Winter 2012 Edition - Christian Surfers Australia

inside
PRAY IT UP FOR CSA
Dignity & Bravery
A
s I’ve been praying about CSA I felt that two words became
extremely significant and needed to be shared: DIGNITY,
and BRAVERY. So before I encourage you to pray your heart out
for CSA, I hope that these two words jump out of the the page
and grab the heart of those who need to hear it. Be reminded
that you are “Clothed in dignity and strength” (Prov 31:25). It is
my prayer that CSA is a mission that imparts dignity to all those
we meet, and that we walk in the dignity we embody. You are a
child of God. You are clothed in dignity. I also pray that we are
a mission full of brothers and sisters that realise how strong we
really are through God’s Spirit that lives within us. May we use
this strength with the fierce bravery.
wa
•
SA
•
For us to continue to seek God to provide and grow more
leaders for the region, so we can see more surfers’ lives
transformed.
NATIONAL GATHERING
SUNSHINE COAST QLD
Christian Surfers Australia Newsletter – Issue 14 Winterw 2012
PADDLE AGAINST POVERTY
WOLLONGONG, NSW
PRAY IT UP
for csa
Newcastle Beach
PADDLE AGAINST POVERTY 2012
WOLLONGONG PARTICIPANTS,
each stoked to have made the
15km paddle, and even more
stoked to have raised over
$4,000 for Compassion, Elevate
Bali and a young local surfer
suffering from cancer.
PHOTO BY AARON HUGHES
17
& 18 Nov
www.jesusproam.com.au
For Justin and Liana, particularly a boost in support as it is
very low at present and we need to see it rise with all the
amazing doors of ministry God is opening up.
•
For the reemergence of the South Coast mission in the
coming weeks.
•
Praise God for the numerous amounts of awakenings to
who Jesus is, at the moment in SA. We are in harvest time!
NSW central
•
For the new and emerging missions Bondi, Dee Why &
Central coast.
•
Advanced prayer for conference team 2013
•
Newcastle as they prepare for City Fest and JPA
•
Filling the gap as JPA director
NSW NORTH
•
Praise the King that we’ve recently seen a number of
peeps come to know Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Eternity begins... now!
•
Ask God that we’d see even more spiritual breakthroughs,
and that our CS crew will continue to be frothingly
committed to saturating the world around them with grace
– for revival only comes with sacrifice.
•
Please pray for sustained and sustainable leadership in
CS. Pray that the Lord of all would provide all the spiritual,
emotional and material resources we need for the task set
before us. Support CSA
with your mobile!
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will go to support
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Keep
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RUNNING
THE RACE
with
CS Girls
•
THANKS & praise to God for the things he did at National
Gathering in the area of CS Girls. Heart felt thanks & hugs
to the response of our CS brothers & sisters. Epic!
•
That God would provide girls with great spiritual
communities to support & nourish their growth (church,
Christian mentors & counsellors, CS community).
•
That we see a new culture rise amidst the girls – deeply
connected with God, understanding who He has made
them to be and living an overwhelmingly purposed life to
the full. Yeeewww!! For more info email Nerida, National Prayer Coordinator:
[email protected]
call 1300 11 8281
www.networkcommunications.com.au
DONATE TO CSA
BSB: 036123
ACC: 296600
Snail: PO Box 5213 Busselton, WA 6280
www.christiansurfers.org.au
C
ool town went off with a bang, National Gathering was
amazing and I hope you all had the chance to look at
YOUR MOBILE
H
the speaking sessions that were posted online (see
THIS IN & G
WIT
G
IN
www.christiansurfers.org.au). It is always great when we get
Surfers
MONTH 5% of your bill goes to Christian together
to get waves, laugh, pray, break out into a spontaneous
FREE *
chicken dance and hear from God.
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1300 11 8281 www.networkcommunications.com.au
Sad to send off Jono and Naomi Bailey as they move on from the
QLD Regional Coordinators role and God moves them into new things.
I was stoked to be able to watch the speaking sessions online and
*Valid only at Network Communications. Limit of 1 per customer.
