2024 Christian Surfers Magazine // Vol. IV

SURFERS United States

CSUS VOL. IV // 2024 WINTER & SPRING EDITION // SEND IT

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IN THIS ISSUE 4 14 22 24 26 32 34 36 38

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CSUS Regions CS Girls OBX National Gathering Maui Fire Update Surf & Serve Trips Foundations Training CSUS Mission Summary Meet Our Team Surfers Bible Project

LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR Dear CS family, When was the last time you looked down a monster wave that was way out of your comfort zone? The wind blowing up the face and everything within you wanting to pull back. Your internal warning signals screaming at you “don’t go, you are not going to make it!” In that split second, you send it and drop down the monster’s face.

As we reflect on 2023, we spent the year staying in the pocket, staying right in the power source of God. We were careful to not outrun the pocket, go ahead of God, and not get caught behind the pocket, getting off track of where God wants us.

This year we want to focus on “Send It!” Send It is a surf term we use a lot when a big set wave is coming and you just push yourself over the lip.

As a ministry, we want to challenge each of us to “Send it!” What does that look like for you and me? Maybe it’s sharing our faith with someone in the water. Maybe it’s taking a step of faith and sending it on a trip with CS or another organization, where you are going to be stretching your faith. Perhaps it’s inviting someone to church, or it could be just paddling out on a bigger day than you are comfortable and catching one of the bigger waves.

The Bible is full of people who just sent it. If we think about Jonathan or Caleb; both of these godly men had the confidence in who God had made them to be and the promises he had made - and they sent it. At 85 years old, Caleb stood at the foot of the mountain and a huge battle and said let’s go take that mountain.

Joshua 14:10-11 “The LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years ... so here I am today, eighty-five years old!” (14:10a) “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.”

(14:11) As an organization, our prayer and mission is that every surfer and every surfing community come to know Jesus. May each of you send it this year to the harvest.

Send It!

David Nehrig

CSUS National Director

Photo // Joshua Ramirez

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CSUS REGIONS

CSUS CHAPTERS WEST COAST • • • • • • • • • • •

Cardiff, CA Carlsbad, CA Huntington Beach, CA Point Loma, CA Oceanside, CA Pacific Beach, CA San Clemente, CA Santa Cruz, CA South Bay, CA San Francisco, CA Ventura, CA

MID ATLANTIC • • • • • • • •

CURRENTLY DEVELOPING

• •

GULF COAST •

Pensacola, FL

CURRENTLY DEVELOPING

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Orange Beach, AL Clearwater, FL

Manasquan, NJ Outer Banks, NC Surf City, NC Virgina Beach, VA Wrightsville Beach, NC Myrtle Beach, SC Lake Michigan, MI Cape Hatteras, NC

Long Island, NY Emerald Isle, NC

HAWAII • •

North Shore, Oahu, HI South Shore, Oahu, HI

SOUTHEAST & FLORIDA • • • • • •

Daytona Beach, FL Jacksonville, FL New Smyrna Beach, FL Orlando, FL St. Augustine, FL Jupiter, FL

CURRENTLY DEVELOPING

• • •

Charleston, SC Tallahassee, FL Ponce Inlet, FL

INTERESTED IN STARTING A CHAPTER?

Get in touch with a Regional Director in your area.

STOKE REPORT Larry Garrett Hawaii Regional

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he paradise islands of Hawaii continue to be an amazing destination spot for the world and for surfers. Hawaii as a CS region currently has two chapters running, with a new staff member also developing relationships in Maui. Our North and South shores in Oahu continue to meet and do outreach in our beach communities both weekly and monthly.

Surfing in Hawaii is a cultural way of life and people don’t typically gather in large groups to surf. Churches are filled with surfers who naturally have the heart to share Jesus with their friends and ohana (family). With this in mind, our model, compared to some of the mainland models, has been tweaked to make an impact for our region.

This hasn’t changed our heart to expand to other shorelines or islands to share our love of Jesus and surfing with others. It simply means we need to adapt in a way that can reach the people of Hawaii. It is clear that networking in Hawaii is super important and people rely on these connections to make a difference and serve. Speaking of making a difference…Christian Surfers has been running strong now for three years in Hawaii!

We have launched a few ongoing partnerships and as always are looking to make some new ones as we go. AccessSurf and One More Wave are stellar organizations that give back to those in our community who really need to be poured into on a regular basis. As they reach out to our adaptive surfers and the veterans of Hawaii, we continue supplying them with anyone who wants to join in and make an impact.

One new partnership that has grown since last year is with Revolution Hawaii (RevHI). The heartbeat of CS Hawaii and RevHI are so closely knitted together that it makes sense to work together to impact our islands with the gospel.

