ADVERTISING
Let’s use the opportunity of #GivingTuesday to remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive – be it today or at any other time of the year.
Christian Surfers seeks to make the practice and culture of surfing consistent with the values of Jesus Christ. “This is about loving our neighbor and serving others”.
Members of Christian Surfers after a surf session in Spain. / Christian Surfers
"We believe that God is the creator of the world and, therefore, of the waves", says Tamiris Rahim, a surfer and a Christian.
It may seem that surfing and Christianity are two opposing things, but there is an evangelical international movement, the Christian Surfers, which seeks to make the practice and culture of surfing consistent with the values of Jesus Christ.
Their originality has led them to appear in a report in the Spanish newspaper El País, where the Spanish director of Christian Surfers has explained what they do, and why.
Marc Pradales (right), director in Spain. / Christian Surfers"This is about loving our neighbor and serving others, in our case, within the surf community", explains Marc Pradales, director of the group in Spain. He is a surf teacher and studies theology in an evangelical seminary near Barcelona.
“OTHER SURFERS ASK US A LOT OF QUESTIONS”
"Many times, on the beach, people do not even know that we are Christians", says Pradales.
"When they find out, they are surprised and ask us lots of questions, the interest in getting to know us is usually greater than ours to make us known", he told El Pais.
When asked about the lack of faith among youth, Pradales responds: "We live in postmodernity, we live in a post-Christian Spain where Christianity is seen as something of the past. But it is not".
Members of Christian Surfers Spain in their last national meeting. / Dani Gioia"We continue to believe that Jesus existed, stepped on our planet, and rose again. And we share the values he taught", he adds.
Do Christian surfers get better waves?. "No", jokes Rahim, "we actually take the worst, because we leave the best waves to our neighbor".
AN INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT
The movement started in Australia in 1983, founded by Brett Davis, a surfer who loved Jesus and working with wood, who was the first to connect the biblical teachings with the waves.
In 1999, Christian Surfers became international, and today it has ramifications in 35 countries. Its aims are to bring Jesus and his Gospel to the surfers of the world, to serve as a bridge between the church and the beach and to create missions of surfers all over the planet.
SURF AND CHRISTIANITY
"Surfing is a self-centered lifestyle, while the lifestyle of Jesus is focused on others. But there is nothing inherently wrong with surfing", Christian Surfers say on their website.
For them, being a genuine Christian surfer means not making surfing an "idol" ('because God does not admit competition') but giving all of one's life and surf to Jesus.
Jesus and surf can go together, the group says. / Christian Surfers
Here is where it gets interesting: they marry. And have kids. And Tim’s father dies.
Is the Tree a Pagan Symbol?, Is Santa the Antichrist? (and more).
Nominal Christianity, a mission field for the church
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
Ruth Valerio: A lifestyle that cares about creation
Are Christians called to make a difference in environmental care? What has creation care to do with "loving our neighbours"? An interview with the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director of Tearfund.
Kathy Bryan: Online sex trafficking in the USA
“Prostitution is nobody’s dream, it’s a very traumatic lifestyle”, says Kathy Bryan, director of the Elevate Academy. She mentors former victims.
Bulgaria: Evangelicals ask government to protect religious minorities
Christians rallied in Sofia on November 18 to defend their rights. It is the second Sunday of peaceful demonstrations against a new religion draft law that could severely restrict religious freedom and rights of minority faith confessions.
Photos: #WalkForFreedom
Abolitionists marched through 400 cities in 51 countries. Pictures from Valencia (Spain), October 20.
Photos: Reaching people with disabilities
Seminars, an arts exhibition, discussion and testimonies. The European Disability Network met in Tallinn.
Photos: Hope for Europe
Unity in Diversity is the theme of the conference. Representatives of Evangelical Alliances and many other church leaders gathered in Tallinn (Estonia).
Bulgarian evangelicals ask politicians to defend “basic freedoms”
Protests and prayers continue in Bulgaria for the sixth week.
What are the benefits of the whole family being on mission?
“We’re not taking energy from my ministry when we care for our family in missional kind of ways”, says President of Josiah Venture Dave Patty.
“We need prayers for Bulgaria”
An interview with Pastor Vlady Raichinov, Vice President of the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance.
‘Mediterráneo’
“Something will change if you have hunger and thirst for justice”, sings Spanish artist Eva Betoret in a song about the refugee crisis.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
If you want to comment, or