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No change given. Voucher must be presented.
be able to take them in, as normally during the sessions my mind is a
few steps ahead to ensure things go smoothly and I often miss some
of the sessions. Travis Fitch brought some good words and I am sure
more that a few crew were deep in thought and prayer as they made
their way home.
SUPPORT CHRISTIAN SURFERS
BR
That God will continue the good work he started in CS
girls’ hearts at National Gathering; growing them in
spiritual maturity, accountability, transparency & wisdom.
(Philippians 1:6)
1
ET
•
Endurance
printed within ISO14001
Environmental certification.
god’s creation is beautiful,
lets care for it.
Christian Surfers Australia Inc. No: A0050921T
Often conferences and the like can really stir us and we make all
these resolutions about changing and doing things differently and if
we are honest, life sets in and those things often become just a good
idea or fade away into the background. I loved what Travis said about
the ‘one thing for one month’. Starting with one thing, with a time limit,
so it is much more measurable. Hebrews 12 talks of running the race
with endurance that is set before us and verse 2 –
looking unto Jesus, the author and perfector
of our faith. I pray this scripture is close to you
as you journey and that you continue to look
to Jesus.
Steve Bailey
National Director
Christian Surfers Australia
NG12
Paddle against poverty
Photos by THE LIGHT BY THE SEA
“Great unity & family feel, despite short time still able to engage &
connect with Jesus and others in an authentic and meaningful way. God
moved & the group was willing to move with Him & desired to listen to
where he was speaking in our lives and a movement to grow and be
refined. So encouraging & precious”
“Great that the teaching sessions were recorded, looking forward to
sharing with crew who couldn’t make it to NG12. Guys & girls sessions
really valuable times of ministry. Fantastic to have the kids involved in
the festivities!”
“It was my first conference so I wasn’t sure
what to expect, it was awesome!”
“Fantastic gathering.
Great job by all.”
Jono and Naomi Bailey
(CS QLD RCs) made a
final regional report as
RCs after announcing
they are stepping aside
from the RC role at the
CSA National Gathering.
Jono has served in this
role for the past seven years and is aware of God’s timing to pass
on the baton. Currently there are some excellent applications being
considered by Steve Bailey for the QLD RC role. Jono and Naomi
are planning to continue to serve in CS in local mission whilst
pursuing some exciting dreams God has placed on their hearts for
future ministry.
Two perspectives – “echoes in eternity”
T
W
en years ago I went to the premiere of the CS
e sometimes reminisce about “The Outsiders” premiere at Town Hall. It
movie “The Outsiders”. The crew were handing
was the first big CS event we ran and it went off. Nothing to do with us
out raffle tickets for a prize at the end of the night. I
though. Frankly it was amazing how it didn’t end up a total debacle. It was one
wanted to discard mine as my thinking was, “I never win
of those times when a heap of passion and bad decision-making gets stirred
anything…”
together yet somehow ends up with God saving the day.
After the movie, they drew out the raffle tickets and after
You name it we had hassles with it – issues with key people, egos bouncing
three rounds of elimination I was one of two left standing in a
off the walls, technical wonkiness, marketing flip-outs, spiraling costs…the whole
packed Town Hall. I had won my first ever surfboard, Shaped
thing. Ha! Some things don’t change all that much eh!
by Al Merrick, signed by Britt Merrick; “To Hayley, Jesus loves
But at the end of the night we drove home blown-out about how God had
you! Blessings.” Blown away by the prize I had received, that
shown up. How many crew decided to follow Jesus. How many great convos
surfboard never left my possession.
had gone down all around the hall. How good the movie was (still my favourite
During High School I had many mates that were part of CS. I
in the genre). How many Surfers Bibles walked out the door. Utterly epic.
always wanted to learn how to surf and put my prize to good use
I remember standing uncomfortably up on stage handing out all these
but it didn’t happen during that season.
give-aways to hordes of groms. The little frothers are always on the lookout
After walking through the wilderness for 4 years, I got ‘saved’ at
for free stuff. It was me and Wellsey – him cracking jokes, and doing crazy
16. But when I turned 18 I was making some pretty bad choices that
dance antics, me just wanting to get the heck off stage.
lead me to move to Coffs Harbour to study. After moving to Coffs I
Fast-forward a decade and we’ve long since moved up the coast.
ended up at my local church and at 19 I made Jesus my Lord.
