Pro Surfer Glyndon Ringrose

LLOYD HARKNESS, 1 May 2003, Geelong

It might sound like chance to enjoy sun, sand and good times. But Christian Surfers is also serious about the search for souls. LLOYD HARKNESS profiles a growing ministry...

Introduced to Christian Surfers through a summer surfing competition, Kristi Van Es has been involved in Christian Surfers club on Victoria's westcoast for three years.

Like many in the organisation, Van Es sees Christian Surfers as a great way to meet other Christians interested in surfing but also as an opportunity to tell others - Christians and non-Christians alike - about her walk with Jesus.

" (It's) a really great opportunity to talk to others about how God works in my life. It is amazing to see the (difference) that helping others can make," she says.

It's that attitude which sums up the heart of what Christian Surfers is all about.

Founded in Australia in the Seventies, Christian Surfers is now established in 14 countries including New Zealand, the United States, Ireland, South Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Tahiti, France, Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Chile.

While it is hard to gauge the impact any outreach ministry has, one thing is certain: Christian Surfers is a commissioned organisation doing the work of Christ in a culture that is largely ignorant of, and sometimes hostile to, Jesus.

As an organisation, Christian Surfers grew out of seven board riders clubs and it has kept the club model as one means of organisation and outreach.

With growing numbers of people surfing and the surf culture diversifying, "C.S." as it's known to those involved, has also had to develop a range of different communities centred on such themes as longboarders, bodyboarders, women's surfing, professional surfing and beginners.

National director Andrew Carruthers puts it this way: "We are forming more of a number of surfing communities; communities that encourage closeness to God and unity through a shared experience of God and surfing".

Andrew Carruthers, National Director

He adds: "These communities will develop a generic model of ministry to suit the location and makeup of their local surfing community. More grass roots and smaller, community based groups reaching every aspect of the surfing community is our direction."

Keeping this model in mind, the organisation continues to develop connections with the wider surfing community through running high profile events such as the Jesus Pro-Am, the Jesus Prone-Am, the Jesus Classics and the JC3 contests. Furthermore, volunteers are always being sought to help out at other key events such as the Quiksilver Air Shows and the Billabong Junior Pro contests.

According to Carruthers these are the "broad end of the funnel" where the most contact is made with those interested in learning more about Christ.

But Christian Surfers is not about providing volunteers for big events. It's leaders talk about community and training and equipping people for service. To this end they have produced a training manual and are developing a surf ministry leadership school as well as a junior leadership school. They are also exploring opportunities overseas. Clubs have already been planted in Japan and Indonesia.

" We offer support via running an oversight board from here in Australia until the country is established with enough indigenous infrastructure," Carruthers explains.

" We help raise support and equipment for those countries - they attend our conference (held every two years) and (we) send mission trips manned by C.S. Australia personnel every year."

In Victoria, Mark Johnstone stepped into the position of state co-ordinator in 2002. He has put an emphasis on developing young leadership and outreach in strategic areas, particularly in Warrnambool in the west and Phillip Island in the east.

Victoria does not have as strong a history with Christian Surfers as some of the other states but Carruthers, who is based on the Sunshine Coast, sees Victoria "continuing to grow and develop".

" It is a very exciting time for Vic," he says.

Partnerships with local churches are important. One of the more recent relationships Christian Surfers has developed has been with Ocean Grove Baptist Fellowship.

" Right from the start, the partnership with Ocean Grove Baptist has been one of the best in Australia," says Carruthers.

At times there can be tension between the organisation and a local church over issues like authority.
Yet Christian Surfers remains determined to be a tool of the church for reaching surfers and not a substitute church for surfers. Christian Surfers attracts young people from Christian families but the passion of its leadership is to reach out.

According to Carruthers, the greatest advantage of having a para-church organisation like Christian Surfers in a local church is that it helps to maintain an outward perspective.

One of the most recent initiatives of Christian Surfers has been the production of the Surfers Bible in conjunction with the Bible Society of Australia.

With a text in modern English, this Bible was conceived along the lines of the Bible produced for athletes at the Sydney Olympics. Books of the New Testament are interspersed with testimonies from surfers. With an original print of 5,000, the Bible Society soon found they had to rush back to the printers. Over 30,000 copies have been printed and Christian Surfers is currently looking at having it translated into Japanese.

This Bible seems to sum up the Christian Surfers philosophy of "where-ever we go let's talk surf and let's talk Jesus."

Heading out for a surf