Founded by Matthew D. Wible in December 2010 Location: Waco, TX Motivating Verses: Matthew 13:24-46
Overview: Heart of Texas Field Guides is a 501(c)3, non-profit ministry. We offer Godly mentorship (Guides) to young men as they live in this world (which Jesus called the Field).
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Mission: To see young men develop covenant relationship with Jesus and become active in The Kingdom.
We desire to live out I Thessalonians 2:11-12, "For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."
Field Guides uses the teaching of practical outdoor skills through monthly hunting or fishing trips, summer camps, and numerous other activities to employ relational discipleship. During those activities we strive to build relationships with young men. As those relationships naturally develop, we mentor young men to become genuine, Godly men as they live their lives in this world. Our goal is to help young men pursue God in all aspects of their lives.
Field Guides uses the teaching of practical outdoor skills through monthly hunting or fishing trips, summer camps, and numerous other activities to employ relational discipleship. During those activities we strive to build relationships with young men. As those relationships naturally develop, we mentor young men to become genuine, Godly men as they live their lives in this world. Our goal is to help young men pursue God in all aspects of their lives.
Meet Our Staff
Click on the pictures to learn more about our staff.
Matt Wible
CEO, Founder and president
board of directors
Travis Hill
vice president
board of directors
Cal Stevens
secretary
board of directors
Rob Fuentes
Board of directors
speedy wible
board of directors
Meet Our Volunteers
Click on the pictures to learn more about our volunteers.
Jonathan Seward
Volunteer |
Jimmy Stefka
Volunteer |
wes cash
Volunteermason frucci
volunteer |
kiley moran
volunteerchandler steinke
volunteer |
Matthew D. Wible |
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Position: Founder of Field Guides (among other things)
Education: BA Speech Communication from Baylor University
Current Job: Field Guides
Hometown/Family: Born and raised in Waco. Most of my family lives here as well. Married to Dawn and have 3 boys (Levi, Jude and Titus)
When did you start with FG? Founded Field Guides in 2010 but have done outdoor ministry since 2007.
Your dream outdoor trip? My current dream would be a road trip where I could take a couple of weeks and fly fish through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
Favorite Outdoor Memory: Growing up fishing the Navasota River with my family
Current Skill I'm Developing: Building custom fishing rods and tying flies
Favorite thing about FG: My favorite thing about FG is that it combines the two things I'm most passionate about, discipling young men and outdoor activities. Some other favorite things are seeing the guys have their "firsts" (first deer, first bird, first fish fly fishing, etc) and watching them develop into Godly men.
My heroes: My Dad and Grandpa
Other Activities/Interests: Trying to keep up with my wife and kids doesn't leave much time for anything else.
Education: BA Speech Communication from Baylor University
Current Job: Field Guides
Hometown/Family: Born and raised in Waco. Most of my family lives here as well. Married to Dawn and have 3 boys (Levi, Jude and Titus)
When did you start with FG? Founded Field Guides in 2010 but have done outdoor ministry since 2007.
Your dream outdoor trip? My current dream would be a road trip where I could take a couple of weeks and fly fish through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
Favorite Outdoor Memory: Growing up fishing the Navasota River with my family
Current Skill I'm Developing: Building custom fishing rods and tying flies
Favorite thing about FG: My favorite thing about FG is that it combines the two things I'm most passionate about, discipling young men and outdoor activities. Some other favorite things are seeing the guys have their "firsts" (first deer, first bird, first fish fly fishing, etc) and watching them develop into Godly men.
My heroes: My Dad and Grandpa
Other Activities/Interests: Trying to keep up with my wife and kids doesn't leave much time for anything else.
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Travis R. Hill |
Position: Vice President of the Board of Directors and Volunteer
Education: AAS welding technology
Current Job: Custom Fabrication shop owner
Hometown/Family: West,TX married 14 yrs to Karen with our little boy Cooper
When did you start with FG? In the beginning
Your dream outdoor trip? Self-guided bow hunt for elk in Colorado
Favorite outdoor/hunting/fishing memory: Any time had with my grandpa or first animal kills I've guided.