RevHI continues to support our North and South Shore chapters with interns that are being trained in discipleship and our future is stoked with vision. In January 2024, we will be launching our first ever Christian Surfers Hawaii internship collaboration. Revolution Hawaii has been training and making disciples for 17 years on Oahu and have their program nailed down. CS Hawaii gets to add specific training programs like: Surfing with a Purpose, CS Foundations Training, CS Chapter Leading, and Practical Outreach and Evangelism.

We are stoked for this opportunity and ask for your support through prayer and spreading the word about our new up and coming program. Christian Surfers Hawaii as a region has so much to offer our Christian Surfers Ohana, for both the United States and Internationally, as a destination location. We invite you to come and experience our aloha as one united Ohana.

Photos // Leason Dancaescu

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STOKE REPORT Leason Dancaescu Gulf Coast Regional

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his past year has been an awesome time of ministry, partnerships, outreach, and stoke along the Gulf Coast. It has been an amazing season of service, outreach, consistency, and growth. This summer the Pensacola chapter served the ever-growing female surf community with the first of a planned annual event, “Sister Surf Camp.” Partnering with local surf shops, Innerlight and Waterboyz, Sister Surf Camp served over 75 women of all ages and gave them a day of surf, encouragement, fellowship, and a biblical message - all provided by female members of the CS Pensacola family. With female participation in surfing or surf related activities at an all time high, the interest in events like “Sister Surf” shows how important female specific surf outreach and ministry has become and will continue to be in the future.

Another amazing and impactful ministry and service event was 3:18 Deaf Community Surf Camp. This event is evidence that when we follow the Lord’s direction and step out of our comfort zone, big wins for the Kingdom happen! Partnering with FCA Action Sports, Christian Surfers, Upper Room Church, and 3:18, members from CS Gulf Coast held a oneday clinic serving the deaf community in Pensacola, Florida. More than 75 people enjoyed a perfect day filled with sunshine, waves, and time dedicated to understanding the love of Christ through the gospel presented through the FOUR. The volunteers learned some signs to communicate and interpreters were on hand to facilitate the message. It was a truly epic day, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside such amazing partners!

This year’s all male surf & serve trip to Panama was an absolutely epic time of intentionality with the local crew in Santa Catalina. Our theme for this trip was Seasonality - how in our lives, our ministries, and our chapters, we all go through seasons. We honed in on the idea that to get to a season of growth, we must first go through seasons of pruning and then consistency. Our theme verse for this trip was John 15:5-6 (the vine and the branches). We spent our evening times together with the local Panamanian surfers discussing how we can best navigate through these seasons of pruning and consistency to get to that season of growth. Please be praying for the crew in Santa Catalina as they continue to plan out small group meetings to serve the kingdom in their community. If it is God’s will, there may even be a CS chapter planted there in the future! YEW! We are truly blessed here along the Gulf Coast and extremely thankful for the opportunity to reach our local surf communities with the gospel. We are extremely excited at the potential growth of ministry across the coast, with the Tallahassee chapter in progress for launch and concrete interest received in the communities of Coastal Alabama, 30A/ Panama City Beach, FL, and Galveston, TX. Please join us in praying for these communities as God continues to move and bring more people into his kingdom from the surf community.

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Photos // Leason Dancaescu

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STOKE REPORT Kyle Sullivan

Northeast/Mid Atlantic Regional

The mid Atlantic is growing! Looking back on 2023, we saw a new chapter launch in Michigan, an official application for a chapter launch in Long Beach, NY, is in the works, and a probable chapter relaunch is brewing in Emerald Isle, NC. It is amazing to see how God is using people all over the region to reach surfers with the life changing message of Jesus.

Existing chapters have continued to exemplify Jesus through their service at charity surf events like Life Rolls On, surf contests, hosting the National Campout, and the Colonel Classic. Not to mention the regular fellowship and intentional growth that occurs weekly/monthly in all the chapters from NJ to Myrtle Beach.

We are excited to see the Lord continue to grow each chapter, expand His influence in surfing, and bring opportunities for ministry in new surfing communities up and down the Mid Atlantic region. Let’s pray for Maryland to Maine more intentionally that God would lay on hearts of Christians who surf, the desire to start a chapter in an area where the gospel is desperately needed.

Photo // Emily Benedetto

Photo // Emily Benedetto

Photo // Josh Schieffer

Photo // Nate Ennis

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STOKE REPORT Jacob Galura

Southeast Coast/East FL Regional

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his year in the Southeast region was an exciting one! There was so much happening throughout the year, starting off with Surf Expo in January. We were blessed to partner with Ride Nature to have a combined booth at the show.

The team spent the week meeting people from around the industry and building relationships. Multiple people came up to the booth and got more information about CS, and we are praying that some of those individuals will eventually try to start chapters in their towns.

Next was the annual Surf & Serve to the Dominican Republic. We had an incredible team that represented three different chapters. We had leaders from Jupiter and St. Augustine here in Florida, and our team co-leader was MidAtlantic Regional Coordinator Kyle Sullivan from Wrightsville Beach. We spent the week in partnership with Niños de la Luz working around the property to renovate some of the buildings. We ended the week having all the boys and the tios (mentors) down to the team house for a cookout and pool party.

