When Steven Westerfield and Chelsey Frost first met about a year ago, they started looking for a church to attend together.
They were both raised in church and wanted to get back to their Christian roots.
“Nothing against the churches, but I wasn’t feeling it,” Westerfield said. “I wasn’t getting it.
“So we started going fishing on Sundays and listening to the scriptures.”
One Sunday, Frost suggested they start a church.
“Church attendance is at an all-time low,” Westerfield said. “So we didn’t need to start a church, but a ministry.
“I’m sure there are a lot of guys sitting in the pews on Sunday mornings thinking, ‘I’d rather be on the lake.’”
They talked about simply inviting people to come fishing with them.
Right away, Frost said, “Casting Poles and Saving Souls.”
And that was it.
Casting Poles Ministry was launched, with its first event scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, at Fort Island Trail Park, 12073 W. Fort Island Trail, Crystal River.
“We’ll be there from 8 a.m. until around 3,” Westerfield said. “Just come when you can, come as you are … if you don’t have a pole, we’ve got some you can use.”
Children and families are welcome.
A no-cost saltwater shoreline fishing license is available to Florida residents who fish from shore. Nonresidents need a regular saltwater fishing license. Licenses are available at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
When the poles started coming
Westerfield said at first they laughed about starting the ministry. They realized they couldn’t expect everybody to have their own tackle, and that could be a roadblock.
And they didn’t have a lot of money for all the poles, bait and tackle they would need.
“The Lord will provide,” Westerfield told Frost.
They made a Facebook page announcing their plans, and Westerfield started buying inexpensive fishing poles by the lot.
“Then people started donating poles — it just started coming in waves,” he said. “With old poles, you’ve got to replace some eyes, things like that.
“But in the meantime, I’m learning how to take these reels apart and rebuild them and take the eyes off of the poles, redo the epoxy and all those things.”
From the start, Westerfield and Frost decided they didn’t want to ask for monetary donations.
“Bring bait, bring hooks, bring tackle, stuff like that, but I didn’t want to ask for cash,” he said.
But they needed some type of funding.
“When I started buying the lots, I found a bunch of old vintage ones. I thought I could sell them, get my money back that I paid for the lot,” he said.
“So, then I came up with the idea: Born Again Rods and Reels. We get old rods and reels and we fix them and then build them back up to workable. And then we just resell them like a secondhand shop, basically.
“That’s how we’ll fund it.”
For information about purchasing these vintage rods and reels, visit the Facebook page at: facebook.com/BornAgainRodsAndReels.
No sermon required
Casting Poles Ministry had a soft launch in August near Inglis, which drew about five people.
For the Sept. 27 event, about 20 people have inquired.
“Even if it’s just one, it’s worth it,” Frost said.
Currently, the plan is to meet one Sunday a month at different locations around the area.
“It’s not a service. We won’t have a preacher. No itinerary. You don’t even have to fish,” Westerfield said.
They will have an audio version of the Bible being read over Bluetooth speakers throughout the day.
Bring your questions, your doubts, your beliefs. The goal is to get people talking to one another about what they’re hearing.
For Westerfield and Frost, creating a place where people feel welcome is personal.
“Growing up, I always had a mohawk, different colored hair, you know, all those types of things. So I was always kind of looked down on. I was even called a Satan worshiper,” he said. “It was just like judgment, you know. And I’ve always been an outcast.”
Frost said she has felt that way, too.
“They look at my tattoos and are surprised that I’m a Christian,” she said.
They want people to know that Casting Poles Ministry welcomes everyone.
“It’s basically, ‘Just come and fish with us,’” Westerfield said. “Eventually, if they come enough times and they hear (the gospel) enough times, it’s going to click.
“I think that’s the whole thing — how do we become fishers of men?
“Well, you’ve got to get them first,” he said. “You’ve got to bait your hook, right?”