CSUK PRAYER DIARY MARCH 2024

A very warm welcome to this latest edition of our prayer diary; we very much hope that it helps you in your prayers for the ministry of CSUK. We are always keen to get feedback so if there are things that you think we could alter or add in to this monthly update please let me know.

The calendar year has started up pretty rapidly and we are already into our first event in March which will be the Leadership Gathering, a real time of importance as we focus on the theme Reflect, refresh, refocus.

The trustees had a quality time together in early February looking at our vision for not only this year, but far into the future and we would love to begin to share these ideas and plans with you as the year goes on. We really appreciate the fact that you also may have some real good insight into this, and there will be opportunities for you to input as the year goes on

Our first major outreach event, the Jesus Longboard Classic, is scheduled to be held in Polzeath (based at the Tubestation) over the weekend of 27-28 April; please pray for that as well as getting involved by volunteering if you can.

Thanks for your prayers - always appreciated.

Phil

PHIL WILLIAMS
NATIONAL DIRECTOR CSUK

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

GRATITUDE

As surfers we get the privilege of experiencing amazing things: the sky on fire at sunset and sunrise, beautiful seascapes, sea birds flying in formation, the odd curious seal popping up to say hello, all while riding amazing waves. All of this would mean little if we didn’t know the creator God who made it all, and not only that, he came to this planet to give himself as a ransom for me, and for you.

Spending time in the ocean inspires gratitude for all of it, and that’s not a bad mind set to remain in. The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that our main purpose as humans is to,“Glorify God and enjoy him forever.” Living with that in mind is so liberating,because we then function in his grace, not our own efforts.

The first chapter of Ephesians tells us to give, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” Wow! That perspective inspires praise! That reality is uplifting.

Are you going through tough times? It can be so hard sometimes to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Gratitude doesn’t deny the suffering, but it does remind us of the big picture and the reward waiting for us. Thankfulness gives us a reason to get up in the morning. Corrie Ten Boom (look up her life story) said, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.”

DAVE KEMENY
LLANELLI

DIARY DATES 2024

CSUK Leadership Gathering 15-17 March, St George’s House, Georgeham

Jesus Longboard Classic 27-28 April, Polzeath

Scottish Surf Champs
29-31 March, Thurso CSUK Summer Gathering Date and venue TBC
Creation Fest
1-4 August, Wadebridge Boardmasters 7-11 August, Newquay Jesus Surf Classic 21-22 September tbc, Croyde Bay CSUK Men’s Weekend
4-6 October, Widemouth Bay
CSUK Women’s Weekend
8-10 November, St Georges House, Georgeham

PRAISE POINTS

THE SURFERS BIBLE PROJECT

As many of you are aware, CS undertook a big fundraiser day, termed the ‘Surfathon’, in October last year and as a result an incredible $160,000 was raised towards printing and distribution of the new Surfers Bible. The fantastic news is that printing is nearly complete and the Bibles are about to be loaded on a boat and brought over to the UK. Please pray for all the logistics connected with this but more importantly give thanks for Jonno Bailey and the team who have been working so hard to bring this to fruition. It’s an amazing opportunity we have in 2024 and beyond to get the word of God into the hands of surfers for free.

GLOBAL LEADERS PRAYER AND VISION ZOOM CALL

On 28 February the first CS International local leaders and board members prayer and vision session was held. In total, 66 leaders from around the world gathered for a time of prayer and information sharing in areas such as: Groundswell Aid, the Surfers Bible, and the exciting CS Style Guide. Please continue to pray for Roy and the team as particularly at this time of year there is always a financial challenge.

LOCAL CS GATHERINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE

Give thanks for the CS teams in East Anglia, Wales, and Bristol for very encouraging meet ups, and for the CS Newquay team sharing at St Gregory’s Church.

WEEK 1

CSUK PRAYER INITIATIVE

PRAYER MEETING

MONDAY 4 MARCH ON ZOOM, 7:30PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7815018182?pwd=UmYxTXY2QTdMYVQ3OUFmS1MvY2pYdz09 Meeting ID: 781 501 8182 Passcode: 867419

Prayer is so important in the life of Christian Surfers UK and gathering together once a month online is a real privilege. It’s always an encouraging time, so if you are free we would love for you to join us at 7:30pm on Monday 4 March

(Next month’s prayer Zoom will take place on Tuesday 9th April at 7:30 pm)

WEEK 2

EVENTS

CSUK LEADERSHIP GATHERING

15-17 MARCH, NORTH DEVON

We would value your prayers for our annual gathering of the leadership and significant others as we will be spending time together, giving thanks for the year gone by, and also looking to the years in front of us. In particular we will not only look at Roy’s challenge to Christian Surfers throughout the world to have 100 affiliated nations and 1000 local groups by 2030, but also at what CSUK needs to do to ensure it is fit for purpose moving forward to build on the fantastic history we have already had.