Spring brought warm water and our Florida Regional Campout down at Ponce Inlet. This event had been missed the last couple of years, but thanks to the awesome work of Christian Grimm our Regional Intern for the semester, we were able to see the campout happen again with nearly every chapter in Florida represented, and more than fifty people gathered to surf and fellowship together for the weekend in some pretty fun wedging surf!

Summer time was the usual slam-packed season for the chapters, many of which moved their meetings back to the beach to take full advantage of the later sunsets and warm water. We saw Jacksonville continue their summer surf camp series, Jupiter, New Smyrna, St. Augustine and Daytona serving at multiple surf contests along the coast, and another church partnership mission trip to El Salvador with Colonial Church in St. Augustine.

We are also super excited to see our own Gracie Stack from the St. Augustine chapter join the National Team this year.

She has stepped into the communications role and brought her amazing history with CS to a new level - serving not just her local chapter but the rest of the country as well!

Please be praying with us as we have three areas we are working on developing into strong chapters. Orlando has made strides and built their leadership team, and now they are working to create their strategy for meeting as a group.

Our Charleston chapter is primed for a fresh restart as the Lowco Surf Club and will continue the work of CS in the Charleston area after a season of inactivity. Finally we have Tallahassee. This area has an amazing group of young adults with a huge heart for Jesus and surfing. They are working to build their team and come up with ideas to stay engaged as an inland chapter, and also reach out to the FSU college community and the large surf club on campus. Please pray for these areas that God would go before them, open doors for more leaders to come alongside them, and for opportunities to serve in the community.

Photos // Reed Burr

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Photo // Reed Burr

Photo // Jacob Galura

Photo // Reed Burr

Photo // Brittany Brown

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STOKE REPORT Cheyne Jobbins West Coast Regional

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t has been an incredible year for the West Coast region. We had an exciting new chapter start up in Point Loma, CA. This year’s third Foundations Training down in Baja was amazing, with new young leaders from many different chapters coming to be poured into to learn how to be better leaders.

Something very exciting is Mikayla Alahuzos coming on Christian Surfers staff as the new Northwest Regional Coordinator - cutting the region of California in half and creating more opportunity for closer in depth relationship with the chapters up north.

We have had great partnerships with local churches connected to their chapters, more unity as chapters are connecting and working together, and overall better organization and health. We have had tons of events including the Coldwater campout, international mission trips, a Worship and Vision Night, surf contests, and much more.

Most importantly, the gospel was shared hundreds of times to surfers and surfing communities through the local chapter meetings on a weekly basis up and down the coast. We can’t wait to see what God will do next year. It’s only getting better!

Photo // Christina Bumann

Photo // Joshua Ramirez

Photo // Solveig Jobbins

Photo // Maddie Malmsten

Photo // Christina Bumann

Photo // Joshua Ramirez

Photo // Solveig Jobbins

Photo // Joshua Ramirez

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STOKE REPORT Nina Coons

West Coast CS Girls

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S Girls West Coast has had some epic times this last year! The year was filled with awesome community and connection throughout the coast. During our annual West Coast girls road trip, we got to visit chapters from Huntington all the way up to San Francisco. It was awesome to see the pockets of female surfing communities that God has established.

These West Coast chapters are filled with women who love the Lord, love each other, and love adventure! There are two new chapters that launched this year with Point Loma and Montara being added. Both these chapters have amazing women’s leadership. It is so epic to see how there are women leaders at each chapter - inviting other women into community through surfing!

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STOKE REPORT Colbi King

East Coast CS Girls

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s we wrap up the second year of CS Girls, we can see that a strong foundation has been laid. From leading the second ever All Girls Surf & Serve and hosting the first ever All Girls Campout, to creating Journals that were written

by CS girls for CS Girls, we’re starting to get the hang of things.

More women entering the line up means more women entering our CS Chapters. These women now have the ability to be greeted by other women within the CS Chapter.

Not only are they no longer having to paddle out alone, but they’re no longer having to walk through their faith alone.

I’m excited for the groundwork that has been laid and for what next year looks like for us!

Photo // Christina Bumann

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Photos // Solveig Jobbins

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Photo // Christina Buman

Photo // Lanie Rogers

Photo // Terra Gillman

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CS GIRLS JOURNAL

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orking and praying on this Journal over this last year was such a joy and awesome experience. The vision behind it was to be an interactive devotional to bring women together in surfing communities and give them a safe space to grow deeper in their relationships with Jesus and each other.

The Verse that anchored us through it all was,

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 We pray the journal is a blessing to every girl who opens it and that Jesus would work through it to bring the girls surf community an opportunity to hear God’s voice, have a personal relationship with Him, and love each other like Christ loves us.

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Photo // ???

