CS History Book

I'm currently working on CSI's first book publication, the history of Christian Surfers, to be released in time for our International Conference in November.

The writing process has been an exciting reminder of all that God has done - come along for the ride! This is the draft of the preface to whet your appetite, more coming!

Photo of CS Australia leaders at the first Easter National Conference at Stanwell Tops, Sydney in 1983.

Christian Surfers History
"Groundswell"

PREFACE

25 August 2010
Seminyak, Bali

The swell began somewhere out in the Indian Ocean.

Several days and hundreds of kilometres later, it rolls up over the coral reefs in the warm shallows, gathers momentum and rises up briefly before collapsing into a breath-taking 6' surf on the beach at Seminyak.

It is a clear sunny day and the offshore breeze is heavy with the scents of coconut, incense and salt. Outside, the lawn is strewn with boardies, bikinis, towels and rashies. An assortment of colourful boards lean against trees and fence posts.

Inside I am standing with over two hundred people, surfers from over twenty nations from every corner of the planet. By boat, plane and even dodgy motor scooter, they have travelled to this, our 9th International Conference.

I look around the room at the sea of faces. It is like a family reunion. Different ages, different colours, different languages, different shapes and sizes. So much difference and yet so much in common; ordinary people in ordinary circumstances trusting God to do the extraordinary.

Earlier that day we had been welcomed by the flutes, drums and gongs of a traditional gamelan orchestra. Young girls performed the legong, a traditional Balinese dance known for its delicate finger movements and complicated footsteps. Ado and his team anointed us with 'holy water' in Jesus' name. Surfers from Nias served us fruit and pineapple juice for communion. It was a happy start to a great gathering, a gathering of the tribes.

Over the next days we would sing, pray, talk and encourage. There were talks and testimonies, mountains of banana pancakes and nasi goreng and in between the sharing and strategy sessions we would rush out to surf the long left reefs and punchy beachbreaks. We heard the testimony of Silas, a Niasan surfer who thought all surfers were immoral, drunk and far from God, until he met with Ado from CS and understood the truth about Jesus for the first time. All this on a Hindu island in the largest Muslim nation on earth. Who would have thought?

Standing there that day, my mind drifted back over the past 18 years, about how we have grown into a true global organization running missions and leadership training all over the world. We've got a surfer's Bible translated into different languages. We even have our own t-shirts! We've met in Hawaii, New Zealand, California, Australia, France, Brazil, South Africa and now exotic Bali. It is a surfer's dream to surf in these countries, but more than that, we've seen another dream fulfilled; the dream of taking the gospel to the surfers of these countries.

What an incredible journey it has been since me and 7 teenaged mates met in the loungeroom of my mum's old green fibro cottage in Gymea, Australia back in 1977, wondering how surfing and faith could fit together.

It's quite a story, and it's about time we told it.

So here it is...the simple story of ordinary people, in their ordinary circumstances, trusting God to do the extraordinary.

This is Groundswell, the story of Christian Surfers.

Foundations Training Day

Most of CS leadership training is via osmosis...hang around long enough and let it seep in! Now there's some real validity in this, but we have thought for a long time we should also be more intentional. CS Foundations Training is exactly that. Core foundational entry level training that we would hope any Christian leader would have clear in their head. We have run foundations training days and weekends throughout the world to test drive this and through the last year our Australiasia Regional Coordinator has been using this for training emerging leaders in Taiwan and Sri Lanka.

So it was great to take it for a spin with our local mission leaders for South NSW last Saturday. 20 crew from Batemans Bay up to Maroubra came to the lovely Coledale Rainforest Retreat to engage in 3 of the 8 topics. David Lovell the Central NSW RC chose 'Gospel Content' (the seed), 'Surf Culture' (the soil) and 'CS Fundamentals' (the sower). It was a great day with Dave covering the overview of just what CS is, myself doing surf culture (including an experiential surfing history experience in the pool) and Gill Davis covering the gospel in words. We had a 5-star meeting area, and for those who stayed over night, it was 100-stars under canvas! Special thanks to Tim and Kath for hosting us yet again.