We’re still part of CS, actually are gearing up for a bunch of groms
In my local church I met my now fiancé who was the Mission
coming over in a few hours. We’re also teaching at a small Bible
Coordinator for CS Coffs. I signed up as a CS leader in 2010 and over
College. Through that V is mentoring a classic chick called Hayley who
the course of the next few months discovis doing an internship with CS. She’s smart, bubbly, loves Jesus, and
ered the man who handed the prize to me
though (or maybe because) she’s
way back in 2002 was in fact the mighty Nic
walked a tough road, she knows
Gilmour who is now my Regional Coordinator,
how important the work of CS
bible college teacher and big brother in the
is. You can see it in the way she
faith! The only board I have and surf with is the
loves-on the groms. She’s like
Faithful Al Merrick Flyer from “The Outsiders”
the all-time older sister they
premiere 10 years ago! Praise God!!
never had.
Hayley Morgan
Nic & V Gilmour
he surf was pumping and the sun beating down as the paddlers
for the Wollongong’s 12th annual Paddle Against Poverty arrived
one-by-one early on Saturday morning. As is usual for the event,
the diversity of paddlers quickly became apparent as tiny, 13-yearold bodyboarder Darcy King registered directly before a group of
much larger and older Bulli boys, including Sandon Point Boardriders
president Jason Gava, a veteran of the pro surfing tour. They in turn
were followed up by India Davis and Sophie Peatman, two 14-year-old
girls, both of whom have only recently taken up surfing.
Pushing through the waves and out far beyond the curious surfers, the
group started paddling south with an easy north-westerly wind blowing at
their back, exactly as forecast and precisely what was needed. However,
heading straight across the front of Coalcliff, a big south-westerly kicked
up right in everyone’s face, leaving the stand-up paddlers especially
concerned. “Paddling against the wind on one of these things is virtually
impossible, you’re basically a sail,” experienced paddler Brett Jones stated.
Thankfully the breeze was short-lived and an even stronger north-westerly
kicked up at the southern end of the Sea Cliff Bridge pushing everyone
along speedily.
The paddle was completed in record time with all 40 paddlers arriving
on the beach in Thirroul shortly after 10:30am from an 8am start. For the
sake of safety the group always sticks together with stragglers receiving
a short tow to keep up with the faster paddlers. This year there were few
tows required though as most completed the approximate 15km with
their own two arms burning with each stroke. “It’s hurting, but I’m
determined not to get a tow this year!” stated 15-year-old bodyboarder
Jack Morgan of Thirroul as he paddled past the half-way point of
Sharkey’s Beach in Coledale.
It was once again a great event that could not have
been possible without the gracious support
of the Coledale SLSC and Volunteer
Coast Guard giving up their time, along with the ever-faithful Dickie Barton
bringing ‘Percy B’ for the 12th year in a row! Each year a lot of effort is put
in by many to make the paddle happen, from the organising, to the safety
and water support, land support, and especially those digging their arms in
and those sponsoring the paddlers.
Chris Homer of Warilla Beach had only heard of the paddle the night
before through a Facebook status update, yet organised a board and
ventured north, “It’s a very well run event. It’s an exciting adventure and for
such a great cause, I’ll be bringing plenty more people from down my way
next year!” he stated.
Close to $5000 has been raised so far and this will be split between
three causes. It will first cover the sponsorship of 5 children for the coming
year through Compassion Australia, providing them with food, education,
shelter and clothing. The rest of the money will be split between Elevate
Bali, who enable indigenous Indonesians to work with and educate the
poor within their own communities, and local surfer Jamie Maguire, who is
battling cancer. We are stoked to see the surf community of our area, who
are blessed to live in such a safe and beautiful place, give back to those
less fortunate.
It’s a mission for everyone, but well worth the life-enablement provided
for the children who so desperately need it, and we want to send out a
huge thank-you to all those involved! Special thanks to Christian Surfers
Australia, Matt Jolley Builders, Harvey’s Gourmet Butchery, Samuel’s
Restaurant, Laww Media and Luke Avenue for their contributions, as well
as Coledale paddler Scott Newland who earned himself a voucher for
Samuel’s Restaurant in Thirroul for raising the most donations!