FAITHFUL Liz Kramer

Jacksonville, FL Chapter

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od is so faithful to call me out beyond my wildest dreams as well as my closest comforts. One of my sweetest friends and wisest mentors, Colbi, gave me the chance to do just that with a simple offer: “Liz, I want you to come with me on the girls’ mission trip to El Salvador!”

Although I didn’t feel qualified at first, it became apparent that God wanted a regular college student from Jax Beach, Florida, to proclaim His goodness to His daughters all the way in El Salvador. One night, I got the opportunity to share my testimony with our whole group of girls.

I had no intention of stepping out in this way, and I felt a lot of fear when I imagined sharing the unfiltered truth about my walk with Christ. But when I did, I found His push for me to be trusting, courageous, and vulnerable inspired by the trust, courage, and vulnerability of the girls listening to me. Being met with so many smiles, stories, and ‘me toos!’ showed me God’s faithfulness to bring blessing into the uncomfortable, and declaring His goodness through my testimony will remain one of my favorite memories from the whole trip.

Photo // Solveig Jobbins

Photo // Gracie Stack

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Photo // Solveig Jobbins

BONDED Sarah Stotz

Jacksonville, FL Chapter

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grew up with a brother and naturally became friends with a lot of guys. I was always super into sports, which meant I naturally gravitated towards having friends who were boys.

This very thing is what made my first CS mission trip that much more special. Last March, I went on an all-girls surf and share mission trip to El Salvador. Since I was in El Salvador and the same area the summer before, I was familiar with the area, but that trip had been just about surfing.

During the trip with CS, my goal was to make some sort of impact. However, I was the one that was impacted! I was surrounded by 14 other CS girls from all over the US and endless girls from El Salvador, each who embodied Christ in their own beautiful way. The El Salvador chapter opened their arms so wide when we arrived. I truly feel like I have a second family there now. On this trip I was able to share my testimony for the first time and grow with sisters in Christ, all while surfing (my favorite pastime). It was such a sick experience and I can’t wait to go on more trips in the future!

Photo // Terra Gillman

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OBX NATIONAL GATHERING Nash Atkins

Future CS Emerald Isle chapter

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found out about Christian Surfers through Grace Community Church when I reached out for some answers to questions I had. They put me in contact with Kyle Sullivan in Wrightsville Beach, and since then I’ve been looking for an opportunity to get involved. When I saw the OBX camp out through social media, I knew this was a great chance at fellowship and worship while enjoying God’s creation.

Daily, we’d wake up before sunrise in search of waves and after a couple hour session we’d regroup for lunch and our breakout sessions. Everything, from sharing the gospel with a surfer to the future of surfing, was covered in multiple breakout sessions and it was a great time for continued fellowship and networking with people from all over the country and even Peru. The whole camp (about 140 people) would gather together for dinner where you could find conversations about anything which was a great opportunity to meet new people. The staff did a great job at providing good food for everyone with plenty left over.

After dinner, we worshiped around the camp’s fire pit and enjoyed games hosted by the CS leadership. On Sunday, we attended the church across from the campground which had a great message and welcomed CS with open arms. I took something away from every single message given, and I think everyone saw God moving in one way or another. I walked away feeling way more secure in my walk and with a ton of new contacts. The campout was a great opportunity for me to focus solely on God and fellowship with like minded people. 10/10 recommend.

Photo // Leason Dancaescu

Photo // Reed Burr

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Photo // Reed Burr

Photo // Leason Dancaescu

Photo // Gracie Stack

Photo // Reed Burr

Photo // Nate Ennis

Photo // Leason Dancaescu

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MAUI FIRE UPDATE Emily Benedetto Outreach Coordinator

With about 2,170 acres that burned down in Lahaina and over 200 more in Kula, Maui has been in a state of survival and charging hard to get back on its feet. During the first month, the necessities of shelter, food, water and personal hygiene products were vastly distributed on island through personal and commercial boats, and churches everywhere opened their doors and arms to help as much as they could. My husband and I go to Calvary Chapel South Maui, and it was so amazing to be apart of a church that stepped up so quickly by sending out medical teams on the ground, boats and vehicles with tons of supplies, and additionally offering trauma counseling, prayer, financial assistance, and more, all within days after the fires swept through Lahaina and Kula. Many of you gave to the Maui Fire relief page that we set up with CSUS and those donations were sent to Calvary Chapel South Maui, New Hope Maui and New Life in Kahuku. These are churches that we have deep connections with in Hawaii, and they were all doing many amazing things for the people affected. Thank you for the impact and support we have received!

As a Maui resident myself, I immediately had a pull on my heart for the thousands of surfboards and equipment that were consumed in the fire. The acute need was food and shelter, but I knew that soon, these individuals would no longer be able to get in the water to heal or enjoy something that is just an essential part of life on the island. I prayed instantly that God would start to open some doors for partnerships on the island for a surfboard and equipment drive.