JESUS LONGBOARD CLASSIC

27-28 APRIL, POLZEATH

One of our favourite events of the year, the Jesus Jongboard Classic, has once again been scheduled for the spring in 2024, rather than October. This was trialled last year and worked really well, and once again we are so pleased to be partnering with Tubestation as well as our fantastic sponsors.

The event is based at Polzeath, North Cornwall, and we would love to have a really good team to once again deliver a brilliant contest, including an innovative and thought-provoking surfers blessing. We look forward to welcoming some of our regular volunteers but it’s also a great event to come and volunteer at for the first time, and we are convinced you will enjoy it.

So, if you are interested in joining the team, click the link below, sign up, and we will give you more details. Thanks so much for your support - we could not do it without you.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE JESUS LONGBOARD CLASSIC HERE

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

As well as the opportunity to volunteer at the Jesus Longboard Classic as above, there are as always other events where you can volunteer for the ministry. Please consider putting the events below in your diary, and there will be the opportunity to sign up for them in the coming months.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL SURF CHAMPIONSHIPS

29-31 MARCH, THURSO, SCOTLAND

We have been serving at this event for well over 10 years and we continue to give thanks for the team in the North who give up their time willingly over the Easter weekend. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get to know the Scottish surfers at their biggest event of the year, by serving teas and coffees to the judges and others, and being involved in other key elements of the event. If you would like to volunteer and would like to know more, please contact Mike Kissack on michaelkissack a_t gmail d_o_t com

CREATION FEST

1-4 AUGUST, ROYAL CORNWALL SHOWGROUND, WADEBRIDGE

Always a fantastic connection point for CS members and other friends. We traditionally have a stand and would love people to volunteer for a shift or two.

32ND JESUS SURF CLASSIC

21-22 SEPTEMBER (TBC), NORTH DEVON

Probably our biggest outreach event and therefore requiring a wide range of volunteers in all sorts of capacities in order to make this event a fantastic community gathering of the surfing community.

WEEK 3

LOCAL PEOPLE AND GROUPS

YORKSHIRE & THE NORTH EAST

CHRISTIAN SURFERS IN YORKSHIRE & THE NORTH EAST

If you have never had the opportunity to travel to the North East coast of England for surfing, it is an amazing community, growing rapidly in numbers of surfers as technology such as wetsuit design improves, and for years we have been praying into finding key contacts in this area. Historically there have been one or two areas of activity, particularly at Scarborough, with one or two contacts in the Tynemouth area, but we long for more. Please therefore continue to pray we would find a breakthrough and begin to see a Christian Surfers presence growing along the east coast of England from Scarborough northwards, and also those travelling from Cumbria on the West Coast.

I recently spent a week up in the north-east in Seahouses and near Bamburgh and saw some amazing surf, but very few surfers at this time of year, although I know further south there are some great surf schools, surf shops, and surfing communities.

Note - Picture below was taken 10 years ago when we supported the UK Pro Surf Tour at Tynemouth

CS LEADERS IN YORKSHIRE & THE NORTH EAST

Alice Ovenden (CSUK trustee) - Alice is based in York and has been an incredibly faithful member and trustee for many, many years. Please continue to pray for her in her busy work role and also for connections in the surf industry that she hears about through our networks.

Currently, now that Angie has moved south we have no formal leadership contact in the North East (Tynemouth area) although there has been a new contact very recently which is really exciting; hopefully this can be developed and we will update you when this happens. We also give thanks for Sophie who is currently living in Scarborough, and to pray for her contacts.

We continue to give thanks for Steve Wilson and Paul Agnew who for so long led the work on the West Coast near Carlisle, and continue to pray for them and their families.

WEEK 4

PARTNERSHIPS

Whilst we don’t have any official partnerships up in this area of the country, it would be good to pray for two of our established partners as they have just appointed new chief executive officers. Please pray for them and for the ongoing relationship with CSUK.

Surfers Against Sewage welcomes Giles Bristow to the role, bringing lots of experience from other NGOs, whilst Wave Project has brought in Ramon Van de Velde to the role, having come from the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Both these organisations do some amazing work and we continue to pray for them and their leadership teams.