Comments included:

• "Fantastic training, I wish the rest of our leadership team had made it!" Mick May, Batemans Bay
• "I've really got a handle on how CS works now." Paul, Maroubra
• "Such practical, well-written material...I had never been challenged to really surrender my surfing like this!" Mal MacCullum, South NSW interim RC
• "I'm so glad I came and have a refreshed vision for our mission." Joel Peterson, Shellharbour
• "So good to be reminded about the basics!" Paul Campbell, Stanwell Park
• "So stoked to get this training, it was excellant and I hope to be able to share with our team." Andrew, Ulladulla

If you have not had a chance to have some Foundations Training, talk to your mission coordinator, and soon it will all be available via video online as well, check out the beginnings of this at http://training.christiansurfers.net.

Peru

Well, I disappeared in Peru for a while and it seems a bit of Peru disappeared in me as well! I have just spent 36 hours on a drip being rehydrated after a couple of days of severe sickness upon my arrival home last Wednesday. Once I started passing blood, I was sent to ER and I was not going anywhere! It had been a long trip.

Starting with my train being delayed to the airport back on February 1 I missed my flight and had to return the next day $220 poorer for a ticket change. At least I took Gill out to the movies as an unexpected date! Late that night I was stressing as my revised plane ticket had not been sent and the office of LAN Airlines was closed. Thankfully at 5am it arrived and I headed for the airport on the train - round 2. "I'm sorry Mr Davis we can fly you to Auckland, but the flight to to Santiago is oversold by 14 seats so you won't be able to get on that flight, do you really still want to go?" Already my crazy 6 day trip has been cut to 5 so I press on...and get on. I was reading in Revelation 3 that God calls himself the one who opens things that no one can close and closes things that no one can open, so I figure if God wants me to go, there's no closing me down! Good faith building stuff, even if a bit stressful. 

I connect with a Peruvian surfer on the flight and we strike up a great conversation as he lives just around the corner from CS Peru friend Muelas. Amazing connections. I get to share my Jesus story and he believes our meeting was 'fate'. He gives me the email address of an Australian Catholic surfing priest who has been there 5 years, can you believe that? I finally see Sergio Busatto and Aldo Ventura's smiling faces at Lima airport and they have had an extra day speaking Spanish and Portuguese without me. We are transitioning the leadership for South America from Sergio to Aldo and we all sense God's hand in it. There's ceviche to eat, salt water to wash off the jet-lag and Estella, Antonella and Camilla's wonderful company as Aldo's supportive wife and daughters. I'm always struck with the grey beach-scape around Lima, the color green does not exist here unsupported. Then there's the desolate poor houses set in the dirt of dirt poor people. Some of them are surfing now. 

We leave the upper middle class and go to a local CS meeting at Pacochi's place, a radiant 57-year-old surfer with his sons and his grandchild. I'm told I would not have recognised him just 6 months ago before he received Christ. All his life he had been a dope smoking surfer hanging out on the beach selling ceviche and having his share of hard times. We are invited to his cafe next day and he insists on plying us with raw fish and mussels cooked in lime juice and a range of chillies and onion. The surf is crowded, some 40 out at Caballeros and they are surfing well. Peru has just won the ISA World Games Open Teams Title as well as the ISA World Junior Title taking out the Aussies as they are quick to tell me. This has to be the most consistent surfing location in the world. The huge Chilean swells head up north and are met with still, dry conditions. Punta Hermosa must have 12 reefbreaks in 10km and it is never flat. Pico Alto can hold 30' waves and somewhere will hold everything in between. 

The fog descends. I'm out in the lineup with the new Peru National Director Antonio 'Toñito' Farfan and we are jostling with the 20 strong crowd of 35+ year olds out before work. The lineup is just the same as anywhere in the world. I don't speak Spanish but I do speak the language of the lineup and soon take a back seat to the locals. The fog is getting thicker. Cold water and warm air combine. There's a shout from a tiny wooden fishing boat 200m out to sea. It is CS Peru founder John Chuman. I paddle out and he is greener than the color of the boat he is in. Diving overboard and resting on my board we catch up. Bobbing about in the sea with the mist swiriling about, the birds calling and his mate pulling the bottom net up and separating the fish. I leave and paddle back...but the fog has really descended. No visibiitly beyond 50m and soon I cant see anything in any direction. Straight away I think of what my life would be without Christ. Lost. Aimless. Fogbound. I hear a bit of Spanish banter and see the startled faces of some guys who see a strange gringo emerge, a gorilla in the mist. Each night is an amazing sunset with a blood red sun setting over the coastal islands.  