One month later, I got that call from a ministry partner on the island, asking if CSUS could help them out! There is a highly talented local couple (both are born and raised here on Maui) who are Christian shapers that make beautiful custom surfboards. They have a big heart for replacing not only their own boards that were burned, but also to provide others with custom boards and replace the gear that was lost, all in the name of Jesus!

It has been a blessing getting to know this family and to hear their hearts for the local surf community and all that God has done for them. This partnership is a long term project, but so far, we have received specific donations from CSUS to fund about 9 custom longboards! It is an amazing blessing to partner with a rad family that is shaping these free custom gifts while sharing the free gift of Jesus with these fire victims! We know that this season on Maui is a marathon, not a sprint, and the island will need continued prayers for years to come. Your prayers, donations and support are much appreciated and as Maui rebuilds, we are humbled and blessed to be a part of the efforts here on this island that God has called us to. If you are interested in hearing more about the efforts on Maui or want to help on a future trip, feel free to reach out to me or Larry! Mahalo nui loa!

Photo // Emily Benedetto

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Photos // Leason Dancaescu

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PANAMA SURF & SERVE Matthew MacLeod

Lake Michigan Chapter Leader

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loha! I am Matthew MacLeod, and I have the honor of being the Chapter Leader for Lake Michigan Christian Surfers. I am relatively new to Christian Surfers and found this great community through my wife, Laura, who told me about this massive, epic cross she saw that all these hard charging surfers had paddled out and formed. I was so intrigued by it that I spent significant time researching and meticulously dissecting this surfing community. Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant in the beginning given that I have been searching for many years to find my “Tribe.” I quickly turned to scripture and prayed to God to see if this was the answer to what I was searching for. In my prayers, God reminded me of Matthew 28:19-20: “Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

I decided to take the full plunge and send it! I signed up for my first ever mission trip to Panama with CS and went full throttle. Although I have traveled to many places all over the world, I was not sure what to expect from this type of trip. My first experience of traveling outside of my hometown in Michigan was when I was 18 years old and headed off to Parris Island in South Carolina. It was there that I started my journey of serving in the United States Marine Corps from 2002-2006 as an Infantry Marine where I experienced combat right on the front lines in Iraq.

My experiences in the Marines has had a significant impact on my life both in many positive and challenging ways at the same time. I went through some really dark times after the war and unfortunately let sin take over and control my life.

Over the last several years, I have been searching for a tribe of Jesus followers that are like minded and could understand a misfit like myself. For the longest time, I felt God leading me back to the waters and guiding his children from the beach to the church. This reminded me of the verse from Matthew 4:19: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

I went on the 2023 Panama Surf & Serve trip with 11 other amazing water walking Jesus surfers, and it truly changed my life! This trip showed me that I could be open with my faith and share my thoughts and prayers with men who truly understood me. It was like being welcomed to my long-lost family with open arms. The amount of love that I experienced on that surf trip was nothing like I have ever experienced before. Seeing the opportunity to devote my life to serving others through this community made me feel like I was earning my Marine Corps Eagle, Globe and Anchor all over again. We surfed and served the people in Panama where they showed so much Aloha and love that it made it hard to leave. After my Panama trip, the Lord guided me to tap into the untouched waters of the Great Lakes and share the vibe. We were blessed to have the Christian Surfers leadership visit Michigan and rip our beautiful glassy blues where they saw that our brains are not frozen from the lake ice and that our waves really are epic!

It is an honor to represent and serve God on Lake Michigan through this great community that I am so grateful to have found. We have a long road ahead, but I am committed to ensuring that every Lake Michigan surfer has the opportunity to know and follow Jesus.

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Photos // Leason Dancaescu

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EL SALVADOR RECAP Liz Lecomte

St. Augustine, FL Chapter

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t’s been over two months since my return from our Christian Surfers mission trip to El Salvador, but the mission and my heart for the mission is still with me. I’m already fundraising to go back next year to help Heaven Church build their church. We partnered with Heaven while there, along with my home church, Colonial Church in St. Augustine, FL. Throughout the journey, God unfolded miracles in every phase: preparations, the trip itself, and even afterward. My trust in God was tested and solidified, especially in the face of El Salvador’s extremes: the terrain, the driving, the people, and those extreme waves! As a surfer, I eagerly anticipated the waves, but more than that, I yearned to witness God’s hand at work.

The initial surf at Sunzal, a large right-hand point break, pushed me to my limits. A rare left-hander proved disastrous, leaving me wiped out and held under by relentless sets. Exhausted and fearful, I caught one in. That night, we surfed a heavy beach break, and I was afraid again. The message the Lord spoke to me was, “Do not fear.” I chose to believe that surely God didn’t bring me on this mission trip to die here.