Donations are still welcome! We’d love to see these impoverished
children, the Indonesian surfing community and Jamie Maguire
further supported. You can donate by direct deposit to
Christian Surfers Australia, BSB: 036123, Acc No:
296619 and note ‘PAP Gong’.
CS WA Serve at margaret river pro
A
utumn in Australia means a lot to us surfers. The swells get
bigger, the wind lighter, our anticipation increases and the
tap-nose starts.
Margaret River is no exception. Every autumn pro surfers flock here
to pit their talents against names such as Slater, Fanning & Burrow at the
annual Margaret River Pro. And in amongst this maelstrom surfing talent,
photographers, groupies, roadies and Internet live-streaming techno
wizards are the CS WA crew. They quietly, humbly and lovingly serve
these people with the hope that they might just get an opportunity to
share the love of our God and the hope we have in Christ, verbally as well
as in deed.
This was a year of firsts for me as RC for WA. It was the first time
I’ve actively sought volunteers from other states to help at the Pro, and
it was also the first year I didn’t attend the event (due to the birth of our
daughter Sharly). I’ll be totally honest and admit that I was a little more
than apprehensive to pass the responsibilities of running the team on,
however, God provided me with a more than suitable leader in Matty
Lennon, who was up to the challenge.
The crew who came to help out from the East Coast (Dave, Michelle
and Murray) were all great missionaries, and actually served as part of
the backbone of the team as they were there for the entire week. The
team also consisted of local WA crew (Courtney Whyte, Julia Skleryk,
Rob & Cat Lowther, Byron Wilson, Rod Wiseman and Roz Dekker) as well
as Perth Surfers DTS head honcho Terry Bowdler (YWAM). It was really
encouraging for me to see the team increase from 8 (past two years) to
12 as it makes the work load so much lighter and gives us more head
space to concentrate on being a ‘Presence and Witness’.
The feedback from the event staff was fantastic, and I don’t think
there’d be much, if anything, that we could improve on.
I’d just like to say thanks to everyone who came to help out this year,
and also want to again recognise the efforts of Matt Lennon (Team
Leader). Without him we would have had to pull out this year, making it
much harder to continue next year, so thanks again, mate.
If you’d like to be involved next year keep an eye out on the CSA
Facebook page and website, or if you super keen to secure your spot
then email me now [email protected] and we’ll lock you in.
Ben Fearnley
Photos by Aaron Hughes
T
C
hristian Surfers Australia converged on the golden sandy
shores of Coolum Beach, Sunshine Coast QLD for the annual
Easter National Gathering 5th to 9th April 2012. The theme,
“The Wavemaker’s Apprentices”, seemed fitting as the Creator sent
clean swell lines in the 2ft to 5ft range throughout the whole weekend.
Metaphorically, waves of change occurred in the hearts of the CSA
crew as Trav Fitch (the Abbey, WA) taught about being apprentices of the
Wavemaker, who has and continues to make counter-cultural waves in
our society. The teaching sessions were amazing and you can watch them
online (see www.christiansurfers.org.au).
The CS community night also sent waves through the community as
local bands played in the park and the new Philippines documentary, “Living
on Cloud Nine” – produced by CS in partnership
with the Australian Christian Channel,
shared a message of compassion to
hundreds of locals and holiday makers
on the big outdoor screen. CSA was the
talking point in town as the Sunday morning dawn
service and paddle out (forming the cross) was held off Coolum Beach’s
main headland, point Perry. The morning was a stunning testimony to the
greatness of God as the clouds parted for a glorious sunrise over
the cross.
Many fun sessions were had in and out of the water, as CSA crew
re-aquainted or forged new bonds of friendship and camaraderie. This
was brought to a culmination as the CSA girls session with Jods and guys
around the bonfire shared heart to heart before taking communion as a
family all together on the final evening.
All in all, the CSA national gathering was again a huge highlight for
many. Here are some comments from our feedback survey:
WOLLONGONG 2012