Current outdoor skill you are developing: Dutch oven cooking
Your favorite thing about FG: Passing on skills and relationships I learned and see value in
Who are your heroes? My grandpa and my parents
Other Activities/Interests: Involved in a lot of welding related activities and knife making/blacksmithing
Education: AAS welding technology
Current Job: Custom Fabrication shop owner
Hometown/Family: West,TX married 14 yrs to Karen with our little boy Cooper
When did you start with FG? In the beginning
Your dream outdoor trip? Self-guided bow hunt for elk in Colorado
Favorite outdoor/hunting/fishing memory: Any time had with my grandpa or first animal kills I've guided.
Current outdoor skill you are developing: Dutch oven cooking
Your favorite thing about FG: Passing on skills and relationships I learned and see value in
Who are your heroes? My grandpa and my parents
Other Activities/Interests: Involved in a lot of welding related activities and knife making/blacksmithing
Jonathan Seward |
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Position: Volunteer
Education and current job: I received a master’s in Economics from Baylor 6 years ago and then worked as an Economic consultant until August 2016 when I decided to pursue a PhD in Health Services Research (also at Baylor). Additionally, I do a little statistical consulting on the side.
Hometown/family: I grew up in Waco and attended Midway High School. My wife, Heidi, is a professor in Business Communications at Baylor, and we have two kids.
When did you start with FG? 2011
Your dream outdoor trip? Going up to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (in Minnesota) in the summers with my wife. We do a combination of canoeing and portaging to get to a campsite and then spend the days fishing and exploring crystal-clear lakes, all in 70-degree weather.
Favorite outdoor/hunting/fishing memory: For outdoors, my favorite memory is the first camping trip I took with my wife. For hunting, it would have to be the first deer I downed. For fishing, it is one of my first fishing trips when I was little; my godfather took me trout fishing on the White River in Arkansas.
Current outdoor skill you are developing: I’m currently trying to figure out how to take an infant wilderness camping.
Your favorite thing about FG: I really like getting to know all of the guys and sharing in Christ-centered wilderness experiences with them.
My heroes: My dad has set a good example as a godly husband and father, and my godfather (also a godly husband and father) instilled a knowledge and love for fishing from a young age.
Other info or activities you're involved in. I really enjoy woodworking. I have built projects ranging in complexity from baby toys to a computer armoire. Each project has proven to have its own challenges in design and execution, and no project is ever finished without hiccups.
Education and current job: I received a master’s in Economics from Baylor 6 years ago and then worked as an Economic consultant until August 2016 when I decided to pursue a PhD in Health Services Research (also at Baylor). Additionally, I do a little statistical consulting on the side.
Hometown/family: I grew up in Waco and attended Midway High School. My wife, Heidi, is a professor in Business Communications at Baylor, and we have two kids.
When did you start with FG? 2011
Your dream outdoor trip? Going up to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (in Minnesota) in the summers with my wife. We do a combination of canoeing and portaging to get to a campsite and then spend the days fishing and exploring crystal-clear lakes, all in 70-degree weather.
Favorite outdoor/hunting/fishing memory: For outdoors, my favorite memory is the first camping trip I took with my wife. For hunting, it would have to be the first deer I downed. For fishing, it is one of my first fishing trips when I was little; my godfather took me trout fishing on the White River in Arkansas.
Current outdoor skill you are developing: I’m currently trying to figure out how to take an infant wilderness camping.
Your favorite thing about FG: I really like getting to know all of the guys and sharing in Christ-centered wilderness experiences with them.
My heroes: My dad has set a good example as a godly husband and father, and my godfather (also a godly husband and father) instilled a knowledge and love for fishing from a young age.
Other info or activities you're involved in. I really enjoy woodworking. I have built projects ranging in complexity from baby toys to a computer armoire. Each project has proven to have its own challenges in design and execution, and no project is ever finished without hiccups.
Jimmy Stefka |
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Position: Volunteer
Education: I have a 2 year degree from TSTC in Construction.
Job: Picking up side work while waiting to hear from future employers
Hometown: Edom "small town outside of Tyler" East Texas
When did you start with FG? 2014
Your dream outdoor trip? laying in a crop field surrounded by snow geese decoys and putting the hurting on some snow geese
Favorite outdoor memory: The first deer I killed in 2010 at the age of 14 from then on I was hooked
Current outdoor skills I am developing: the art of making knifes. Sharpening my skills with both firearms and my bow
My favorite things about field guides: getting to spend quality time in the woods and passing down my skills to the generation behind me coming up
My hero: My dad, he has set a wonderful example of what it means to be a man and to provide not only for himself but for his family as well
Education: I have a 2 year degree from TSTC in Construction.
