Hawaii 2010

I flew in just 3 days ago after a week in Hawaii on Oahu's North Shore, for my last trip of the year. This was without a doubt my best Hawaii visit to date.

Saturday meeting with CSUS staff Dean Plumlee and Daniel Felton along with our CSI regional leader Cal Fisher saw 20 people hosted at North Shore Christian Fellowship meet to discuss the future of CS in Hawaii. Surprising to many is the fact that CS has never had a long standing mission in Hawaii, partly due to the fact that surfing is not a subculture there, it is the culture! It also requires some solid local people to lead as the area is so localised.

That night we joined with Tom Bauer at the Haleiwa Surfers Church and I was stoked to see it grow from Richard and Gloria's loungeroom to deck to backyard. They're still packing the surfers in!

Sunday was church meetings at Haleiwa and also Sunset Beach with 'The Mission' church plant and Tripp and team seeking to build a church on the solid foundation of prayerful seeking of Jesus! I was inspired and their midweek prayer meeting is the most important meeting of the week.

Monday Cal and I visited a couple of Conference centres to check out suitability for the 2012 International Conference and I am happy to say Camp Mokulaia is the place! We will have to erect a marquee and have overflow camping but its a beautiful beachfront complete with turtle and monk seal. Dinner out with Abe and Lize was great to thank them and hear about their chaplaincy on the ASP World Tour.

Tuesday was chaplaincy day, and good to debrief with Liselle Wilsnagh, chaplain to the Women's World Tour, and then have all three chaplains together including Triple Crown Chaplain, Pastor Mike Stangel. With the death of Andy Irons this year, it has been a heavy time, but such times are when the chaplains become all the more relevant.

Wednesday the surf picked up and Laniakea was pumping! I was out there in the crowd and nearly beyond my years in the solid 10' waves. The swell was a nice north and the Pipe Masters ran for the day at Backdoor. Even better was the chance to have lunch with our Brazil founders Dario and Susana, and what a treat to see Dario miraculously recovering after a potentially fatal stroke earlier this year.

Thursday...I was supposed to be home, but with the prospect of seeing the Pipe Masters run, I was keen to hang around. God bless my wonder wife Gill who said, "Come on, you stay a few more days and surf and see the contest!" It didn't run, but the swell was still on, so after checking out Eric Arakawa's factory I was surfing some great waves. Dinner that night with ASP Chairman Richard Grellman and Abe and Lize was a treat and I so appreciate the calibre of the chaplains as Richard commented, "The chaplains have exceeded the expectations of the ASP, I am amazed at the reception they have had."

Friday was an early pray, then surf with Eric. I was off to Honolulu and had a great visit with amazing church plant 'One Love' with Waxer and then forever faithful Dave at Surfco. That night caught up with Poiman and family for dinner and took in the Haleiwa community Christmas parade then talked mission to Tahiti. What a gem of a family, very humbling when they insisted on washing my feet and praying for me. Thanks guys.

Saturday was another early start and a short detour to Walmart to buy some USA sweets for the kids and off to the airport. I arrived with no boards and was leaving with 6 for friends and family and a nice Arakawa 7'4" gun for the christmas sack for BD. Reading through the book "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" I am so challenged at my lack of prayer and calling out to God, I want to hold a quiet but determined resolve to put more of this into practice. Arriving home that afternoon Gill met me at the airport and it was sweet to see her. A big week of changes. Jackson moving out of home, Taylor working on his music and social security? India finishes her first year of high school.

Im tired but thankful for this last trip of the year, and excited that tomorrow Gill and I have a Sydney city treat with two nights alone in a city hotel as a belated 25th anniversary celebration...and my phone is off...

UK Visit and Leadership Training

I was leaving in just 8 hours when the Qantas text came announcing that all staff travel to UK was to be suspended till November 30! A quick call to my travel agent and in an hour I was rebooked on another airline flying in just 3 hours time. That was the beginning of my annual UK visit. It was a chilly 0C when I landed in Heathrow two weeks ago. We had just had a glorious Aussie spring weekend of a sunny 26C and now suddenly transported to the land of multiply layers and scarves. Cheers Andy Swift for meeting me and having breakky, then ex Aussie friend Sandra (ex Aussie not ex friend) for lunch. I even got a stroll through the National Art Gallery before riding train to Phil William's beloved Nailsea.

