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: