07/26/2026
A Personal Letter from Pastor Troy & Robin Black
Dear Friends,
For several years now, God has allowed me to serve Him through a ministry centered around hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. Long before I ever stood behind a church pulpit, He opened doors for me to share the Gospel in the woods, around campfires, on lakes, and at hunting camps.
Over the years, God has blessed us with the opportunity to host Youth Outdoor Days in several states—from Missouri to Virginia and as far south as Florida. Today, we continue that ministry through Youth Outdoor Days in Mountain City, Tennessee, and here locally in Sturgis, Kentucky. We also continue hosting Sportsmen’s Dinners, youth hunting camps, mentor hunts, and other outdoor events. My heart has always been the same—to use God’s creation as a bridge to introduce people to Jesus Christ and encourage them to develop a personal relationship with Him.
I have been blessed to be mentored by faithful men of God, including Brother Randy Wisdom and Brother Freddy Mosley. I also attended seminary for a short time before the school unexpectedly closed its doors. While formal education has played a small part in my ministry, the greatest classroom I’ve ever experienced has been serving alongside faithful pastors and allowing God Himself to be my greatest Teacher.
Early in my Christian walk, several people spoke into my life, telling me to remain faithful in the small things because one day God would entrust me with greater responsibilities. For many years I sensed God was preparing me to pastor a church. Like many people, I tried to help God by searching for that place myself. More than once I thought I had found where I belonged.
Finally, I surrendered that desire to the Lord and simply said, “God, if You want me to pastor, You’ll have to open the door. I’ll stop trying to force it.”
Then on April 23, 2026, I received a phone call asking if I would come preach on April 26th. Instantly I knew in my spirit that God was saying, “Say yes.” Before I ever arrived, He had already given me the message I was to preach.
Woodland Baptist Church was a church I knew existed, but honestly, I had never imagined myself preaching there—much less pastoring there.
The very first Sunday I walked through those doors, something happened that is difficult to explain. I immediately felt at home. I fell in love with the congregation almost instantly. I recognized several familiar faces, including friends I had worked with years before. The genuine love, kindness, and compassion shown by the people of Woodland Baptist Church spoke directly to my heart.
After preaching there for about a month, the church shared that I could stay as long as I wanted. My response was simple:
“I believe God has placed Robin and me here, and we’ll stay as long as God wants us here.”
From the beginning, I have been transparent with the church family. I told our patriarchs and matriarchs that I have spent over 30 years in outdoor ministry, and naturally that background would influence my preaching, my teaching, and many of the outreach opportunities we pursue as a church.
I believe the church should be more than a building where we gather for one service each week. I believe the church should be active in the community, reaching families, encouraging believers, and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ with people wherever they are.
Our first outreach event was our Smoke & Fire Father’s Day Clay Target Shoot and Cookout. From my perspective, it was a wonderful success. It wasn’t just about shooting clay targets or eating together—it was about building relationships and creating opportunities for people to experience Christian fellowship. We definitely plan to host events like this again.
Our next outreach is AIM TRUE VBS, a Vacation Bible School built around the sport of archery. Every lesson points children toward biblical truth using illustrations from archery. One example we teach is that the word “sin” was once used as an archery term meaning “to miss the mark.” Just as an arrow can miss its target, we all miss God’s perfect standard—and only Jesus Christ can forgive our sin and restore our relationship with God.
As we move forward, I have many other outreach ideas that combine outdoor activities with more traditional church ministries. My desire is simple: to meet people where they are and point them to Jesus Christ.
If you enjoy hunting, fishing, the outdoors, genuine fellowship, and the faithful teaching of God’s Word, I believe you’ll enjoy what God is doing—and what He is going to do—at Woodland Baptist Church.
I’m simply a 63-year-old man who has spent most of his life hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors. Sadly, nearly half of my life was lived without Christ. The other half has been dedicated to serving Him and using the outdoors as a ministry tool to reach children, youth, families, and adults.
Over the years, God has allowed me to serve in many different roles. I’ve been a janitor, an usher, a deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a youth pastor, an associate pastor, a co-pastor, and now a pastor. I’ve sung, preached, taught, organized events, and tried to serve wherever God opened a door.
None of those titles define me.
What matters most is simply this:
I am a servant of Jesus Christ.
So if you’re looking for a church home—or you’re simply curious about Woodland Baptist Church—I want to personally invite you to come visit us.
We would love the opportunity to meet you, worship with you, and show you the love of Christ. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
May God richly bless you and your family.
In Christ,
Pastor Troy & Robin Black
Woodland Baptist Church
208 Woodland Church Road
Morganfield, KY 42437
Phone: 270-213-0161
If there is no answer, please leave a voicemail or send a text message, and I’ll get back with you as soon as possible.
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
