Troy Nelson is "Pastor of Discipleship and Outreach" here at FBC. He writes about himself:
I’m thrilled to be serving as a pastor here at First Baptist Church of Waldoboro. The journey our family has made in coming here is a testament to the grace of God and His infinite sovereignty in knowing all things from eternity past and using all things—yes, even my past sins—for His ultimate glory.
I was born in Western PA and grew up there in a home where my parents loved God and raised us to do the same. The middle of three children, I stayed the course and entered Houghton College in Western New York, a Christian liberal arts school. Very excited at the prospect of going to college to major in camping, I pursued a degree in Outdoor Education. Here, I gave full expression to my love of the outdoors, and after graduation, I pursued backpacking, kayaking, and other adrenaline sports. That would have been well and good, but I took everything as a personal challenge and looked to achieve everything I set my mind to in my human strength. My eyes were not on how to please my Lord, but myself in every way, and I was quickly making bad choices and was on a road to destruction.
Thankfully, God was not through with me. He confronted me where I was and graciously gave me the opportunity to turn back to an honest pursuit of every Christian’s calling… to leave the life of sin and live victoriously over it through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ did this work in me.
At this time I began dating my sweetheart, an amazing Christian woman, and we were married in 2001. We lived in Upstate New York for twelve years. We left our home church in the Adirondacks where we had grown so much in our love for the Lord, and moved here to our new church in Mid-coast Maine, First Baptist of Waldoboro. Here we served a very practical three-year internship while receiving formal pastoral training through the M.Div. program at Faith Bible Seminary—a live classroom video-broadcasted from Lafayette, Indiana.
Our family has always enjoyed hiking and camping together, and now in Maine we also enjoy exploring new beaches and lighthouses. We are thankful for the many opportunities to grow and serve right where God has positioned us. I am excited to see God using this body of believers to impact our community for the Kingdom as we all grow in the likeness of our Savior, Jesus.
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to Your Name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1
—Troy