This is now my 8th time visiting Nailsea and UK and European Director Phil. It does feel like visiting old friends and familiar church and streets. Chatting at the Golden Horse $4 lunch, meeting the rector at All Saints, experiencing Phil's endless banter with shopkeepers and passersby, chatting to members of his church, hearing Joe's skate talk with his mates. Abi and Joe now the proud wearers of "I Live for Balance" shirts from my son Taylor and Annie the Amazing who juggles everything with such effortless ease it seems. Nailsea could be a set for the UK equivalent of 'Neighbours' I think, your quaint anglo, professional neighbourhood where people know what's going on in each others lives.

We had invited wider Europe to attend the first dedicated leadership training weekend utilising the CS Foundations Training and Phil was ably assisted by wonder admin woman Chloe and awesome operations man Dave Reynard. Two from Spain, two from Holland and another from Ireland joined 14 others from the UK making a great team of 20 for the training. Spain.....Holland.....Ireland, for some of you these don't evoke images of surf culture, but be very assured that surfing is alive and well in these countries and booming........imagine if the Swiss guys had turned up! Our goal was to expose our leadership to the training and give new trainers opportunity. Great to see Johnny Hillman inspired and he led us with his own unique Welsh humour. Both Dave and Phil along with myself delivered other units. The church Rectory is being renovated with a vision of it being a centre for Christian development and the local Rev Jolyon was very stoked to see the building utilised for the first time in this way.

"If you are in England maybe you can meet up with my dad he happens to be staying with us near Nailsea," so said my Facebook reply from one of our former Australian leaders. It was amazing that Boyd Pope just happened to be staying up the road.......one has to go 10,000km and the opposite side of the globe to meet up with an old friend from home!

God is so good enabling this weekend and with just 5 nights in UK I should have been incomprehensible with tiredness but felt pretty good actually.......just one 5am morning out jogging after not being able to sleep. It was a looonnnnngggg flight home, but great to have Aaron meet me at the airport (thanks Aaron!) and take my tired body home. The rest of that week was a bit of a blur with men's speaking appointments, fundraiser dinner and family catch up. I'm still somewhat tired but happy and for those reading this, PRAY for Phil Williams and the huge needs of the European surfing community. We need more staff, money and leadership to take this on.

Surf Report Dinner Summary

Thanks to all of you who attended our recent annual report and dinner and for the many well-wishers who could not attend.

We had a great night with each of the 100 available seats filled at the great venue of the Manly Pacific Novotel. The view of the beach was matched with the decor of the meeting room as a history of surfboards and a history of Christian Surfers adorned the walls in the form of boards, shirts and posters.

We were entertained by a band made up of local CS members, led by Tom, and an enlightening talk from ASP Chairman, Richard Grellman, whose tips on Men's and Women's world champions were absolutely correct!

We were engaged with the auction items, including handmade Alaia boards and bowls by BD and others, and we were inspired with the account of the world mission movement of Christian Surfers by BD and his interviews with those engaging at each end of the surfing spectrum:

• Abe Andrews shared about life on the road with the Men's ASP World Tour. Tragically his services were called upon big time directly following, with the death of Andy Irons. We're so glad to have had a chaplain in place there.
• Murray Bothma shared what it was like to be a 17-year-old volunteer leader in a local mission reaching out to no-name groms, whom God loves equally.

We were encouraged to share in the mission financially, and 5 new partners signed up totalling $5,700pa, with another $1,300 donated and $3,500 raised in the auction.

If you have not signed up as a partner yet, you still can on our website at:  http://www.christiansurfers.net/Partnership.aspx

We look forward to two events next year, one on the Gold Coast on March 26 and again in Sydney in October.

God bless you and thank you for your support,
Brett Davis and the CSI team

CSI Surf Report Dinner Tonight!

Well this is our second annual dinner and we are excited about the 100 people coming along to Manly Novotel Pacific Hotel in 5 hours time. I have made a couple of alaia boards and some bowls as silent auction items and local artists Shaun Anderson and Jackson Forbes did some artwork for me on them. Thanks to Dave, Chongy and Jeffro from Misfit for donating a board, along with Craig Bruce of Ocean Extremes. Awesome thanks to Zion Wetsuits as well! I will write up a summary soon.