Heading into Lima we are able to attend church and conduct a commissioning service for Aldo and his family. Pastor Lucho is a passionate communicator and though I can't understand anything, his antics and conviction are obvious and the audience responds. I like to worship in another language and sense the community spirit of God's people as they join together. I get to meet with Bruce and Marsha Blackwell and tribe who are Aussie missionaries dedicated to teaching the Bible and are on the CS Peru board. Such a big step to live cross culturally. Outside the Lima traffic is chaotic, there are four lanes of traffic for the two lane road and we get stuck between two narrowing buses at one stage and I thought we were gone. Horns honk continuously and somehow everyone gets by. Inside with the church service it is a small oasis of peace and community. 

All the way I have taken Skegman the mascot for the 2012 International Conference and he features in many photos for his upcoming Facebook page. A final night with John Chuman and family and I am whisked off to the airport, barely five days there. So I find myself back home and recovering. I love the Peruvian food, but maybe it didn't love me back. "It was LAN Brett. Those Chileans don't know how to cook!" explained John on Skype today. The Peru/Chile rivalry runs high! 

Hawaiian Dreams

Each time I return to Hawaii its with mixed feelings. The place holds such mystique for the surfer with its famous surf breaks and massive swell as well as the beautiful climate and backdrop. But it is also a chaotic place of overcrowding, intimidation, traffic, and lost people. This trip was focused on fundraising, chaplaincy, International Conference preparation and a pioneering short-term mission.

A 9-hour flight feels short now and with just a 4-hour time difference it's an easy one on my body. Cal Fisher met me at the airport and we drove through the pineapple fields where the North Shore opens up, virtually unchanged since I first visited in 1981. Of course it has changed some, but nothing like the rampant tourism of the South Shore and you still dodge the odd chicken on the road, which does pose the question, "Why did the chicken decide to cross the road?" "To get to the surf of course!" Everyone surfs here. It is not a subculture, it is the culture and one reason I sense Christian Surfers has never really formally taken off in Hawaii. 

We stay at Eric and Sue Arakawa's place and I appreciate their faithful example and hospitality. There is a huge amount to organise for the fundraiser and a team from 'The Mission' church are helping gather auction items, organise tables, deal with caterers and plan decorations. We have focused on chaplaincy as it is an easily understood part of our mission, with Mike Stangel already having been chaplain to the Triple Crown the past four seasons. For most of the 140 attendees that Saturday night it is their first exposure to CS, so I see it as awareness raising as much as fundraising. Highlights include: Abe Andrews' bed hair as we wake him up for a live video Skype call, a powerful video testimony of Abe's chaplaincy from the ground crew of the ASP, Muelas from Peru sharing his testimony, one of the last boards in Andy Irons' Hawaiian quiver purchased by CS South Bay's Mark Chu, incredible food by Camp Homelani, over 15 church leaders receiving an insight into surf ministry, 12 shiny Christmas trees dominating the room.

For 7 years I had pitched the idea of a concentrated mission to the world's surfers as they travel in Hawaii. This year we finally tested the waters with a handful from Japan, Peru, the Canary Islands, Brazil and Australia who came for 3 weeks to pray, befriend and share. The local churches were invited and 'The MIssion' was our main partner. "I have been so inspired and reminded of the international mission opportunity right here in my backyard," said Christian, a 35-year-old local surfer. We hope to do this again, expanded following our conference in 2012. Special thanks to Andy and Jenny Carruthers for leading the team there.

Back in the old sugar mill, Eric's factory is a mix of high-tech surfboard manufacture and slow traditional craft. Erics showroom is a revolving door of pro surfers, industry leaders and local legends. World Tour veteran Jeremy Flores from Reunion Island drops in to get his big wave board for the Eddie and as he hobbles by is asked if he would like prayer for his injured ankle. "Sure, I would love that!" And our table of friends gets to stand by him as Eric prays right there. Jeremy is obvously moved and says, "I know God does all things for a reason." A local artist does amazing fibreglass art that hangs in galleries around the world, but has its beginnings amongst the red mud of the old sugar mill. 