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The next day we went to El Zonte, a beautiful right-hand point break with a tricky entry. We had to leap off rocks and paddle out! I watched a local surfer go in first and tried to follow her, but instead waited for a lull. I leapt, landing straight onto the rocks, hearing a crunch. I thought I’d broken my board, but it was just the fins. After making it out, I repeated to myself, “Do not fear.” Easier said than done. On my first attempt to duck dive a wave, I didn’t go deep enough, and it flipped me, dragging and holding me down. I relaxed until the wave released me, swimming back up to the surface, only to face another set. It pushed me down again, and struggling for air, I swallowed a ton of water. I surfaced, nearly puking, eyes filled with tears. The girl who I followed in kindly explained to me a “turtle roll” which I already knew, but had totally forgotten because of the fear. A friend later reminded me that fear can be healthy, guiding us to make wise decisions. Yet, there’s an unhealthy fear that paralyzes, making it hard to move and think clearly. It struck me that fear of those huge waves had stripped away my ability to surf; I’d forgotten everything except the paddling. With that reminder, I finally caught waves, surfed, and had a blast.

It’s amusing how, even before this trip, God had shown me the scripture: “Perfect love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:18).

God is perfect and God is love. I have God, so I can conquer all my fears. This trip has not only advanced my surfing skills but also my ability to share the message of Jesus. The words from Matthew 28:19-20 have taken on a deeper meaning for me - a call to go and make disciples of all nations, with the assurance that He is with us always, until the end of the age.

Photo // Leason Dancaescu

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EVERLASTING ROCK Christian Brugger CS Chapter Member

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ormally, when I’m planning a surf trip, usually the list goes something like this: board shorts, tropical wax, and a short prayer; “please Lord, don’t let it be flat.” Surf trip to Chile? Now that’s an altogether different beast. We’re talking cold water wax, 4/3 with a hood (seriously?), booties and a short (sacrilegious) prayer; “please Lord, don’t let it be too big.” The CS team of four guys and four gals met up in the airport in Santiago, and then drove south to the coastal town of Pichilemu, home to the YWAM Institute and the famous Punta de Lobos. The mission was to do construction work at the YWAM base and to surf the local breaks for 10 days. By day two our routine was set. Up before dawn, short walk or drive to one of three left point breaks; surf for 2 hours and head back to base for an awesome breakfast with Director Mitch Anderson’s family (including a healthy dose of banter and large quantities of coffee). Work started around 10am and didn’t stop until around 6pm. And on occasion, IF we had gas left in our tanks, there was an afternoon surf session before (one of many) empanada dinners.

The YWAM institute has many ministries, one of which is the Pura Vida Community Center. The center has an Olympic sized pool and full gym facility. Our job was to finish the bathrooms and showers for the gym. Work consisted of plumbing, tiling, grouting, building walls, painting and more! On the first weekend we even worked as timekeepers for a three-day National Swim meet hosted at the Center.

During one of our breakfast chats, Mitch described the purpose of the Pura Vida Center. His vision is to build up the center as a service to the community. A place where the local people can foster a healthy lifestyle but also a place where the gospel message is front and center. Meeting people where they are and pointing them to the truth of God’s word resonated with me, and it was a blessing for us to help make that vision more of a reality in the short time that we were there.

The closest break to the Pura Vida center is called Infiernillo (translated little hell). Surfline describes Infiernillo as “the region’s hidden gem. Often super-fast and verging on unmakeable…” The irony of a group of Christian Surfers heading out to surf literally in little hell was not lost on me. No question, we caught the best waves of the trip at Infiernillo; easily head to overhead 100-200 yard lefts that got your heart rate up either on the wave itself or the long paddle back against the current. However, for a humble east coast surfer, the most interesting part of Chile was the paddle out process (YouTube search: “entrada a punta de lobos” as an example). The Infiernillo paddle out came with a set of instructions that Cheyne (our fearless leader) explained: • • • •

Step one: Walk out over the rock reef to a channel.

Step two: Paddle across the channel against the current to a large rock to the left of the line up.

Step three: Grab onto the kelp that was attached to the rock and hold on to avoid being swept away as the set waves break over us.

Step four: Wait for a lull and then paddle like hell (I wondered if maybe that’s where the name came from?).

What an epic picture of Jesus and the unshakeable truth of his Word. Psalm 62 says: “He alone is my rock and my salvation…I shall not be moved.” The kelp anchored us to the rock and kept us from being swept away by the ocean currents. The Pura Vida Center anchors the community to the Truth of God’s word offering them salvation through Jesus. As individuals, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, so we can be “in the pocket” for what He has planned for us. As Christian Surfers, our call is to hold on to the Eternal Word of life rooted in the words of Jesus and to point others to the truth that “the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” Chile 2023 is one for the history books, but hopefully one of many opportunities for us to impact the surf community at a local and global level.

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Photos // Solveig Jobbins

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BOOT CAMP, NOT MOUNTAINTOP Carsten Castañeda

Foundations Training Participant

Nehemiah 6:9 “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, ‘Now strengthen my hands.”’

