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CSUK Prayer Diary June 2024
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I hope and pray you are all well.
I find myself in quite a strange, but at the same time exciting, place as I’m writing this introduction for the last time for the next three months. As many of you are aware, after 32 years the trustees and I have agreed that I will take a sabbatical for the summer months of June, July and August, starting on 8th June. This is so that I can begin to reflect, pray, and plan, and to prepare myself for what life will look like when I finally step down as National Director of Christian Surfers UK in Summer 2025.
I would appreciate your prayers for the time I spend both on my own and also with Annie, as well as other key connections, the opportunity to travel, and to undertake training courses. There is an opportunity later on here to support this initiative financially (but no pressure at all); however your prayers are always so much appreciated.
As a result of me stepping out for this time, please pray in particular for the trustees and Ali as they pick up the additional tasks, especially during the busy summer months of events and holidays. I, of course, will try to make sure everything is handed over well, but there will still be additional pressures.
Also would really value your prayers as we begin to go out to market to advertise for a new administrator to take over from Ali when she steps down at the end of September after the Jesus Surf Classic. This is a critical role in the life of Christian Surfers UK and we ask for your prayers and support during this process; as we all know, Ali will be a very hard person to replace.
With regards to Annie and me, we will be travelling in the UK and will not be ignoring our Christian Surfers family, so I do look forward to catching up with some of you if we are passing, and whilst we might not talk about CSUK things, we can talk about family life and all the things that matter to us and have done over all these years.
Thank you all for your input, especially the trustees, as this is a significant part of the transition process.
Phil
PHIL WILLIAMS
NATIONAL DIRECTOR CSUK
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CHRISTIAN SURFERS UK NATIONAL GATHERING CAMP OUT
7-9 JUNE, TINTAGEL - DON’T MISS OUT!
Booking officially closed on the 31st May but you can still book on if you act NOW and register before the end of Sunday 2 June! It’s going to be an amazing weekend.
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THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
FERTILE GROUND
Riding waves, connecting with the natural, created environment, and searching for the next wave, are all positive things to do, and can lead naturally to asking the big questions about life, the universe, and everything. But equally, it doesn't take long to realise that the world has become a scary and confusing place. If you have followed Jesus for a while, you may have noticed something about yourself. You worry less, you fear things less than you used to. And that's because you place your security in the Prince of Peace. So, you are becoming the type of person that others turn to in a crisis, or just in life generally.
Keep that in mind as we consider the signs of the times and the best way to respond. It's easy to get down about the way things are but I believe God is calling us to be beacons in the dark and shelters in the storm. The leaders of the tribe of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12 understood and could interpret the signs of the times and could lead Israel in the right direction.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus talks about the seed that fell on the fertile ground and how it resulted in a massive harvest (Matthew 13: 8,9). There is a lot of fertile ground out there now. People are hungry for meaning and purpose and are turning to God. There is a growing realisation that the world doesn't offer the answers. These are the signs of our times. So, let's get sowing into the lives of our friends and families. None of it will be wasted, but it will result in lives changed, and even saved. Like the men of Issachar, it's our job to steer people in the right direction, and to sow seed into that fertile ground.
DAVE KEMENY
LLANELLI
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SUPPORTING PHIL WILLIAMS SABBATICAL - AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOUR PHIL AND ANNIE
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As per the recent communications that you should have received, the trustee body has committed to support Phil and Annie through this transition process, and as part of this we are providing an opportunity for a sabbatical for Phil and hopefully for some of the time, Annie too. The sabbatical planned for June to August will provide an opportunity for reflection, retreat, restoration, and rest; importantly a time to seek God for what He has for their future.
Just to let you know that if you wanted to honour Phil and Annie via support for his sabbatical, but have not yet followed this through, it’s not to late to contribute. It would be amazing if you could action this before the end of this month, so that they know what finances are available to support this.
There are two different ways you can give.
1. Giving directly to Phil’s account held by Stewardship through the link below. (If you are a tax payer this will add a further 25% to your donation, but not cost you anything extra.)
GIVE A ONE OFF GIFT HERE
Let’s get behind Phil and Annie at this time.
Yours,
Mike, Andi, Alice, Rob, Chelsea, Ben,
Helen, Andrew & Jonathan
CSUK TRUSTEES
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CSUK Summer Gathering
7-9 June, Tintagel, Cornwall
Creation Fest
1-4 August, Wadebridge
Boardmasters
7-11 August, Newquay
Jesus Surf Classic
21-22 September, Croyde Bay
CSUK Men’s Weekend
4-6 October, Widemouth Bay
CSUK Women’s Weekend
8-10 November, St George’s House, Georgeham
CSUK Leadership Gathering
14-16 March 2024, St George’s House, Georgeham
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A TRIBUTE TO SHAUN MARLOW
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Sunday 12 May was a special day for many of those in CSUK and far further afield to celebrate the life of Shaun Marlow, amazing husband and father to Jules and T. Around 200 people took part in an emotional ‘paddle out’ at Saunton, where people shared their love and memories of Shaun. Please continue to pray for Jules and T, and anybody else that we know at this time who is grieving.
