Dry July

There's a movement in Australia called 'Dry July' challenging men to give up alcohol and redirect the finances to charity over the month of July. Some mates of mine who don't struggle with alcohol have chosen to give up sugar, certain foods, even reading the paper to redirect that time!

I am going to give up waves. But I am not going to stay 'dry'. Rather than give up surfing for July (which would serve no purpose when I am in a surf mission), I am simply going to give up catching waves but still go surfing the same. The time and focus normally spent catching waves will be spent catching conversations instead.

Remember Jesus saying to some of his early disciples who were fishermen, "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." He was saying, "Instead of catching fish, you will catch men from now on!" I often say in Christian Surfers I am more concerned with catching men than catching waves...but it doesn't always look like that! Often I look just like everyone else hustling in the lineup, viewing others as object to out-manoeuvre, self-absorbed. Hey, not saying theres anything wrong with a quiet reflective surf to get your head together, but you know the other kind.

Maybe you are just the same? Dry July is a challenge to reflect on this, to test how surrendered our surfing really is to God and to build relationships. Want to join me? 

Ok, it's out there now, there's a heap of local surfers in my town now saying, "Great BD, more waves for us!"

BD's Big News

Well if you've seen our website or been on my email list, you would already know I made a big announcement last week about moving on from my founding International Director role in CSI!

It’s been an emotional week since then. Lots of well wishes and encouragement and some surprised people. I must be honest and say I have even had crazy dream about our next international conference being in chaos when the guys doing registration never turned up! What does that say of subliminal anxiety?

Can you believe I have been pioneering in Christian Surfers for some 35 years. Starting as an 18-year-old with our Cronulla local mission, then at age 23 with the Australian movement then at age 40 in 1999 with the international organisation.

The best thing is that Christian Surfers International is in a great position with a solid leadership team, a mature board of directors and our tenth anniversary conference in Hawaii was outstanding in vision and unity.

I did have an ‘aha’ experience when my son Taylor said in the kitchen last year, “Why would I do that when you’re here?” at my suggestion he fix himself dinner when he was moaning about being hungry. I had been reflecting on my ‘fathering’ role and how dependent CSI was on myself. Eventually, like all healthy kids, the movement must grow beyond its father figure.

I do feel I have taken CSI as far as I can and as I approach 60……60! where did that number creep up from, the time is coming to hand over.

It’s great to plan to move on….rather than be asked to! I believe finishing well is one of the most important leadership things I will ever do. I assure you there are no personal conflicts or compromises that have brought this about. Gill and I are united in this.

Whilst I am leaving the role, I am not leaving Christian Surfers. I love this mission and I love the people in it. The board and I have drafted an ongoing role for me as a founder/advisor and I look forward to seeing how this pans out.

All going to plan we hope to identify someone over the coming year, and then mentor them into the role with me completely relinquishing my role at the 2016 conference. Christian Surfers thus has over three years to prepare for the change, as well as myself preparing!

I am so thankful to Jesus for saving me as an unchurched Aussie surfer. I am thankful for God connecting me to an amazing family of unlikely looking surfing missionaries. I am thankful for the platform of CS that has allowed me to dream and believe God for impossible things.

I do encourage you to continue to pray, give and encourage through this vital phase. I am personally available to talk to anyone about this further.

Watch a personal video address from me below:

ILT Meetings 2013

Once again the CS International Leadership Team (ILT) gathered in Australia for our annual meeting, hosted in my own home town of Coledale. I am always determined that the guys work hard and play hard and come away feeling the time was really worthwhile. 2013 was no exception!!

Cal and Dustin had arrived early and were in time to join us in our 13th year of the Paddle Against Poverty on Saturday May 4, and that was a great connecting event with our community. Some 88 paddlers, mostly from the broader surfing community raised over $11,000 for our sponsor kids and Elevate Bali. 

By Sunday 5th the rest of the team had arrived and my new treehouse platform was load tested as we met down there for prayer that morning before moving to our campsite up in the bush. The Coledale Rainforest Retreat is such a beautiful place and our hosts Tim and Kath are so generous. We always check in personally and all are encouraged to confess any sins and come clean before God and one another before we start. 

Monday 6th we reviewed the state of the world movement before the giant world map from the CSI office and region by region was prayed for. So much going on, and so many needs and challenges as well. We again identified Japan as deserving special attention and the Asia region as presenting our greatest challenges. It was so good to see Cal and Dustin tag team their report, a good indicator of their coming leadership handover. Play time introduced Rocky and Bullwinkle - Rich and Dustin dressed as the 1970's cartoon characters - in anticipation of their upcoming weddings. They were given flying goggles and reindeer antlers to wear over the coming week for an early 'bucks' celebration. First up was tandem hang-gliding  That night was a local CS night surfing experience at Sandon Point. Rich shared the gospel in the dark at the Point while the floodlights were set up. We couldn't believe it when the night exploded with a flash mob and some 50 surfers hit the lineup, glow sticks around each neck. The greater challenge was to not hit other surfers in the dark dodging the line of green glow sticks down the point! I swear that was one of the most dangerous things we had ever done...and we refused to be interviewed next morning by ABC Radio who got wind of it. Classic!

Tuesday dug into reviews and discussion about our key strategies. Great to have Steve Bligh facilitate chaplaincy as well as energetic discussion about leadership development, national movements and jumping from the roof of the meeting room into the pool. Aldo noted that his Australian hosts were a little crazy. The surf came up and the boys all got to surf pumping Sandon Point.

