Sim.org.nz ¦ 5 Christian SurfersChristian International Catching the elusive Wave!! Tabitha Plueddemann Taking “seminary” to surfers On scores of beaches around the world, wild surf and warm sand have conspired to create some of the most unique “seminary” classrooms ever. Theological education, once the privilege of students who could take a hiatus from life to study in a classroom, is now increasingly available to nearly anyone, anywhere. SIM’s Bruce Blackbell grew up surfing the waves at Cronulla Beach in Sydney, Australia. At ease on a surfboard, he surfed informally with professionals. At the age of 12 he came to faith in Christ at a camp, challenged by the thought of a world beyond this one that will last for eternity. As he grew in faith, he came to know and love God for his love, mercy, forgiveness and grace. When Bruce was a teenager, a group of his peers on Cronulla Beach caught a vision for reaching other surfers for Jesus. The idea spread in Australia, initiated by Brett Davis, who founded Christian Surfers in 1977. What began with some visionary teens on surfboards is now known as Christian Surfers International (CSI) and operates in 35 of the world’s 120 “surfable” nations. (The history of CSI is detailed in a new book, Ground Swell, by Brett Davis.) In 2007 Bruce and his wife, Marsha, and their family headed to 6 ¦ J Peru with SIM. His task was to teach Theological Education by anuary 2014 Extension (TEE), a theological training course designed for students who lack the access, opportunity or funds for seminary training. Like many before him, Bruce took TEE to the Amazon jungle and the Andes Mountains. Before long he was also drawn to Peru’s surfers. Asked to serve as Board Director of Christian Surfers Peru, he quickly discovered that many surfers had a deep knowledge of the ocean, but a shallow knowledge of the Bible. So he offered to train, disciple and equip them through TEE. In this way, formally and affordably, Christian scholarship made its way to some of the world’s least-reached people: surfers. Catching that elusive wave Surfing attracts thousands of rookies, tourists and aspiring professionals to hang out at the world’s great surf destinations. For many it’s all about catching that elusive wave, hoping to be photographed, to achieve fame and fortune or to become a professional. Some will spend the day waiting for that one great wave, only to discover it’s not enough! People live for surfing at the expense of losing their family, their work, even their homes. Many are homeless, living in cars on the beach or under trees; they become hermits just to surf. People travel from all around the world to attend contests because they worship surfing. Some professionals have heard the gospel but refuse to bow down to Christ, afraid of losing sponsors and forfeiting their powerful identities and fortunes. Reaching and teaching surfers around the world In November 2012 Christian Surfers International celebrated their 20th anniversary. This gathering of wave-catching, Jesus- PRAY That TEE will be effective in grounding surfers in God’s Word That Christian surfers will be a strong witness for Christ in surfing communities That surfers worldwide will see that they need Christ loving athletes took place on the North Shore of Honolulu, Hawaii, likely to be the birthplace of surfing. Sim.org.nz The conference focused on challenging Christian surfers to ¦ prioritize Jesus over surfing, and provided ideas for reaching 7 out to surfers around the world. Bruce presented TEE, and interest grew for implementing it in several national chapters throughout Latin America. The vision is to discover and develop emerging leaders through the use of “One Universal, Non- Denominational, International Theological Extension course.” For two weeks following the conference, Bruce participated in and taught an For more information about evangelistic and discipleship outreach programme, along with others, such as Christian Surfers, visit Andy Curruthers, Chaplain to long board http://christiansurfers.net/ professionals. Volunteers from Japan, Norway, South Africa, USA, Australia, Peru and Brazil spoke to crowds along the beach while watching the Triple Crown professional surfing contests. The mission was highly successful, with three local church partners requesting that a team return to the contest every year. Thousands of people from every nation, tribe and people group compete for the coveted Triple Crown. Recently Bruce and Marsha returned to Australia to serve as mission mobilizers for SIM. Bruce works part-time as a minister in Port Macquarie, a surfing town northeast of Sydney that hosts Australia’s national surfing title contests. He continues his various leadership roles in South America, most visibly as Board Director for Christian Surfers in Peru, and travels to Peru twice a year to advocate TEE and administer diplomas. Through his work, surfers in South America are being grounded in the Word of God and equipped to help make disciples in all nations. Christian SurfersChristian International.