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e loaded the cars at 4:00 AM, strapping the surfboards four high, piling into the cars, and beginning the fourteenhour drive into Baja. I had been to this location two years before, camping and surfing with David, Cheyne, and some of the Huntington Christian Surfers. I remembered the long drive and the good waves, and I couldn’t have been more excited to return. Although we were looking forward to the waves and fishing, the adventure started with the drive. We drove the fourteen hours nonstop: down the Mexico 1 Transpeninsular through Ensenada, cutting across to the Cortez coast, then cutting back to the Pacific coast of Baja in a long zig-zag. The drive was beautiful and harsh, with huge Mars-like rock outcroppings and sheer cliffs overlooking the fishing towns and bays. We drove through thunderstorms and intense heat, weaving around car-ending potholes and passing semis on the dirt roads.

When we finally reached our destination, we couldn’t have been more ready to get into the water. We unloaded our gear into our bedrooms and suited up to surf the right point break right outside our cabin. Unfortunately, we happened to arrive during what might have been the smallest week of the summer and the waves didn’t get much bigger than shoulder high during the week we were there. Thankfully, the point managed to catch what little swell there was in the water and we were able to have fun waves when other areas of Baja were completely flat. While the waves may not have been world-class, the fishing certainly was. This area is famous for its offshore fishing, and the lodge we were staying at was filled with pictures of two hundred pound grouper and huge yellowtail. Even though we didn’t have boats to take us offshore, the inshore fishing was more than enough. Using our surfboards, we could paddle out with our rods in our teeth and sit just outside the waves breaking down the point and cast for huge calico bass, bonita, corvina, and halibut. No matter the weather or tide, we were almost guaranteed to catch dozens of fish every time we went out and it was the perfect learning space for some of the group to learn how to fish.

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While the fishing and surfing was fun, everyone on the trip was there for so much more than that. Every person was a leader with their own mission, brought together to teach and learn how to grow in leadership through the Foundations Training of Christian Surfers. Cheyne, Nina, Titus, and Avery led the group through the training. Every morning, we would start the day with a devotional in the book of Nehemiah, transition into the Christian Surfers International video series, and close with teaching from one of the leaders. While the material was rich and impactful, and I could write pages on the different lessons of leadership I learned, that wasn’t the most important part. The most important part of Foundations Training was the space it created to allow the Holy Spirit to work in every member of the trip. There had been intense spiritual attacks in the weeks leading up to the trip, and there was a sense of seriousness to our time there. On the first day, before starting any training, we broke off into pairs to prepare our hearts and minds before God and shake off any unwanted influence or weight that we were carrying into the week. When we reconvened to share, almost every person on the trip had felt different pressures and spiritual burdens lifted through prayer. As the week progressed, we continued to encounter God and be filled by his mission on a personal level. This spot was our place of refuge and peace, allowing us to press into God’s mission and escape the noise of our lives in the United States. The community we were with was our family, allowing us to learn and love each other while we united around our shared vision.

When thinking about experiences like this, I tend to refer to them as ‘mountaintop experiences,’moments away from the onward pressing of our lives that allow us to commune and reflect. Too often, these wonderful Christian retreats cause emotional and spiritual highs that are followed by deep crashes after coming down ‘off of the mountain.’ But Foundations Training was not a ‘mountaintop experience.’ It was a Boot Camp. Instead of being removed from the problems and realities of our lives, we were given a space to wrestle with them and a community of like-hearted people to provide support and guidance. Instead of a sense of emotional fullness that could only exist on our trip, we were equipped with the tools and strength to carry out the mission of Christian Surfers in our real lives. Instead of being on a mountaintop, we were on the ground, training, and preparing for the battles to come.

In Nehemiah 6, the wall is completed and the enemies of Nehemiah plot to undo his work, criticizing the Israelites ability to complete the task at hand. Nehemiah does not stop his work or give into the threats, instead he simply prays “Father, strengthen my hands.” I have always felt that Christian Surfers has something special. There is something about CS that has given it a spark of life, allowing it to form community and truly impact people. The 2023 Foundations Training was a reflection of that spark, a concentrated image of the realness that has made Christian Surfers so impactful to me.

During that week, every one of the thirteen leaders was equipped and loved individually, and, most importantly, sent out to fulfill their individual mission with a full understanding of the reality of the situation. We were never told that our tasks would be easy, our leadership perfect, or the enemy relenting. Instead, we were equipped with an understanding of the difficulty of our leadership, our ability to fulfill it, and the goodness of the vision; so that when we are in the midst of our communities and our daily lives we will simply pray, “Father, strengthen my hands.”

Photo // Christina Bumann

CSUS MISSION SUMMARY

CONNECT Christian Surfers invites people into genuine relationship. Our desire is to make people feel seen and to feel a part of our community. We do this by going to where surfers are and meeting them in their world. Our goal is to connect people to Jesus Christ.

DISCIPLE Our goal of discipleship looks like investing in intentional rela­tionships that guide and modeI Jesus. In response to God’s love for us, we aim to pour into others so they can pour into others and so on.