Wednesday we skyped in with Al Westbury discussing the Jesus Pro Am style events and networking these internationally as well as the Australian event becoming a rated Pro Junior event with the ASP, a world first for us. Al is such a servant-hearted leader and offered to be a global champion and resource for this strategy. Plenty more discussion about short-term missions, hospitality and servanthood as well as disciple-making communities. The perennial issue of fundraising got a solid debate with each RC taking on one new funding strategy. Once again, there is just so much going on and the challenge for RC's is how to devote more time to give to their international roles. We also believe in working smarter not harder and approved a matrix model of empowering teams not just geographical, but also around strategies. A fun surf out at Sharkey's reef (nervously attended) had Rocky and Bullwinkle tandem surf and Rich discovered a new found respect for SUP riders. We had board members Eric Arakawa and South Africa's Mark Edwards join in that night.

Thursday we switched gears and had Duncan Brown fly in from Melbourne to lead us through discussion on succession, leadership development and being a better change agent. Wow, what great insights he has about this...and roping bulls. Duncan doesn't do water, but spent years on cattle properties. Still he humoured our afternoon jump into the Kiama Blowhole and the cave of death initiation. "You guys are as mad as a bunch of cut snakes!" We had great late night fireside chats talking story over a glass of port supplied by Mr Williams. Jon Mak and Marcus from the board had joined us, with Mr Mak sleeping in what appeared to be a 5-star horse float.

Friday we were joined by the rest of the board and engaged in a spirited discussion about succession and how to transition our movement to the next generation. I am so glad to have such a strong united team wrestle through these issues. We pressed on through the afternoon with a final treat of 'The swirling vortex of death'...Aldo is starting to wonder just how many death-defying things one can jump into. A slack line across a coastal surge was enjoyed by all. That night we had a great dinner with the board, ILT and the office team as well as some former members and our patron Kotsy, the fairy godmother. It had been a long week for most.

Saturday was the all day board meeting and we were able to finalise many things regarding our structure, finances, succession and the future board role and makeup. I am so thankful for such a talented chairman as Marcus. The day wrapped up with an 'Evening With Eric' invitational dinner for local surfers and shapers to hang with the humble shaping legend.

The last of the team had flown home by Tuesday and we all agree that this was a significant week in the future of CSI. Thanks to all who prayed and made this possible.

Paddle Against Poverty

What has 176 arms, is 13 years old, travelled 1320 km, consumed 160 hamburgers and is worth $11,000? It's the 13th annual Paddle Against Poverty hosted by my local CS mission! We have successfully transitioned this from a CS event to a community event facilitated by CS. Saturday 4th May saw our biggest event ever including 15 women, many from local Boardriders, SUP riders and more SLSC support than ever before.

The conditions were once again perfect, despite howling winds at 4am that had us praying big time at 5am and they suddenly abated at dawn. Thank God. We anticipate over 100 paddlers next year. All who participated commented about how enjoyable and friendly it was. Well done Dan Hatton who headed it all up. We sponsor 5 kids with Compassion as well as sponsoring a CS aid worker in Indonesia and support to the Elevate Youth Centre Bali.

South Africa

My flight to Joberg was a pleasant surprise, not just with a premium economy upgrade, but sitting across the aisle in God's providence was former CS Coffs Harbour leader Jon Hastings! We caught up on the past 20 years and stoked to see a brother passionate for Christ and investing in building integrity in business in the corruption ravaged Congo. 

Arriving in Cape Town was very familiar, it's now been 13 trips there, and Roy collected me and we prepared for their second annual fundraiser dinner. So good to see many old friends and meet new ones. A special catch up with Bruce McDonald who has produced and directed The Perfect Wave, the Ian McCormack story...you know the jellyfish guy who got stung and went to heaven? How classic! Clint Eastwood's son plays the lead, along with some notable South African surfers. After reviewing this it's a bold move to mention Jesus in a mainstream film here, look out for it! 

Sunday in Kommetjie was a special treat visiting the Band of Brothers surf church. Arriving to tarp surfing in the street and a braii in the backyard of a surfboard-strewn house, I found a church I would love to be part of and could easily invite friends to. Dougal set a great example of passionate commitment and vulnerability and I was impressed hearing testimonies of many hardcore surfers who had come to Christ or been freshly inspired...I guess if you surf 20' Dungeons it leads a man to pray!?

Special thanks to Merv who drove me up the coast to J-Bay with a stop off in Victoria Bay for a surf. Merv has such a heart to serve and is currently our Regional Chaplain for Africa. Reconnecting with Roy and Sharon I'm struck with the longevity of this CS founder and his wonder wife and hyper grom Nathan who is Roy revisiting his parents to torment them. The national conference saw a mixed bag of 80 surfers and skaters of various colours and economies, but all one in Christ. There is an amazing internship program called CSALT and I was impressed with the calibre of students including their first brave married couple, all the way from Canada, go Sarah and Andy! The Africa office sure is rocking with interns, op shop, local hub of mission and more.

Aleph was another highlight as Rehgert and Vanessa do restoration through recreation teaching township kids to surf and teaching them life skills. Stoked to see a small sewing space for kids mums to expand their skills, a surf garage and a new shopfront being fitted out to be a public face of Aleph. So many challenges, the AIDS rate is 30%, unemployment 75% and the life expectancy for most is 51. 

I never surfed once! The BD surf mojo must have been left at home? But I did manage to pick up a near-new Firewire board for $200!

Flying back home out of Joberg I look out at the vast expanse of township squalor mixed with coloured and white communities and it would be easy to despair. But God is at work through his people and many hopeful things are coming out of the ashes. I am reminded again to be ever thankful for the ease of life in Australia. Tragically the greater the comfort the weaker the reliance upon God. 

And I read a favourite text from Brother Lawrence from 1685, "Never tire of doing small things with love, for God is not so interested in the greatness of the thing, but in the love."

Home now for 3 days then CSA National Gathering over Easter!