Davis Diary: September 2010

This is our quarterly update and thought I would share it with you all......

BD Soapbox

I have had as a personal theme this year "More of the power and presence of Jesus"….still wondering just what that means? Our international conference guest speaker Tim Meyers made much of how "our most defining attribute is to be the presence of Jesus" based on Heb 3:6 "You are god's house". Amazing to hear tim unpack the scriptures of Gods history as he indwelt a tent, a tabernacle a temple,  all of which were mere symbols of his ultimate dwelling place……"Christ in you, the hope of glory" Col 1:27. I can scarcely believe it, can you? That the most powerful presence in allthe universe lives in us? What difference should this make? Is your life most characterized by the presence of Jesus?  BD

  

BD travels.

May Just when you want to fly to the European conference, a random Icelandic volcano shuts down the airspace of a continent! The meeting went really well without me, and I enjoyed more time at home. 

June "This team has not just built a home, you have helped rebuild a community" Mitch Anderson Chile.  Sometimes God gets on your case about something He really wants you to do. I could not resist the promptings re the needs of  the southern Chilean surfing community after the devastating earthquake and added a small detour to my North America meetings. I was amazed once I stepped out how the finances flowed for the Homes of Hope project as I fundraised with film and food night and paddle a thon. I was able to fly in, buy new tools, build a house with team to lock up stage, surf 4-6' waves at Punta de Lobos and fly out, all in 4 days. In Florida with Cal Fisher we had training for our emerging national movements with Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador and USA present. "Now I have a road map to help me develop a national movement and I feel so much more confident" Denis Leon Costa Rica.

July "Sorry Mr Davis that flight is oversold and you will not be able to fly to Chile" I was standing there in Auckland airport dumbfounded with donated boards, wetsuits and tools to deliver for the `Homes of Hope' project and sent away check in for next flight - in 2 days time!! Final seconds and I got a miracle seat….not sure why God waits to that final second? You gotta love a team of fired up Brazillian leaders set on an island retreat to dream and plan for the future of CS there. I was able to give some guidance and received much inspiration. Sergio is an amazing pastoral leader, deeply loved and stepping up to his South America role. This trip had some tough features with a sprained ankle, lack of sleep and a cancelled plane on the way home adding another 10 hrs to the flight. "Now we have added a strategy to take our movement forward" Mauri Brazil.

August Indonesian International Conference. "We are a new mission and I never knew just how much God was doing throughout CS globally until now" Nacho Argentina. With 185 leaders from 16 nations this was our 9^th conference and first in Asia and in a restricted access country. Highlights included:- cultural welcome by Gamalong music and dancers; amazing worship; Ado and Dave and Shinko Levey testimony of pioneering CS Indo and Japan missions; Tim Meyers preaching; laughing at the Welsh boys accents; laughing at everyone else not understanding the aussie accents of MC Dan and Foz; surfing together at Ulus; united vision about reaching the lost surfing tribes. Lowlights included:- Gill getting sick for 10 days and missing conference; BD missing Gill; constant reminder of idolatry; crowded surf; too many people to catch up with!

BD Romance and Bootcamp. "25 years ago I didn't have any money, I didn't have a ring and you never had a proposal story, but that is about to change". In a rush of romantic spontaneity I surprised Gill with a proposal and 25^th wedding anniversary eternity ring before 400 women at a womens' conference she was attending. I am sooooo thankful for her love, friendship and support. "in 40 years of church attendence I have never seen such a depth of men's ministry" Terry Austinmer. Our third men's "Bootcamp" in July with 5 weeks of challenging men's topics to over 80 guys. I spoke on "A Man and His Romance" backed by Gillian the Brave who spoke on "Things Women Wish Men Knew About Women".  Plenty of notes being taken.

Gill battles on in Schools. "Miss, why do you hate homosexuals?" It only gets tougher. Ethics course being pitched as an alternative, rude year 8/9 kids, bigoted and biased audience with little facts, teacher opposition etc etc. Still, Gill got to share her heart for Special Religious Education to the entire staff and got a round of applause at the end!