We check out Camp Mokuleia and are stoked with our venue for the November 2012 10th anniversary International Conference. It's rustic and will be a combination of high school camp and world leadership conference right on the waters edge! We negotiate a heap of details and Cal has a big job ahead of him as the leader of the host region. Turtles flap about in the aqua bay and a monk seal is basking in the afternoon shadows. I can already visualise 200 surfers filling the place and overflowing into the camping area. I only hope we don't rock the locals too much!

The Eddie. The world's best big wave surfers come to compete at Waimea Bay in memory of Eddie Aikau who laid down his life for his friends paddling for help in the dark after their boat capsized. Sadly he violated the common conviction of staying with the boat and all were rescued later. I attend the opening ceremony and the world's elite are there with Quiksilver branding it all. A Hawaiian priest talks a lot of the 'manna' of Eddie and before I know it, it sounds like Eddie is a kind of Jesus right down to his 'power' being available to all in the water. Waaaayyyyyy too much in that. How sad we will deify a man who dies bravely but impotently, and ignore Christ who dies bravely and triumphantly. 

Flying home after just 5 days I reflect that it was another action packed Hawaiian visit. I also have a 9' Waimea gun poking out of my board bag with a cardboard box to protect it. At $170 it has become my Christmas gift from Gill. When I hold it under my arm I know I will never use it seriously, but it sure feels good! I think Hawaii is more paradise than nightmare when shared with godly friends and our egos left at home. I'll be back in November with 200 of my friends, and we will see how it is then!

ILT EXTREME! Video

ILT Meeting 2011

So, how 'hardcore' is the International Leadership Team of CSI? I figured I'd find out when we hosted them at our place over October 16-22 and test their limits. I think we all will remember the week at 'Team Extreme' as we worked hard and played hard!!!

First up on Saturday 15th we had a great intimate partners dinner hosted by the wonderful Steve and Dior Mahnken at Cronulla. What a great place to meet on the waterfront and be reminded about God at work in CSI and be entertained and challenged by Taylor's piano, Kotsy's speech, Marcus' greeting, the CSI promo DVD and my presentation.

It was a big surprise next day to hike the guys into our tent site from the top of the cliffs above my place to our hosts Tim and Kathryn Berry. I promised them it was a 5-star meeting room and 1000-star sleeping room as we camped out in tents for the next week! They loved the leeches, spiders and lizards and Sergio lost his legs for the rest of the week, "I'm a city boy, not a country boy!" he claims. However, there was some respite as the guys sat in the hot tub watching the Rugby World Cup on the big outdoor flatscreen with the odd beverage...after sneaking out of church early?!

We had an amazing time with our 2010 International Conference speaker Tim Meyers for three days of leadership development, debating issues of burnout and vitality, the nature of church and discipleship, international leadership and influence. It was an incredible privilege to glean from this brother. "Work hard and play hard" was our motto, so after the first morning of discussion and thinking, we threw Phil and Roy off a cliff, hang-gliding at Stanwell Park. Happy 50th Phil! That night the guys had to stay connected with the 'grass roots' and donned a crazy range of fancy dress to play dodgeball with our local CS groms. How Roy managed to keep attention sharing the gospel dressed in a bear suit is beyond me?! The late night camp fire was a great ending for our discussion and reflections and bunking down in the tents we got to hear all the classic Australian bush noises.

Next morning Tuesday we woke with the Kookaburra alarm. The chatty birds were our wake up call each day at daybreak...or before. Again we worked hard with Tim, then went and played hard with a drive into the National Park and a surf at Garie. The late night discussions around the campfire were stimulating.

Wednesday was Tim's last session with us, and you can't have an international speaker along and not show them some hospitality so we took him and the team to the 'cave of death' in Kiama. Tim says he will never let his international staff complain about how they 'rough it' ever again!! Crazy fun jumping off a cliff and swimming 100m into the dark of a sea cave. Great to have a meal at the home of Marcus Judge, our Board Chairman, and thanks Anne for an awesome meal.

Thursday was a day to review the world geographically as well as review our world strategies. Again, it was very special to reflect upon all that God has done amongst us and the many challenges as well. Boys being boys, it became a roof jumping challenge for the 7m diving tower. Since I have a wood fire and had run out of timber, I figured an afternoon activity of chainsaw work and log splitting would be fun. I drove away with a full trailer of timber...the guys with a full hand of blisters. Gordy is the master of the chainsaw and fell an 8m tree.

