Christian Surfers
Christian Surfers is an interdenominational mission movement composed of members who believe in God amongst the global surfing community. It was founded in the late 1970s in Cronulla, Australia.
![](../I/Christian_Surfers_International_Cross_Paddle_Out_Australia_2016.jpg.webp)
Background
![](../I/Christian_Surfers_International.jpg.webp)
The movement, which is incorporated as a not-for-profit in Australia, also has chapters in over 35 countries worldwide including New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, France, Japan, Spain, Norway, Costa Rica, and Brazil. Christian Surfers have received recognition for their commitment to the international surfing community, organic faith initiatives, and compassionate activities such as tsunami-relief[1] and other aid projects, as well as providing chaplaincy[2] to the World Surf League. The Christian Surfers International website[3] is the primary source for information about the work of Christian Surfers globally.
CS (as it is often referred to) publishes the Surfers Bible,[4][5] runs mission trips, camps and surf comps like the Jesus Surf Classic[6] and the Jesus Pro Am,[7] premieres films in conjunction with Walking on Water, provides a positive mentoring environment for young surfers, offers hospitality for traveling surfers, and undertakes numerous social action initiatives (in the countries listed above, and also abroad).[8]
At its core the movement's goal is that every surfer and every surfing community has opportunity to know and follow Jesus.[9][10]
Members
Notable members of the movement include:
- Bethany Hamilton
- C.J. Hobgood
- Damien Hobgood
- Bianca Buitendag
- Timmy Curran
- Tom Curren
- Skip Frye
- Joey Buran[11]
- Glyndyn Ringrose
- Al Merrick[12]
- Eric Arakawa[13]
- John Carper (JC Surfboards)
References
- Williams, Phil (November 27, 2006). "Christian Surfers UK Tsunami Cup goes off in Porthcawl". Surfers Village (Global Surf News). Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- Mull, Jeff (October 5, 2010). "The First ASP Chaplain: An Interview With Abe Andrews". Surfer Magazine. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- Christian Surfers International http://www.christiansurfers.net
- Burke, Kelly (May 24, 2002). "May the board, er, Lord be with you". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- "Surf Bible for Australian 'grommets'". BBC Asia-Pacific. May 24, 2002. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- "Croyde Bay's Jesus Surf Classic defies the forecast". Surfer's Village. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- Jesus Pro Am http://www.jesusproam.com.au
- Christian Surfers International: What We Do http://www.christiansurfers.net/what-we-do/ Archived 2016-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
- Christian Surfers International: About Us http://www.christiansurfers.net/about-us/ Archived 2016-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
- "Surfing the Christian message". BBC. August 16, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- Virgen, Steve (July 25, 2009). "Buran officially in Hall". Huntington Beach Independent. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- "Entries – Merrick al – Encyclopedia of Surfing". Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- "How Eric Arakawa Builds Boards for Happiness and a Higher Calling".