PRAYER DIARY JANUARY 2024

May I take this opportunity on behalf of the staff and trustee team of Christian Surfers UK to wish you a very happy new year. 2024 will be a big year for Christian Surfers UK as we continue to pray into, and plan for the future, reviewing what has gone well, and what can we do better, and what is God encouraging us to focus on in 2024. Still loving hearing stories of lives of surfers that we serve changed as a result of our partnership with God through these last 12 months, and I am excited to see similar in 2024. We know prayer works, so any opportunity you have to pray for the topics in this January update, and for the work of Christian Surfers and the surfers in your line-up, will be never wasted. Thank you, Phil Williams (National Director)

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

WORDS

Waves always look better down the beach right? It’s like that saying “the grass looks greener somewhere else.” 

Recently I was with my tribe of friends, at a fun break right out front. Limited on time before dark and the tide filling in, we quickly changed into our suits. Everyone stoked on the set that just came but not me. I was eyeing a spot that I had seen a couple days earlier, down the beach. 

As my friends went strait out I greedily jogged up toward this empty peeling left that was calling me. I just wanted one! As I made it out to the spot I looked down the beach where my crew was surfing and realized I was far from them, alone and then the wave went flat.
It was then that I realized my mistake! Just like in life, we are not supposed to be alone but we were made for community. My selfish desire for something that seemed better, was actually worse. I was away from my tribe, my crew, my friends, my family. Alone and nervous (it had that “shark:30” feel) I needed to go back but my pride was pulling me to stay for “just one more” or “things will get better, I just need a little more time” for the next set.

I wasted the daylight we had together and had to swallow my pride, admit to my self I was wrong, greedy, selfish. I needed to humble myself, paddle in and make my way back. What have they been thinking? What will they say?

Do you find yourself away from the community you left for “greener pastures”? Have you been proud, deceived by your desires and are now in a lonely place? Paddle back in today, walk up the beach toward God and the Christian tribe you left. God hasn’t stopped loving you and the community you know you need is back down the beach. 

James 4:6-8 tells us “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

It was refreshing to be back with the crew & be encouraged, comforted, safe. We all need community. Please come back down the beach. You are loved and missed. Read James 4:1-10 & reach out to a friend today. They are probably praying and waiting for your return. See also: Psalm 18:2; Proverbs 18:10; Luke 15:11-32

Kyle Sullivan, Mid Atlantic Regional Coordinator, CSUS

PRAISE POINTS

THE WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF CHRISTIAN SURFERS

We give thanks for the worldwide ministry of Christiansurfers international, a very powerful example of God using a sports ministryto reach their tribe! Over the years we have heard many stories of surfers whocame to faith through meeting Christian Surfers in another country and foundtheir home in the country they have now settled in with the tribe that theyhave connected with and a God that they have also grown to love.

As we look at the New Year, we continue to give thanks forthose leaders in all of the 30+ affiliated nations, but at the same time looktowards the challenge of growing God’s ministry to perhaps a 100+ affiliated nationsby 2030.

We also in particular want to pray for ourinternational director Roy Harley and the rest of the international leadershipteam and board of directors

WEEK 1 CSUK - OUR MISSION AND CORE VALUES

Throughout the globe, the aim of Christian Surfers is the same; it is the thing that unites us and gives us the same flavour wherever people come into contact with a CS mission. Pray that we have opportunities to connect with the wider UK surfing community in 2024, both on a national level but also at a local level, in all the communities that we are a part of, so that we would see surfers hearing and responding to the Good News of Jesus. That every surfer and every surfing community has opportunity to know and follow Jesus. Gospel-centred Faith-focused, Bible is our authority, Jesus, discipleship, prayer Matthew 28:18-20 People of integrity Accountability, godly character, authentic Titus 2:11-12, James 4:17 Inclusive Celebrate diversity, partnering, relational, community, international, open-source Galatians 3:28 Servant-hearted Humility, trust, sacrificial, empowering of others Matthew 20:26-27 Surfers Adventurous, risk-taking, innovative, have a go John 10:10

WEEK 2 CSUK - OUR BIG STRATEGIC IDEAS

Connecting Choosing to create opportunities and platforms that will help initiate relationships. e.g., our personal surfing, media, movie nights, camps, outreach contests, etc. Discipling Choosing to create opportunities and platforms that introduce and grow surfers in their life-long relationship with Jesus. e.g. local missions, Bible studies, camps, national movements, prayer, etc. Serving Choosing to create opportunities and platforms that enable us to meet the needs of our wider surfing community. e.g. chaplaincy, events, logistical support, emergency response, community development, etc. Equipping Choosing to create opportunities and platforms that empower our people to advance our mission. e.g. training, mentoring, resources, leadership development, spiritual disciplines, etc. Partnering Choosing to develop relationships of trust where sharing and joining with others helps us to achieve our vision. e.g. local churches, mission agencies, surf industry, secular surfing organisations, surf media, alumni, Aleph, etc.

WEEK 3 OUR PARTNERSHIPS

At the start of the year, it is always good to give thanks and pray for our numerous partnerships at both a national and a local level. A few are listed here, but please add to your prayer list those that you relate to locally, which, when mixed together with the national scene, gives us a great prayer focus throughout the UK. Our ongoing and new church partnerships are so important for the longevity of the mission, along with other key Christian organisations, sports ministries and denominations. In the surfing community we continue to give thanks for relationships with the likes of Surfing England, Welsh Surf Federation, Scottish Surf Federation, UK Pro Surf Tour, Wave Project, Surfers Against Sewage, Boardmasters, and the numerous local surf clubs that we are a member of, and of course our local surf shops. We give thanks for the media partners who continue to support the work we do, and our other retail links who also help us throughout the year.

WEEK 4 OUR PEOPLE

Surfers, friends, supporters, members, and partners are so important to our ongoing ministry. We have never counted up just how many people come across Christian Surfers UK in a year, but I am sure it goes in to the thousands. Let us take time out to pray for these connections. Firstly, for those within the ministry, our members and the leaders who give their time to help support the staff and trustee team. Praying for some real breakthroughs in 2024 with regards to new young leaders coming through and opportunities to broaden our horizons regarding giving people the opportunity to serve and be trained.

In particular in January we would like to say a very big thank you to one of our founder Trustee members Dave Matthews, who has stepped down at the end of 2023 after over 25 years as a Trustee, serving the people and ministry of Christian Surfers Uk selflessly, and investing so much time to pray and practically help the mission. Dave, thank you so so much, ‘Well done oh good and faithful servant ….’ Matthew 25 v 23. We would also like to say a huge thank you to Mary Matthews as well for sharing Dave with us, but also your huge commitment to the mission.   Of course the final area for our prayers is for the surfers that we see in our line-ups, at our contests, and wherever the surfing community meets. Let us pray for breakthroughs and expect God to make a difference in 2024 because we all know that God love surfers as much as anybody else in this world. Amen