Our History
From a handful of outdoorsmen with a shared vision to a growing multi-state ministry, the story of Blast & Cast is one of faithful momentum. Explore the moments and movements that shaped who we are today.
Our History
In 1999, the first Blast & Cast event was held in Rockport, TX. It was little more than a church retreat with 15-20 church members and a group of duck hunters that volunteered to bring their boats and gear to facilitate the hunting. Over time, the events began to place more focus on the duck hunters than the church members and, as a result, began to grow. By 2006, we were hosting more than 50 duck hunters and had to institute a waiting list for openings. By 2008, we had over 120 people on a waiting list for an opening at the annual Rockport event, and most of them were not Christians. More importantly, we were seeing changed lives as outdoorsmen committed to following Jesus.
In 2008, we officially incorporated as a non-profit entity in the state of Texas and started hosting additional fishing and hunting events. In 2011, we obtained our 501(c)3 status as a tax-exempt organization. What made our events unique was the low-cost, high-quality nature that was fueled by a vast volunteer effort. Rather than using professional guide services, we utilized volunteers to keep costs down. This resulted in a grassroots, down-to-earth feel that naturally facilitated relationships through shared experience. As Christians and non-Christians interacted in the great outdoors new relationships formed, and the Gospel was shared in a relatable, effective way. We started seeing baptisms in ponds, lakes, bays, rivers, beaches, ditches, duck ponds, swimming pools, hot tubs, and even boat ramps as outdoorsmen responded to the call of Jesus.
In 2015, our Executive Director, Brodie Cooper took a leap of faith and became our first full-time employee. With a fresh start and excitement over new possibilities, the ministry flourished in ways that we couldn’t imagine. We launched our fishing tournament outreach efforts that have since become a large part of what we do. We also launched outreach efforts in Louisiana and New Mexico as volunteers sought to bring Blast & Cast to their home states.
Today, we have four chapters that span the state of Texas, one chapter in Louisiana, one in New Mexico, one in Florida, and active efforts to launch in additional states. We also have three full-time employees and one part-time employee working hard to support the efforts of volunteers, who are the real backbone of our ministry. We have developed a servant-leadership philosophy in which our staff members exist to provide the administrative, business, tax, and financial support that our teams of volunteers need to maximize their impact as missionaries in the outdoor community.
Now that you know our history, we hope and pray that you’ll consider joining us at an event and partnering with us as we make new history in our mission to reach outdoorsmen!
Witness Our Work in Action
Our roots run deep, and our commitment keeps growing. See how Blast & Cast continues to make an impact.
