What a high privilege and undeserved blessing from the Lord to be saved by His amazing grace, called to serve Him as a minister of His gospel, and to pastor some of His most precious saints in this world.
I was born in Bradenton, Florida on August 22, 1971. I was saved by the grace of God in October of 1987 after I came under deep conviction of my awful sinful state. 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 Savior that He is – Praise His glorious name!
Soon after my salvation, I felt an overwhelming desire to preach God's word. In September of 1988 I surrendered to the Spirit's call and began preaching.
On April 14, 1990 I was baptized by the authority of 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, John Pruitt, pastor. In January of 1991, I moved to Kentucky and transferred my membership to Calvary Baptist Church of Ashland, Joseph M. Wilson, pastor. 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, David S. West, pastor.
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 blessed me with a loving, faithful, and devoted wife, Sarah Lynn West of Brunswick, Georgia. The Lord has graciously blessed our marriage with six beautiful children; Caleb, Rachel, Benjamin, Anna, Rebecca, and Abigail. Through God's mercy each of our children make a profession of Faith in Christ. Thank you, Jesus! I can not praise the Lord enough for all of His great mercies toward me as a child of God, husband, father, gospel minister, and pastor.
The Lord continues to work in my life greatly as I minister in and through the Citrus Missionary Baptist Church. He has 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 His 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.
I gladly testify that the Lord is faithful!. 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 September 14, 2020