Written By: Priscilla Burr | Content Manager
Photos By: David Nehrig | CSUS National Director
Every spring, a group of Christian Surfers groms (ages 14 to 17) venture to Nicaragua for a Surf Mission Trip. The seven-day all-boys trip is the first time many of them travel without their parents. Under the guidance of CS staff members, the groms participate in skate outreaches in San Juan del Sur and serve a local church in Popoyo.
While the groms enjoy surfing local breaks, the heart of the trip is to grow groms into leaders and empower them to share their testimonies. For Jacob Batts, it was a reminder that he can be a leader to people around him.
“We were reading through James, and the theme was being leaders,” says Jacob. “It has inspired me to lead in my youth group and younger groms. The time strengthened me spiritually and mentally.”
Jacob is a junior in high school and has been a part of the Surf City chapter in North Carolina for more than two years. In April, he was one of over a dozen groms who traveled to Nicaragua on the Surf Mission Trip.
“I saw the YouTube video of last year’s trip pop up. I watched it, and it looked super sick,” says Jacob.
In previous years, Jacob participated in mission trips to Central America with his local church and CS chapter. Every time Jacob participated in a mission trip, he said it gave him a new perspective.
“It’s a reality check of how grateful we should be and not to take for granted what God has given us in the U.S.,” he says.
Although Jacob has been on several mission trips, this was the first time traveling overseas without his parents. A few days before the trip left, Jacob flew to California to spend a few days with David and Amy Nehrig (the National Directors of Christian Surfers United States) and their family. Then, David, Tripp (David’s son) and Jacob, with a group of groms from the West Coast, flew to Nicaragua.
A Glimpse of the Week
Their first day (April 21) was filled with traveling – from California to Panama and Panama to Managua. After arriving, they waited in the airport for groms flying in from the East Coast. The group then took a two and a half hour taxi ride to San Juan del Sur. The first leg of their trip was serving alongside Ride Nature.
The next day, after an early morning surf session, they partnered with Ride Nature to host a few different local skate outreach events. “We got to go out there and skate with a bunch of local kids. It was fun,” says Jacob.
The following day, the group traveled to Popoyo, a well-known surf destination, where they served at The Way Church for the remainder of the trip. “We traveled about two and a half hours to the church, where we helped move a playground and beautify it,” adds Jacob.
Every morning started with an early surf session, followed by a devotional time. From there, the group would head to The Way Church to help with a playground project – breaking up and laying concrete, digging and filling holes, and moving 60 wheelbarrows of dirt. Their efforts were to move the existing play set to a new location.
Sharing Testimonies
The day before they flew back home, the team went to The Way Church to attend the Sunday service. Three of the groms shared their testimonies, and the others helped with children’s church. The team narrated a Bible story with puppets and talked about the Armor of God. They also made balloons of swords and helmets. “It was fun seeing them playing with the balloons,” adds Jacob.
Before flying out, the team got one final surf session in. Then, they headed back home, to the West and East Coasts of the United States.
“It was cool meeting a bunch of the groms and getting to know them,” says Jacob. “Usually when I am on trips, it’s with older people. Having a dedicated groms’ trip was super sick. It was really neat having the opportunity to connect with kids my age.”
Bringing Up Leaders
Every day, the group would have a devotion that was 30 minutes. The devotionals were out of the book of James and centered around the theme of “Bringing Up Leaders.”
Then, groms would take turns sharing their testimonies. “There were two groms who would share a testimony. It was cool hearing other groms’ testimonies and what people were going through, and sharing mine as well. It was my first time sharing in front of a group,” says Jacob.
Jacob adds that sometimes, going on a mission trip, when something goes wrong or is not planned, it can be difficult to focus on the bigger picture. “I would get into my own head. I had to remind myself to look at the bigger picture. Whether I had a bad session or didn’t get any waves, I shouldn’t let it ruin my trip. I should be stoked that I am in a different country and just remember why I am there.”
And for those interested in attending a Surf Mission Trip, he says it’s important to make sure your heart is in the right place before you go.
“If someone is contemplating going on a trip, they should be there to serve and see the surfing as a bonus,” says Jacob. “Don’t prioritize surfing as the main purpose. We are there to help, learn some stuff and connect with others.”
Join a Trip in 2026
Next year’s groms trip will be for both girls and guys. To learn more about Surf Mission Trips or to find out more information on next year’s trip, click here.