Americas Conference
July 23-27 at Sunzal, El Salvador some 70 leaders from 10 nations attended the first Americas Leadership Conference. Worship, training, reports, strategy and the building of relationships were key. A great 6'-8' swell also turned on Punta Roca. Special thanks to the amazing organization and hospitality by Salvador Castellanos and team.
| Portugal Surfers Church
After growing the surfers Bible study and with added motivation from Buck Waters, Zaca Soveral is stoked to be pioneering a 'surfers church' plant in Lisbon. They have great inroads to both the surf media and industry through Zaca's coaching and writing. They will be hosting the chaplain to the Rip Curl Search WCT Men's event as well as offering hospitality there in September.
| Japan 10th Anniversary
We celebrate the 10th Japanese CS National Conference on September 19-20. David and Shinko Levey have been so faithful there and it's great to see Mori, Oka and Yuya as their three Japanese regional leaders and part of the national team. With over 1.5 million surfers and less than 0.3% of the population Christian, this is the worlds largest unreached surfing population. Stoked to see the combined CS/Walking on Water mission there again this year.
| Son Surf J-Bay Outreach
Son Surf South Africa hosted a dream run in July at the Billabong Pro in J-Bay with great chaplaincy, Walking on Water movie premiere (with Tom Curren showing up to play music) and the Son Surf mission base full of activity and people. Check out a great recap video here.
| El Salvador Property
Having grown from one mission to four this past year, and the founding mission outgrowing its premises, the CS El Salvador team felt that it was time to own their own base. A property at El Tunco Beach has been purchased and foundations laid for a base. Mission teams are now being recruited to come build.
| Jesus Pro Am - Australia
With some added sponsorship via partnership with the Bible Society, CS Australia's long-standing Jesus Pro Am has grown to a three-contest series. The first in Manly in May, followed by Coffs Harbour in August with Wollongong coming up in November. Great media coverage, excellent local church backing and live streaming have all contributed to an amazing 24th year of running, with even bigger plans already in place for next year. Check out videos and photos here and stay tuned for live-streaming from Wollongong in November.
| NZ National Conference
Foz and the crew are stoked to be hosting their 25th National Conference at Raglan, Oct 24-25. Foz is also amped to have moved into his new house just out of town. They have recently secured funding for distributing the Surfers Bible in key surfer accommodation throughout the nation.
| US Prep School
Some 15 under-18 East Coasters attended the second CSUS Prep School at Cape Hatteras in August. Designed to train up the emerging hot crop of CS groms in sharing their faith, Dean Plumlee reports that whilst the waves were small, the groms were big on fun and developing their faith. Check out photos, video and more info here.
| Costa Rica ISA World Games Hospitality
After 3 years as the Costa Rican Surf Federation team chaplain, Coky has also been invited to join the Board of Directors. With Costa Rica hosting the ISA World Surfing Games in July-August, CS had its biggest opportunity ever. "We had a team of about 20 who provided water, helped with security, served the judges and mixed with the 35 national teams throughout the week of the Games, it was just amazing to connect." Already Surfing NZ have invited CSNZ to help them at next years ISA World Junior Games.
| Peru Chaplaincy
After the impact of CS Costa Rica at the ISA World Surfing Games, the team from Tablistas Para Cristo (CS Peru) have approached Surf Federation of Peru to offer chaplaincy to their teams. This is groundbreaking for CS and 'Muelos' and John Chuman are keen to see chaplaincy penetrate all levels of their amateur association.
| Changed Life - James Gordon
CS Australia are currently doing a series of reunions of former leaders and members. Last Saturday September 12 we reconnected with James Gordon, now 44 in Adelaide, South Australia. As a surf mad 15-year-old James was surfing his favourite break 'Gulls' when a group of five guys paddled out much to his dismay. He was surprised at how friendly they were and they invited him to a Christian Surfers camp. Having come from a religious school, James assumed himself a Christian, "I never fitted the church scene and it was amazing when I met Christian Surfers, I met people like me. However, I soon realized they had something more than I had, in their love for Jesus and one another and I came to Christ as a result." James became a leader in the mission back in the 80's, got to travel Australia with CS National Conferences and brought others along. Now happily married with two girls, working as a teacher, serving in his church and still surfing, James related his changed life story to all. "Those were some of the best days of my life and the friendships forged have stayed with me today. I am so thankful to God and to CS."
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