sábado, 31 de março de 2012

Hawaiian Season




A short-term missions team from Brazil, Peru, the Canary Islands, Australia and Japan joined with North Shore churches for a low key mission to the visiting surfers.

Andy Carruthers from Australia worked with Eric Arakawa and says, "The mission team worked together well, praying each weekday morning at Waimea Bay, then heading out to the surf spots, contests and hangouts to connect with people of their own cultures. We were stoked to see many from the local churches connect with us as well and say how they were inspired to rediscover the world mission opportunity that comes to their shores each winter."

Pecas and Muelas report that they gave out many Spanish and French Surfers Bibles and led a couple of surfers to Christ.

Ken and Satoshi similarly befriended many Japanese exchanging details and passing on gospel material.

Brazilian Sergio and his wife Carly were also inspired, making connections with Brazilians and launching their surf school project to impact the local North Shore area.

We hope to offer a longer term outreach in conjunction with the 2012 International Conference from November 9 to Christmas.

If you have a heart for befriending travelling surfers and sharing the gospel with them and could do it for up to 6 weeks next year please contact us.


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Vanuatu Beginnings




Pacific Regional Coordinator Gordy Webb has just returned from his second visit to Vanuatu. He was delighted to discover that his first visit, which introduced him to many surfers and sowed the notion of a surf ministry, has continued to grow and an indigenous leadership team is emerging. While there he and his wife Jean engaged in a beach clean up and held some surfing lessons, while also instructing the locals on how to give surfing lessons. Gordy was also able to teach the CS Foundations Training course at the local church.


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Philippines Mission Trip




Queensland CS leader Jordan Merry took four 16 year olds on a surf trip combined with a visit to Compassion ministries in the Philippines. "We saw 8-10 people in a family, living in a little shack," Jordan said. "It felt hopeless, but they were happy and appreciated what they had. It really lifted our spirits to see them happy." Jordan said the home visits had had a life-changing impact on the young surfers. "The boys learnt to really appreciate what they have," he said. A great example of a holiday with purpose. More details and a blog from the trip can be found at http://destinationcloudnine.tumblr.com/.


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Africa Developments




Roy Harley reports, "The Surfers Bibles finally made it to Liberia and have been used by a missionary there with the small surf community. Super stoked about the church plant in Mauritius by a missionary family who all surf! Reunion will need prayer as Sean Regan feels his time has come to an end there. Morocco continues to face many challenges, keep praying for Mark and family. We are stoked to have 6 new interns starting tomorrow for our new look 5-month internship program!" Check out the new look Christian Surfers South Africa website and make sure to keep up with the "When a Surfer Gets Saved" series!

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CSI Prayer Calendar and Groundswell Magazine




Our annual Prayer Calendar has been distributed globally to all our missions. Contact your national leader or CSI if you would like a copy. Similarly, the Groundswell Magazine is out and is available for the first time in Spanish as well!


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International CSI Partners Events 2012





You can hear from CS International Director Brett Davis and others at upcoming partner events in Cape Town, South Africa April 20th, in the UK May 24th, and in Sydney October 13th with others potentially in the works! Contact us for more information.

terça-feira, 29 de novembro de 2011

Changed Life: Andres Rosas




Five years ago a surfer from Lima, Peru named Andres Rosas regularly attended Tablistas Para Cristo (CS) meetings. Andres had given his life to Jesus but was struggling with things of the world and did not have a solid relationship with the Lord. All was seemingly well until he almost lost his life in a car accident coming back from a CS surf trip south of Lima.

Thankfully the Lord was watching over him and he survived, but the accident changed his life. Andres was near death and God spoke to his heart, showing him he had to make a radical commitment to to the Lord. Soon after that Andres was able to open a local restaurant along with some friends, and together they began to speak of Jesus to the poor kids in the area. Thus the Alto Peru chapter of Christian Surfers was born.

