Pastor Troy has been an ordained Reverend since 2012. He has long sought to have a church that is very UN-judgemental, a “wear what you brung” church (within reason and modesty, of course). A church who wants to focus solely on our God and growing closer to Him. A church that disciples young Christians rather than looking at them as a statistic on their baptism column. A church of love and understanding. When Sister Cindy and I got together in December of 2024, our first date we planned was to a Cowboy Church. I have been interested in these types of churches for quite a while now. You can actually listen to our story on this through Sister Cindy’s podcast named “Just Pray Over It”, here is the link to that episode: When Cindy Met Troy. Sister Cindy has an extensive background working with kids and women when she was in Florida. Pastor Troy worked with sound and video, men’s groups, children when he was a Youth Pastor, and the church he was an Associate Pastor at in Florida was also a homeless mission where we cared for 40 homeless persons.
Now, Sister Cindy and I did not meet in Florida, we had to move some 650 miles away to Eastern Tennessee to meet and find our soulmate in each other. Since being married in March, 2025, together we have sought after God and His intentions for us. After much prayer, discussions, and seeking God’s face in this, we have took our leap of faith in starting this church/ministry.
In December 2025, we were told of a homeless family living in the Wal-Mart parking lot. This was on a Sunday evening at church. Monday morning, Sister Cindy looked this family up. She immediately called me about the dire situation. Long story short, we were able to help this family get through Christmas with their two children.
We had also been told of a woman being arrested for sleeping behind the same Wal-Mart. She was jailed and fined $2,000 and all her belongings were disposed of. I cannot wrap my head around the fact of how this does not make sense. If you are penniless and have nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, only the clothes on your back why are you fined $2,000??
There are numerous stories all through the Bible of how we are to protect the less-fortunate around us.
These are the kind of stories that prompted us to look deeper into God’s Word. Exodus 22:22 in the CSB says, “You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.” James 1:27 says this, “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
When we say “Come As You Are”, we actually mean it. Pastor Troy and Sister Cindy have been exposed to the demons of drugs and alcohol prior to our conversion. We have ran with bikers and the like. We are not innocent people! But, like I like to tell people, “It took me 39 years to grow up.” We did not let Satan get the victory in our lives. Pastor Troy has been sober since 2003, when he stepped aside and let Christ manage his life. Sister Cindy had a gun held to her head on four different occasions before she decided she could not manage her life. Sister Cindy said it had happened so many times that it was just like a daily event when it happened and it didn’t startle her any longer. That is when she decided to “Quit Playin’ Church” as she calls it.
So you see, there is nothing so bad that we have done to turn God away from us. I know our lives are not as colorful as others. The Word of our Lord in 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” Paul also told us in Romans 5:8, “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Who am I to say who can sit in a pew in the church God has granted to me to oversee?
So with all this being said, I would like to invite you to come be a part of this vision that has been given to Sister Cindy and I. You can donate through PayPal or through Zeffy. Both links are below. We are registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 so all you donations are tax deductible. We are also a legally registered non-profit corporation in the great State of Tennessee.