Meet, Josh. The founder of Woodsmen Ministries.
Josh grew up in south Mississippi, and has always had a passion for the outdoors. He served as a student pastor for 14 years, and then one day, the Lord called him to begin a new adventure.
The backstory
Josh loved being a student pastor — serving students and their families is one of his favorite things! However as a student pastor, He saw many students who didn’t have parents who came to church, or had a relationship with Jesus. In so many communities, we’re seeing a rise in fatherlessness, incarceration, substance abuse, addiction, and more. In the midst of this rise, we are seeing men engage less and less in the local church.
In response, during the fall of 2022, God began preparing him for a new ministry adventure. One Sunday, He was sitting in a deer stand while on an annual hunting trip with his dad. As He was sitting there, he began thinking about all of the men who were doing the same thing he was right then. There are many men who may have never been to church, or maybe used to, but due to circumstances stopped attending. These men might not feel comfortable stepping through the doors of a church, but you’ll find them in a deer stand, fishing from a bank, or driving their bass boat on the weekends.
So he asked God, “Why couldn’t something like this be a ministry?” And God replied,“Why couldn’t it be?”
How it got started
Josh and Casey joined a small group and met someone who worked for CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ). They weren’t familiar with CRU, but through their friendship with this local missionary family, they learned more about the organization.
Over the next few months, God began opening doors, and made it clear that their next step was to become missionaries to serve our local community. Today, Josh is a missionary for CRU and is a part of CRU City.
Through CRU he works to cultivate an environment to win men to Jesus, build them up through discipleship, and send them out to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. Woodsmen works to create outdoor-based small groups across the southeast. These will be places for men to connect through a shared interest such a fishing, golf, basketball, disc golf, and more.
For a lot of men, the outdoors is a safe place to spend time with others and find rest. Through this ministry, we work to create spaces for men to find friendships, have fun doing something they’re passionate about, and encounter God’s love. Once they’ve been introduced to Jesus, and built up through discipleship, we will help connect them to a local church where they’ll continue to grow and discover God’s purpose for them and their family.
Connecting the whole family to Jesus
Meet the men of the Words with Woodsmen Podcast
Josh, Randy, and Andy became friends years ago when they met while serving at a local church in East Tennessee together. Through a shared love for Jesus, the great outdoors, and a desire to share their hope in Jesus with others, the Words With Woodsmen Podcast was born.
Married his wife, Casey, in 2018. He has 2 dogs and a cat, thanks to his wife’s animal obsession.
Loves fishing, hunting, and all things about boats.
Hates okra (yes, even fried) and didn’t know pickles were cucumbers until he was an adult.
Josh Webb
Married his wife, Bobi, in 2003 and they have 4 kids, 3 grandkids, and an English Mastiff.
Loves hockey, fishing, and golf.
Lactose-intolerant but is willing to risk it for ice cream.
Often says phrases backwards, which keeps the podcast interesting.
Randy Batho
Married his wife, Ashley, in 2008 and they have 2 kids, Brady and Chloe.
Lives for a fishing adventure, a round of golf, and all things sports.
Leftovers weird him out, and he’s secretly a culinary expert.
Always down for a good prank.
Andrew Ficthorn
3 ways you can help
Pray for the ministry and for men to come to know Jesus.
Become a ministry partner by giving a monthly gift and joining our ministry team.
Connect us to people in your life who may want to be a part of this ministry.