Finding faith and connection through the great outdoors
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of WOODS AND WATER OUTDOOR MINISTRIES
Love spending time in the great outdoors? Want to meet some new friends? How about both? Woods and Water Outdoor Ministries is a great way to connect with other families in the Central Texas area who enjoy camping, fishing, hunting, archery, shooting and outdoor motorsports.
“My dad, Richard Worden, and I founded Woods and Water because we love Jesus Christ, we love people, and we love the outdoors,” said Temple native Tim Worden, who serves as the ministry’s director. “We believe that God gave us a love for the outdoors as a connecting point for building real, lasting friendships with other people who enjoy the woods, lakes and rivers just like we do. Many people have come to us separated from Christ in some way — it may be hurt, addiction or just feeling isolated — with no one to support and encourage them as they try their best to navigate this crazy world. If this is you, we want to take you fishing.”
Meeting since 2021, Woods and Water is not just for men. Although some of the group’s events are gender-specific, they strongly believe that families should enjoy God’s creation together.
“We are a family ministry — men, women and children of all ages. And for people who are separated from their families, we want to help fill that void as well,” Worden said. “But we are not trying to take the place of the church. In fact, all members of our leadership are involved in their own churches. We love to partner with local churches and other organizations as much as possible.”
The group hosts monthly “bonfire” meetings that include food, fellowship, a guest speaker (normally a local fishing or hunting guide) and a prize giveaway. The prize is normally a guided fishing or hunting trip or a new piece of outdoor equipment. Besides the monthly meetings, the group also sponsors at least one outdoor excursion every month.
A favorite is overnight camping trips at Three Forks, where the group has access to private grounds including a family campground. Activities such as fishing, shooting clay pigeons, and riding dirt bikes, ATVs and four-wheelers are available, as well as memorable times around the campfire at night.
Another opportunity is camping and fishing at Westcliffe Park on Belton Lake, where participants can kayak, learn to jug fish or practice their archery skills. Hog hunts are also on the calendar. The group has access to places in Central Texas where they can take a group of folks to hunt hogs, which ends up having a positive effect on the environment and provides some great barbecue for the group’s next bonfire meeting.
The men in the group also look forward to taking an annual fishing trip to Baffin Bay, which is south of Corpus Christi.
“Our group is very colorful and diverse,” Worden said. “We take everyone without judgment and have people from all over who felt disconnected from the faith community but have found a safe place in our W&W community.”
Besides monthly bonfire meetings and excursions, Woods and Water conducts a weekly Bible study for men and have plans to begin a women’s Bible study soon. The object of these small-group Bible studies is to build strong relationships with others while exploring God’s plan for their lives.
“We realize that there are many people in our community who would not feel comfortable walking into a church building on Sunday morning. They may have had no experience with church or they may have had negative experiences with church,” Worden said. “Fortunately, you don’t have to walk into a church building to find Jesus. His people are everywhere — even on the lakes and in the woods. Woods and Water actively seeks to break down barriers between people and Jesus so that we find common ground instead. What’s somewhat unique is our common ground is actual ground — and water too.”
Bonfire meetings are held every first Monday of the month at First Cedar Valley Baptist Church, 12395 FM 2843 in Salado. The men’s Bible study is on Thursday nights at 6:45 p.m., alternating between T.X. BBQ Co. at 301 S. Franklin in Holland and Jay’s Custom Chassis at 9978 Center Lake Road in Holland.
Woods and Water Outdoor Ministries
Website: wwministry.org
Email: tim@wwoutdoors.org
Call or text: 254-913-3757
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/wwoutdoors
Text: @woodswater to 81010