SERVE Part of our journey as believers is learning to be selfless and to live more like Jesus. That is one way we can reflect the love of Christ to the communities where we live and surf. We strive to be intentional about meeting the needs of our surf communities and beyond; locally, nationally, and globally.

PARTNER Christian Surfers United States recognizes the value of ministry partners, and we are always developing relationships with like-minded organizations we trust in areas where working together helps us and our partners achieve our visions.

EQUIP One important role of our National staff is to equip our chapters and provide resources and support for ministry. We aim to create opportunities and platforms that empower our chapters to advance our mission.

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We exist so that every surfer and every surfing community has the opportunity to know and follow Jesus.

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MEET OUR TEAM

David Nehrig, Leason Dancaescu, Kyle Sullivan, Nina Coons, Emily Benedetto, Colbi King, Gracie Stack, Jacob Galura Larry Garrett, Amy Nehrig, Cheyne Jobbins, Marco Gratta, Reed Burr

National Staff

David Nehrig // National Director Amy Nehrig // National Staff Support Emily Benedetto // Outreach Coordinator Gracie Stack // Communications Reed Burr // Media Coordinator

Joining Us Soon

Marco Gratta // Accounting Mikayla Alahuzos // Northwest Regional

Regional Staff

Leason Dancaescu // Gulf Coast Regional Kyle Sullivan // Mid Atlantic Regional Nina Coons // West Coast Girls Colbi King // East Coast Girls Jacob Galura // Southeast Coast Regional Larry Garrett // Hawaii Regional Cheyne Jobbins // West Coast Regional

THANK YOU KIM HITCHOCK

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hat a journey it has been. Kim, you have served Christian Surfers US so faithfully for the last five years. As the National Operations Manager, you have done every role within CS and even the roles no one else wanted to do. Your heart and passion for this ministry has inspired us all. Thank you so much for all your hard work. You have been the glue that holds everything together. Kim, you will be deeply missed. As a team we can not thank you enough for all the details you always took care of so all of us could be down at the waters edge building relationships with surfers. As you begin this new season outside of Christian Surfers, we wish you the very best and we are so very grateful for you and the rich legacy you are leaving. May we continue to love and have deep meaningful relationships like you have modeled for us. Thank you.

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MEET THE BOARD

Dave Milton, Jesse Kamm, Andy West, Mary Gordon Kerr, Forest Fisher, Chad Borgestad, Gregory Lebovitz, Bob Pinard (not pictured)

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n behalf of the CSUS board and staff, I want to extend a sincere thank you for your prayers and support. “Every surfer and every surfing community will have the opportunity to experience and follow Jesus Christ”...that call is exciting and can sometimes feel overwhelming. But God, who has shown Himself perfectly faithful past and present, will continue to work in the hearts and lives of the surfing community through the Christian Surfers family. We have witnessed lives change through local gatherings, focused mission trips, events, and personal contact within the surfing community. God has assembled a unique team to fulfill this mission, and we are so grateful to our many friends and family that serve and support CSUS across the nation. There is still much to do, and we are confident that God will continue His best plan for Christian Surfers. Let’s celebrate God’s work through CSUS today, and into eternity.

Dave Milton

CSUS Board Member

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THE SURFERS BIBLE

The vision for the Surfers Bible Project is to develop resources that will equip CS globally in our mission that every surfer and surfing community has an opportunity to know and follow Jesus. www.thesurfersbible.com

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JOE MCCROSKEY Santa Cruz, CA

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ur dear brother Joe, the faithful servant, went home to be with the Lord this October 2023. Joe was truly the heartbeat of Christian Surfers. His froth level was higher than anyone we have ever met. He loved Jesus and surfing so much. He couldn’t leave the water without telling others about his Savior. Joe, we will all miss you and know you have deeply impacted us all. May we continue to share the joy of the Lord with others. We know countless others from Santa Cruz and the world will all be in heaven some day because of your example of what following Jesus is all about. Our prayers are with your family and community. Thanks, brother, for your deep friendship and being such a key leader with Christian Surfers for so many years.

Collin Barbour

Lanie Rodgers

Matther During

Reed Burr

Bryce Raley

Maya Asbury

Annie Souther

Haley Bolton

Joshua Ramirez

Leason Dancaescu

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WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Step 1: Pray about how you can partner with us to make a lasting impact with CS. Step 2: Consider a financial donation. Christan Surfers is supported by churches, individuals, and businesses around the world. As “missionaries” to surfers and surfing communities, staff are 100% donor supported.

Step 3: You can write a check to Christian Surfers and mail to: Christian Surfers, P.O. Box 879 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 info@christiansurfers.com 904.274.1433 OR, you can go to https://christiansurfersus.givingfuel.com/csus Scan QR Code to Give Online!

CSUS is recognized as a 501(c)3 in good standing and is supported by individuals, churches, and business in ministry partnership with us.