* Names and other content have been changed or
redacted to protect those who serve in sensitive areas around the world.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’”
– Mark 1:17

When I first met *Toby, he was around 12 years old.  I had the privilege of preaching the glorious Gospel as a guest speaker at a youth camp.  Southwind YL Camp in Ocklawaha, FL was the location.  Toby was attending and I barely knew him.  I knew his Mom, *Barbra from Crosspoint (a life-giving church in Cape Coral, FL), and his dad, *Bob pedaled in the first-ever Key West Bike Ride in 2012, before Ends of the Earth Cycling even existed.  

During that youth camp, I was seeking the Lord and asking him what I might share during one of the sessions.  He told me He wanted to set some students apart for full-time ministry.  I gave the message, envisioned them to become pastors, *global workers, or simply to serve Him with their passions.  At the end of the sermon, we had an altar call and I will never forget what happened next.  One by one, students came forward for the next 45 or so minutes.  Youth pastors laid hands on them, in accordance with 1 Timothy 4:14.

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”

Toby was one of the first students to come to the altar for prayer that day.  He knew God had a calling on his life.  He wasn’t sure exactly what that would look like, but he was obedient to come forward.  He later testified, “It was like the Holy Spirit tied a rope around my waist and pulled me forward.”  I lost track of Toby for the next seven years.

In 2020, when Covid hit, I was on the phone with Mom, Barbra, and asked, “How is Toby doing?”  She replied, “He is doing really well, in fact, he took up kayak fishing.”  My interest peaked because my son and I had taken up kayak fishing at that exact same time!  I was floored.  She said, “He bought two kayaks and takes his friends fishing and shares about Jesus with them while they are fishing!”  Woah!  Fishing for men while fishing for fish?  I needed to get in on that!

In Summer 2020, Toby and I reconnected and began hosting fishing events.  Some were big, some small, some on private piers that we rented, others on shorelines, bridges and kayaks.  We didn’t even know what we were doing, but God was being glorified as we built relationships with many young people in our city.

In the Summer of 2021, Toby completed an awesome internship with Venture and New International.  It was a great joy to see him grow, learn and experience what GOD had in store for him.  During those two months, Toby helped us launch a new ministry:  Ends of the Earth Fishing.

The vision for Ends Fishing was to impact youth globally.  We experienced a ton of favor reaching youth in SW, FL.  Many of the engagements we have been afforded had a lot to do with Toby and previous connections.  For example, because Toby worked at Bass Pro Shops, he got us setup to help serve during their Kids Go Fishing Days.  On Father’s Day, one year, we were able to serve over 100 dads, granddads and sons, helping them bait their hooks and removing the fish they caught.  This was so special, in fact, some of those involved were catching their first fish!  All the while, we were showing and sharing our love of Jesus with them.  

In the time I served with Toby, he helped us host 18 outreach events using fishing to share the Gospel.  We would set apart 3-5 hours, find a location and invite middle schoolers, high schoolers, college students, and, a few times, elementary schoolers to fish with us.  We would give a devotion from God’s Word, pray, and catch all types of fish.  It was a season I will never forget.

One day, when talking with Toby, he told me a story.  He spoke of a youth camp he attended while in middle school.  He said there was a guest speaker who gave an invitation to come to an altar and receive prayer if they had a call to ministry on their lives.  When Toby shared that story with me, I quickly replied, “Toby, I was THAT Speaker!”  God brought us together so many years ago and reconnected us to serve together for His glory!  And the rest is history.

Toby eventually mobilized to the Middle East where he serves as an *international worker.  He met his wife there, and they serve together.  I can’t thank God enough for allowing me to be a very small part of Toby’s story – one of the realest fishers of men that I know.

Here’s a quote from him about the whole experience:  

“When it comes to moments in life where you can see God’s hand in your life, what Justin shared above was that moment for me. Being able to develop my call for ministry with Justin and through Ends Fishing will be something I share in my testimony forever. I can say with confidence that because of the spiritual formation through this ministry, I am equipped to share the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.” – Toby

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