During the last few years CS Alto Peru has experienced many challenges, including one of the leaders, Mico's, death as a result of cancer, young people walking away from the Lord, problems, personal conflicts, etc. But God has been good, and has sent people to continue His work. From Friday to Sunday Andres opens his restaurant to prepare delicious Peruvian dishes to his customers, but on Tuesday and Saturday nights the local grommets come together to study and talk about Jesus. Who would have thought, a Christian Surfers restaurant!



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Surfing in Morocco




There is a great organisation ready to set you up with the best waves and help you connect with local people in Morocco. Mark at Kai Shapes has set up www.surfinginmorocco.com for surf tours, coaching and boards. They are a long established company, employing local people and sharing their lives with them. CSI sent Roy Harley and Phil Williams there last year and Mark attended the European Leaders Conference this year. Support them any way you can.



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Christian Surfers Canada




Christian Surfers Canada is now an official association in Halifax, Nova Scotia and registered and approved with the Canadian government. They have a great leadership team with seven people including Bridget Turner as Director and National Contact. Bridget says, "I've got a great crew that has some great ideas and loves to reach out to the surf community." The team is well supported by Stoneridge Fellowship Baptist Church and meet regularly for food, fellowship and Bible study. The summer schedule was full of outreach events and surfing on the local beaches. We look forward to Canada becoming an official emerging nation in 2012.


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terça-feira, 27 de setembro de 2011

Uma surpresa em cada onda

Lembro-me como se fosse ontem, ainda na era “pré-internética”, a expectativa de cada
novo amanhecer. Na verdade, tudo começava na sexta-feira, após uma semana de estudos e trabalho, aproximava-se a tão esperada hora…Pegar uma carona ou o carro, sozinho ou de preferência com algum brother, e “descer” a serra, rumo ao litoral. Esta foi e é minha realidade e de mais algumas centenas de surfistas de São Paulo, do Brasil e mundo afora.

A parafina de côco, a prancha triquilha devidamente acomodada numa capa, uma cordinha extra, chave de quilha, protetor solar, uma toalha já gasta pelo tempo, algumas bermudas, óculos de sol, etc…, e muito, muito “apetite” por ondas...

Estes são alguns dos ingredientes de uma boa surftrip de final de semana. No carro aquele som maneiro e o pára-brisa ligado. Frente fria chegando do sul e a expectativa
de altas ondas a caminho.

EXPECTATIVA!!!! Esta é a palavra.

Acho que nada define melhor o surf do que a expectativa de pegar altas ondas!!!

E só quem surfa sabe ao pé da letra o que isto significa. Quantas vezes, ainda escuro, fui checar as condições do mar e fiquei surpreso com os melhores mares da minha vida, quando nem imaginava que teria boas ondas.

Como é bom sentir a adrenalina correr pelas veias diante do inesperado!

Quando descobri a Palavra de Deus senti a mesma sensação inesperada de ser surpreendido, só que de uma forma muito mais “irada”, sempre que leio as histórias deste grande livro da Vida!

Muitas vezes, até aparentemente sem esperar muito, ao me deparar com as experiências de homens e mulheres como nós, apenas separados por um lapso de tempo, me surpreendo como o próprio Criador fala em meu coração em cada palavra, em cada linha. São passagens que vem direto ao encontro das mais profundas necessidade e anseios da alma, como um poderoso backwash, jogando para cima todos os medos e nos fazendo refletir para qual direção de fato corre a onda certa!

Passados muitos anos, ainda continuo a me surpreender quando mesmo com toda tecnologia de previsão das ondas pela internet, chego na praia e o mar está ESPETACULAR, muito além do previsto.

Faço um desafio a você! Quando você abrir este livro, abra também seu coração e mente e descubra como eu e tantos outros brothers e sisters pelo mundo afora, se surpreendem ao ler o conteúdo maravilhoso da mensagem Daquele que nos criou e tudo o que no mundo há; inclusive as ONDAS!!!

Acredito que sua vida nunca mais será a mesma e quem sabe, algum dia destes, não
nos encontramos surfando o melhor mar de nossas vidas… pois ele com certeza virá!!!

Nos encontramos no outside....


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