Job: Picking up side work while waiting to hear from future employers
Hometown: Edom "small town outside of Tyler" East Texas
When did you start with FG? 2014
Your dream outdoor trip? laying in a crop field surrounded by snow geese decoys and putting the hurting on some snow geese
Favorite outdoor memory: The first deer I killed in 2010 at the age of 14 from then on I was hooked
Current outdoor skills I am developing: the art of making knifes. Sharpening my skills with both firearms and my bow
My favorite things about field guides: getting to spend quality time in the woods and passing down my skills to the generation behind me coming up
My hero: My dad, he has set a wonderful example of what it means to be a man and to provide not only for himself but for his family as well
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mason frucci |
Position: Volunteer
Education: M.S. in Geology from Baylor University after receiving a B.S. in Geology from the University of Arkansas
Current Job: I am a Texas REALTOR with Magnolia Realty in Waco
Hometown/Family: I was raised in McKinney, TX from 2nd grade through highschool graduation
When did you start with FG?: I first started in March of 2019 with a white bass outing on the Middle Bosque River. I've been hooked ever since!
Dream Outdoors Trip: I can think of nothing grander than a week backpacking through the hills of Ireland fishing for river-run salmon.
Favorite Outdoor Memory: Taking my first buck with a bow when I was 24. I got to the treestand during a thunderstorm 2hrs before dawn and have never been colder in my life; the obstacles make the harvest all the sweeter.
Current Outdoor Skill you are developing: While in Arkansas I took up fly fishing with a rod that had belonged to my great-grandfather. I was immediately enthralled by the beauty and reward of the dextrous method and have been obsessed ever since.
Favorite thing about FG: Field Guides is special because it's a group where everyone (men from 13yo-83yo) is a student humbly learning from God's Word and Spirit alongside brothers brought together by similar passions. What could be better in a world that's constantly trying to redefine what a "man" should and shouldn't be?
Who are your heroes?: I'm a bit of a nerd... Obi-Wan Kenobi and Aragorn are heroes of mine for their stalwart stances in goodness through the most dire of circumstances. King Solomon and the disciple John are my favorite biblical heroes.
Other activities/interests: I am undeservingly blessed with an abundant and deep young adult community here in Waco. I love contributing my time and talents to the Community Team at Harris Creek Baptist Church to help church members connect with other believers and form friendships and discipleships just like I have.
wes cash |
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Position: Volunteer
Education: BS in Education - Baylor University
Current Job: Independent Insurance Adjuster
Hometown and Family: Hometown- Bracketville, Texas Family - Wife Julie, Son Andy, his wife Haley, their son Little Wes. Son Ben, his wife Lindsey and their daughter Juliette
When did you start with FG? 2020
Dream Outdoors Trip: Hunting with my grandson (he's only 14 weeks old)
Favorite Outdoor Memory: Hunting with my sons
Current Outdoor Skill you are developing: Digging and locating arrowheads and related artifacts
Favorite thing about FG: The joy of seeing boys gain and develop the love and appreciation for the outdoors that has been a foundational part of my life. .
Who are your heroes?: My heroes are my sons Andy and Ben. Although they are both accomplished outdoorsmen, more importantly they are devoted husbands, fathers and men who love the Lord.
Other activities/interests: My wife and I enjoy our church, relationships with dear friends, and the trips to Italy that we have been blessed to take.
Education: BS in Education - Baylor University
Current Job: Independent Insurance Adjuster
Hometown and Family: Hometown- Bracketville, Texas Family - Wife Julie, Son Andy, his wife Haley, their son Little Wes. Son Ben, his wife Lindsey and their daughter Juliette
When did you start with FG? 2020
Dream Outdoors Trip: Hunting with my grandson (he's only 14 weeks old)
Favorite Outdoor Memory: Hunting with my sons
Current Outdoor Skill you are developing: Digging and locating arrowheads and related artifacts
Favorite thing about FG: The joy of seeing boys gain and develop the love and appreciation for the outdoors that has been a foundational part of my life. .
Who are your heroes?: My heroes are my sons Andy and Ben. Although they are both accomplished outdoorsmen, more importantly they are devoted husbands, fathers and men who love the Lord.
Other activities/interests: My wife and I enjoy our church, relationships with dear friends, and the trips to Italy that we have been blessed to take.
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