Friday was a special combined day with the CSI Board of Directors as we reviewed our systems and structures and dreamed about the future. A world swim race was held and South Africa's Roy Harley and Aussie board member Brad Whittaker are the fastest in the pool. We combined these two teams with our office team of great volunteers for a dinner at our place, Gill, the wonder host, was not phased with 25 of us there. So special to have Lisa and Phil Imisides out together after years of Phil's illness. Eric Arakawa presented Phil Williams with another 50th gift, a new surfboard.

Saturday was a Board meeting and thanks to input from Alan Vink who joined us all the way from NZ to consult, ever appreciate his wisdom. There was spirited debate about church partnering, our vision statement, affiliation and how they could support myself and the future. 

I must say, it was sad seeing the guys head off to the airport over Sunday and rather boring at the office next week (no offense to you Aaron) after such a week. I know it will go down as a life changing, team building experience and much vision and Godly principle laid that will echo into the future.

So for the 2011 International Leadership Team Meeting, it was 'Team Extreme' and I'm so encouraged we have an extreme, Godly team who also know how to have a heap of fun. Christian Surfers is in good hands.

USA: The Land of Big

Big cups, big meals, big trucks, big malls, big people. It's also big hearted, big Christian culture, big developments in Christian Surfers and of course big Dean Plumlee our CSUS Director. Ok, I'm joking Dean, he's 60kg wringing wet but got a huge heart and such a godly, talented leader.


During the course of travel I finished reading "When Helping Hurts" about how aid can be misunderstood, and I was ticking off how many mistakes I've made doing mission trips! Ouch.  

Wednesday. I had a great time with Cal our North America RC and we talked about the nations in his region, visited the national staff, checked out the new national training centre they're about to embark upon and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of Coral. The Bible says, "...there are not many fathers amongst you..." but Cal is one and a spiritual father to many.

Thursday had us get the best waves I've ever had in Florida with a zipping left-hand bank at Metanzas Inlet. Casey was stylish as usual on boards from 5' to 9'. We all got stung by jellyfish - Dean looking like they chewed him up! By divine appointment Jon from Puerto Rico happened to be in town so we had some vital discussion there, and I didn't have to leave the country! I love being in the same time zone to call any USA friends and supporters. Good fundraiser with Cal's supporters and I typically hear, "I had no idea CS was so developed!" 

Friday. Back on the plane, long talks with Cal. In LA my old friend Mark Curtis who founded the Christian Surfing Association back in 1984 puts us up. 

Saturday. It's a team meeting at 7:30 over breakky to finalize the fundraiser that night. Another meeting to discuss our International Conference. What do you do when you're "meetinged out"? Go shopping at Marshalls cheap discontinued lines. How could I refuse a $3 lime green rubber belt, or $10 felt hat, or Dean's $14 fake frilled dress shirt or Cals $10 Levis slippers!? After retail therapy we head off to a surf ministry network meeting with old and new partners. Then to the CS Chaplains Fundraiser in San Clemente. Thanks to Lyle Castellaw's team building, wonder sisters Stacey and Julie have transformed the community centre. Mark Chu and other CS leaders have rallied around 175 attendees! Pro surfer Damien Hobgood is interviewed regarding the impact of the CS chaplains, I share, items are auctioned, good food and music are provided and Hawaiian shaper Eric Arakawa exhorts us to be courageous Christians under pressure. The chaplains Abe and Liselle are a bit overwhelmed being the centre of attention when their role is not to be. What a great night!!

Sunday. Breakfast with CSUS chairman Lyle, what a great man. I preach twice at Shoreline church about God being on the move and us being willing to move with him. Special to be with Pastor George Hulse and to cheer on Walking on Water's Director Bryan Jennings who was both commissioned for ministry and his new baby girl Ella dedicated. We do the sacred walk to Trestles and the Hurley Pro contest where we see Abe in chaplain action. Then engage in running the gauntlet across the train tracks and "no entry" signs as timeless generations of surfers have done. Back to Lyle's and a highlight meeting with Dean. So challenged to be a more godly man. Goodbyes and onto LAX.

Monday. I'm supposed to be writing you from home. But a weight restriction bumped me off the standby ticket and I'm left behind! It's 1am at the Holiday Inn hotel. Bummed. I've talked to Gill, and now I've talked to you all. Goodnight see you in Australia soon. I love this job - really is such a privilege.