Jackson Vietnam Theatre. "They walk out if they aren't happy, and most stayed, so it must have been ok?"Amazing enough to be given opportunity as a first year to write and perform his own play, Jackson then went on to perform it at a World Festival in Vietnam on behalf of his university. A rush of fundraising and rehearsals and they made it. I think racing around on motor scooters was the most life threatening.

Taylor "I live for Balance" has become his celebrity status? Want to buy a tshirt? He has completed an amazing film project for Drama and musical composition for Music, but still no ideas of what to do next. A gap year is certain and many adventures ahead of the `tdogg' and all the more with his recent drivers licence!! Look out for the "Balance" empire! 

India Movements. "I love going to school, it's the BEST!"After much heartache and searching India moved from ICS to our local Bulli High School. She is very, very happy and loves being back with old friends and part of her community. Dancing is her love and she has endless joy, social energy and always a new `best friend'. 

Calvin. "9 years and you would have thought I deserved some clothing item by now?" It has been a cold winter and after watching him shivering away, we purchased Calvin's first item of clothing – a coat! All these years clothed in but a collar!? He maintains faithful watch over all and especially any in `sick bay'.

CSI Partners Dinner. Our 2^Nd formal partners dinner is on October 23^rd at the Manly Pacific Hotel. We have more opportunities opening up than we can meet and so CSI needs more financial partners! Guest speaker ASP chairman Richard Grellman, BD's update, Abe Andrews the ASP chaplain and more all share stories over a great meal and live music. Purchase tickets on http://www.christiansurfers.net/Shop.aspx?ID=34. Come and bring another!

You can sign up as a partner right now on http://www.christiansurfers.net/Partnership.aspx

Leadership Profile. Kelly Patt is our new financial manager. Originally from California now on Central Coast she has a long history serving CS in admin. We are so thankful for her and the skills she brings. You can make her day by making a donation! Go Kelly!

Support of Brett and Gill. You can become a supporter in the following ways by contacting us on brett@christiansurfers.net  

·       pray more specifically with our prayer update prayer email updates

·       join our regular financial support team, we are short 5 partners @$100/month or 10@ $50

·       offer some skill in graphic design, IT, administration, local mission help

Come join me on a short term mission in Feb 2011 in Chile 

Groundswell Conference: Day 6

Well it’s a wrap up day. We announce next conference will be in … drumroll… Hawaii!! Many excited squeals and high-fives!

Final thank you and farewells and people already moving out. It’s been an exhilarating and exhausting 6 days. 

BD’s final word picks up on the groundswell theme that we don’t want to ride a locally generated windswell but rather the far, distant, powerful groundswell that pushes through regardless of local circumstances. The groundswell of God’s Holy Spirit in us. 

Many fond farewells and we will see each other again in 2012 or before or even in heaven.  Special thanks to Rich Agius and Australaisia team. Awesome job by Ado and Indo team. Ever diligent CSI team with Aaron, Beck and Kelly. 

Keep riding the groundswell to all the nations. See you in Hawaii!

Groundswell Conference: Day 5

Today is Australasia and Pacific day. We see proud Aussie flags & tattoos everywhere and our MC’s Fozz and Dan from Cronulla are virtually impossible to understand by our foreign delegates. Funniest of all was Cal Fisher stating that Dan might as well be speaking Greek…. And Cal is from the USA! 

Rich Agius helped us see the challenges of Asia where we will engage with Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, many SW strategies needed. 

Tim Meyers challenged us to a life of faith from Hebrews 11 taking us back to the future with Abram who was told to go, even when he didn’t know WHERE nor WHEN. We are to live with heaven as our citizenship and sojourners through earth. Getting somewhere in God means leaving somewhere. We finished in Revelation 22 at the end of time with the presence of God renewing the nations in heaven, and we are to participate in this now. Wow.

Great conference photos done. Such a range of flags and nations. 

More amazing strategy stories from CSUS and Lyle, how a guy makes his way from being lost to a leader in the national movement. Jodene powerfully shares the women ministry in Australia. Mel relates how Fiji short term missions transforms lives. Cal engages with a surfer church plant that leaves most of us envious.

Communion Indonesian style with special rice and holy water is a highlight then it’s full tilt rejoicing and worship with a mosh pit up front!