’s walk with God.
Aaron and Greta Cummings launched Cornerstone Farm in 2002 with a mission to use horsemanship as a tool for ministry. The farm now offers a range of programs, including therapeutic sessions with licensed mental health professionals and horse specialists who guide participants through relational activities grounded in trust. During the summer, they run Created Cowpokes, a one-day camp where children in grades 3 through 6 learn horsemanship alongside Bible stories, crafts, and skits. The farm also partners with Hometown Veterinary Care to lead equine first aid workshops, teaching horse owners how to handle common injuries and emergencies.
After the May 3 presentation, guests gathered around a campfire to roast hot dogs and s’mores, enjoying a relaxed evening of fellowship in the farm’s peaceful setting.
Both events underscore WAGG’s commitment to uniting faith and community through shared experiences. The organization continues to host monthly gatherings that uplift residents of Southeast Iowa with music, testimonies, and service.
Contributions made by Barb Phelps
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
