FROM OUR NATIONAL DIRECTOR
The Christian Surfers International Gathering is done and dusted. To say it was an incredible time would be the understatement of the year. Roughly 270 people from 28 nations gathered in one location was absolutely unreal. We scored epic waves, ate great food, and worshipped our God in all kinds of languages.
Dennis Leon’s messages challenged us all in so many ways. He challenged me to fall in love with Jesus more, and from that love of Jesus, let it spill over to others. Alex Reynolds, our other keynote speaker, was incredible, too. He showed photos of perfect waves and asked the crowd of 250 to guess where they were. Nobody got them right. Turns out, these world-class waves break in places we never expected… and many don’t yet have Christian Surfers there. Alex drove it home. These are opportunities to be sent out, to live the call, and bring the gospel through surfing.
We also had equipping workshops—Surfers Bible, Groundswell Aid, Surf Church Collective, etc. But to my surprise, even the ‘boring’ Governance Workshop was packed. Amy and I attended this one. That was so cool to see, because growth requires good governance, clear roles, and strong teams. The hunger to learn in those areas proves Christian Surfers is in a healthy place.
To top it all off, one of our local CS guys got baptized on the last day. It was such a joy to be a part of the week. We got to see God’s hand moving all over the world.
I am fired up to continue to see the US be a key part of this movement of surfers.
DAVID NEHRIG | CSUS NATIONAL DIRECTOR
LATEST NEWS
Surfathon | October 25 to 31
We’re gearing up for this year’s Surfathon with The Surfers Bible Project. This year, we are raising funds to print more Bibles in English and to start production of the Spanish version.
Click this link to Sign Up under your local chapter, as an individual, or start your own team!
Photos for CSUS Magazine
We are looking for content for our annual magazine, social media, and more! If you have pictures you would like to submit, reach out to Leason Dancaescu. Start a new folder and rename it to your First and Last name!
REGIONAL UPDATES
CS East Coast Girls
When it comes to the Jacksonville, Florida, Chapter, things tend to slow down a bit during the summer. Our chapter mostly consists of college students who head home for the summer or pick up internships. Even though things have been slow, we’ve had a great time spending quality time with the few members who have stayed local for the summer! We’ve had surf nights filled with less than mediocre surf, but above-average pizza, and testimonies that have reached surfers’ hearts who have been looking for the truth!
We’re stoked for school to start back up and for the rest of our Family to return!
CS West Coast Girls
Our annual West Coast Girls Campout just took place the beginning of June! Here are some amazing highlights! There were over 50 girls attending from all different chapters, and of all different ages! A testimony, and gospel message were shared over the two nights. A handful of girls heard the gospel for the first time! They received bibles too. yew! Thats what it’s all about!
Gulf Coast Region
Sister Surf Camp
The annual sister surf camp was once again a huge success! This event is planned, organized, and run fully by the female leadership of the Pensacola chapter, with support and input from the whole leadership team. Over the past few years we have seen this event again and again not only introduce new females to surfing through an encouraging training and female-centered devotional time, but also help to train, encourage, and raise up new female leaders in the local chapter and surf community!
New Chapter Interest
We have been so encouraged to be receiving inquiries from all over the Gulf about local chapters and starting a new chapter in their local surf community! We have received interest from Destin, 30A, and Panama City, Florida, as well as Alabama and Texas! If you are interested in joining a local chapter or being a part of a chapter launch or leadership team please reach out to our Gulf Coast Regional Coordinator at leason.d@christiansurfers.
Southeast Region
The St. Augustine chapter has had an incredible summer of surf nights down at the beach. The Lord continues to move in a powerful way as we saw close to a dozen baptisms over the summer. The team has also had several amazing partnerships including the Summer Slam Log Jam and an international Surf & Serve to El Salvador with Colonial Church. Summer might be ending but there is still so much to come as we wrap up summer and head into the fall.
Daytona Beach has been meeting at Dahlia Beach Park on the third Saturday of each month to pop up the tent and host a bible study on the beach. Throughout the rest of the month the team spends time surfing and praying over several other local spots like Ponce Inlet and the Main Street area.
Jacksonville has also been hosting their surf nights between Neptune Beach and the Poles, the chapter has a heavy presence of college students so during the summer a lot of their chapter crew is traveling or home for the summer. Join us in praying for them as they get ready to welcome everyone back for the semester.
We are continuing to pray for Fort Pierce as we move towards a chapter starting there, pray for the leaders in the area and for God to raise up more surfers with hearts to reach the lineup!
Northeast Region
The Myrtle Beach Chapter is working toward planting a chapter in Garden City & launched a groms Bible study using the Surfer’s Guide to Faith
CS Wrightsville Beach is now CS Cape Fear & is serving the local community with joy, while their ladies group continues to grow.
The Surf City chapter stays crazy solid in fellowship & service to their community & on mission locally & globally while praying over how to plant a chapter along the Crystal Coast.
CS Frisco demonstrates what it means to be faithful! Posting up on the beach & reaching so many locals & vacationers alike.
CS Kill Devil Hills is in a sweet season of stretching and growing. Their partnership with FCA and Surf Church OBX has been beautiful to watch.
CS Virginia Beach continues to amaze as they serve the VB surf community through their active presence on the beach & involvement in service projects regularly.
CS Manasaquan has so many rad members that represent Jesus well in the lineup and in their communities. Stoked to see the depth of love for Jesus and each other.
CS Lake Michigan posts up at various beaches on the Michigan side of the lake & creatively points people to the solution for a new life in Christ in word and deed.
Some areas to pray for are developing chapters in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as well as inland potential in Raleigh, North Carolina. It would be incredible to see leaders step up in the DelMarVa region. The New England states are ripe for a CS presence. New York & New Jersey are wide-open mission fields. Please pray that the Lord of the harvest would raise servants to lead the charge into new surf communities for Jesus!
Northwest Region
There have been some exciting things happening in the Northwest region. On August 14th, the Montara Chapter, which is located about 20 minutes south of San Francisco, officially launched. About 30 people gathered and celebrated the chapter’s first night. Although it’s been about 6 months since the core leadership crew started meeting up regularly, preparing and getting ready to start, a lot of the leaders have been praying for something to happen for years. It made the start of this chapter even more special. At the launch party, a highlight was one of our grom leaders sharing a powerful God moment, and it was incredible to see him step out in boldness—a beautiful glimpse of what God is already stirring here. We’re stoked to now be gathering every Thursday and can’t wait to see how God will use this group to reach surfers all throughout the area.
Southwest Region
Summer is in full swing, and chapters in the Southwest are booming. There is interest in starting new chapters in Dana Point and Goleta, with leadership teams forming. We are hoping to start slow with solid leadership teams to create longevity and fight against burnout through shared responsibility and vision.
Nina, West Coast Girls Coordinator, has been working hard on her For the Girls surf contest. This contest has major traction and will be held in Carlsbad in September. The contest gathers girls from throughout the region in an all-girls surf off at Tamarack Beach sponsored by Monster Energy.
The Oceanside discipleship house called The Launchpad has six amazing guys locked in for at least the next six months. The Launchpad Shapes program is coming to an end. All six groms have sent their newly shaped surfboards to the glasser to be finished. One of the young men gave his life to the Lord during the LPS time. His whole family went to church for the first time in over ten years. Cheyne and Solveig have made a major move into the bottom portion of The Launchpad and will be living there long term. They will be portioning off another section of the house to begin Launchpad Girls. Three girls will move in and begin the same long-term discipleship program, bringing more life to the region and CS Girls.