I was born in Bradenton, Florida on August 22, 1971. I was saved by the grace of God in October of 1987 during a protracted meeting in Sarasota, Florida, conducted by Elder Troy Adams and my grandfather Elder Wm. Howard Sheppard. During the week of this meeting, I came under deep conviction of my sinful state and my great need of salvation. Midway through this meeting, by my bedside, the Lord lifted the burden of my sins and I found the Lord Jesus Christ to be the great and only sufficient Saviour that He is. At the close of the meeting I made a public confession of faith in Christ Jesus as my Saviour and Lord, and was soon thereafter baptized.

       Soon after my salvation, I felt an overwhelming desire to preach God's word. In September of 1988 I surrendered to the Holy Spirit and began preaching. The Lord opened doors and I did pulpit supply for churches in the central Florida area.

       In the early part of 1990, I discovered a lack of authority in my baptism and sought out scriptural baptism. On April 14, 1990, I was scripturally baptized by Elder W. W. Wilkerson into the Calvary Baptist Church of Tampa, Florida. On May 6, 1990 Calvary licensed me to preach. In September of 1990, having moved to Georgia, I transferred my membership to West Griffin Baptist Church of Griffin, pastored by Elder John Pruitt. In January of 1991, I moved to Kentucky and transferred my membership to Calvary Baptist Church of Ashland, pastored by Elder Joseph M. Wilson. On February 6, 1991, I was licensed to preach by the Ashland church. In April of 1991, I began full time pulpit supply for Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church of Coal Grove, Ohio. The following year the Coal Grove church issued me a call to become her pastor, and on May 1, 1992, a presbyter was gathered and I was ordained to the gospel ministry by the Calvary Baptist Church of Ashland, Ky. The following day, I became a member and pastor of the Coal Grove Church. I resigned my pastorate at Coal Grove the last Sunday in November of 1993, moved to Georgia, and transferred my letter to the Grace Baptist Church in Rincon, pastored by Elder David West.

      In May of 1995 the Citrus Missionary Baptist Church of Inverness, Florida extended to me a call to become their pastor. I accepted the call in June, and on July 9, 1995, I became her pastor.

      On December 16, 1995 the Lord gave me the desire of my heart and blessed me with a loving, faithful, and devoted wife, Sarah Lynn West of Brunswick, Georgia. The Lord has graciously blessed our marriage with five beautiful children, Caleb, Rachel, Benjamin, Anna, and Rebecca. I can not praise the Lord enough for all He has done and is doing for me. I'm saved by God's grace, called to preach His blessed gospel of free grace, a member and Pastor of one of His churches, and have been blessed by Him with have a godly wife and a growing family. What more could I ask for? My cup truly runs over! The Lord continues to work in my life greatly as I minister in and through the Citrus Missionary Baptist Church. I can not praise the Lord enough for how He has richly blessed the spiritual and physical growth of His body at Inverness, as we walk together in the Lord's service. I am thankful to the Lord for allowing me the honor of serving Him by ministering to the needs of the flock in Inverness, preaching his blessed gospel at home and abroad, and being used of Him in Bible Conferences and Revival Meetings in His churches.

      The Lord has been faithful to me throughout my whole life. My prayer is that I will be more faithful to Him as I continue in His gracious favor, seeking to do His blessed and holy will.

Wm. Troy Sheppard

Inverness, Florida

July 9, 2008