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As many of you are aware CS worldwide undertook a big fundraiser day, the Surfathon, in October 2023 and as a result an incredible $160,000 was raised towards printing and distribution of the new Surfers Bible. The fantastic news is that as we speak 1500 new testament Bibles are on a boat heading to the UK. These should arrive in the first week of July and we are excited to be able to start distributing and using them from then on. This has happened a little bit later than we planned, and officially when Phil is on his sabbatical, so please pray that we have a system in place to be able to store and ship and/or post Bibles out as they are required.
Very much hoping that they will be available at Creation Fest for any of those visiting to check them out, and please pray for this global project.
It’s an amazing opportunity we have in 2024 and beyond to get the word of God into the hands of surfers for free. Please also pray for distribution of the new French Surfers Bible as it arrives in July as well, before the Olympic games.
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After having to postpone the event twice, at the third time of asking the junior divisions of the prestigious Welsh Surf Championships got underway at Llantwit Major. It is hoped that the older categories will be held later on in the year,
Conditions were somewhat windy and quite small but it didn’t stop enthusiasm from all the Welsh juniors. A big thank you to Rhydian for waving the CS flag as beach marshal for the day in replacement of Morgan. Great to see the the CS Wales involvement continue.
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WEEK 1
CSUK PRAYER INITIATIVE
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PRAYER MEETING
MONDAY 10 JUNE ON ZOOM, 7:30PM
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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 10 June.
(Next month’s prayer Zoom will take place on Tuesday 9 July at 7:30 pm)
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CHRISTIAN SURFERS UK NATIONAL GATHERING
7-9 JUNE, TINTAGEL
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The CSUK National Gathering Camp Out is an opportunity to come together, catch up with old friends, make new friends and dig into our shared mission that every surfer and ocean dweller might have the opportunity to know Jesus - the original walker on water!
So please pray for those who will be gathering together for the weekend, hanging out with Jesus and each other that we hear God speak clearly as he invites us to lean into him as we ask…what next?
Booking via Eventbrite officially closed on the 31st May but if you wanted to enquire about any late availability, please contact Ali at office a_t christiansurfers d_o_t co d_o_t uk
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CREATION FEST
1-4 AUGUST, ROYAL CORNWALL SHOWGROUND, WADEBRIDGE
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There is a longstanding connection between Christian Surfers UK and Creation Fest, which exists to celebrate the good news of the God who loves us through festivals, events and gatherings. The summer festival at the Royal Cornwall Showground (which is free to attend and well worth checking out if you’ve never been) is always a fantastic connection point for CS members and other friends. Ali will be heading up the stand in the Exhibition space, so come and say hello if you are visiting, and if you’d like to volunteer for an hour or two chatting about the mission of CSUK or selling merchandise, then we’d love to have you join the team!
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32ND JESUS SURF CLASSIC
21-22 SEPTEMBER, CROYDE BAY, NORTH DEVON
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“ Hanging out with the CS crew was like hanging out with friends I had known for years and years, although I hadn’t met the majority of people before. I learnt so many new things, got to help towards the vision of CS, and got to experience and play in God’s creation at the same time – with people who shared the joy of both knowing Jesus and of surfing!” - Phoebe, CS Wales
Phoebe volunteered at the Jesus Surf Classic for the first time last year and loved it. Why not sign up to join the great volunteer team at this year’s event? Come on your own or bring along some of your friends and serve together.
This is our biggest outreach event and therefore depends on a wide range of volunteers in all sorts of capacities in order to make it a fantastic community gathering of the surfing community. There are lots of volunteering roles, such as tabulating (recording competitors’ scores and communicating with the judges), judging, beach marshalling, running competitors’ scores from the beach to the tabulators, helping with refreshments for the competitors and spectators, setting up/packing down, media, and just generally supporting volunteers and competitors/members of the public.
Dates are now confirmed and planning is in full swing, so please sign up below to be part of the team.
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WEEK 3
LOCAL PEOPLE AND GROUPS
CS EUROPE
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CHRISTIAN SURFERS IN EUROPE
The CS presence in Europe continues to grow with some exciting new developments and country initiatives.
We thought it would be helpful when praying for CS leaders and countries in Europe to group them together.
CS IN SCANDINAVIA - (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland)
Please give thanks for CS Norway and for Lars and Camilla and the growing team.
The main prayer requests for CS in Denmark and Sweden are for leadership teams to be established and to connect with more people in what is quite a sparse surfing population, although in Denmark it’s great to see Reimer in a new role as physio for the Danish Surf and SUP team. Also giving thanks for Emma (ND of Sweden) and Amandus and their new baby.
CS CENTRAL MAINLAND EUROPE (Holland, Switzerland, and Germany)
Please continue to pray for a leadership team to be established In Holland, in particular for a new national director, which in an exciting development we are very near to concluding. Giving thanks in Switzerland for recent involvement in the big Wavepool surf championships, and pray for Silas as he leads the team. Meanwhile, in Germany we pray for continued growth of the network and the strength of the team in Munich as they surf at the Eisbach wave, and give thanks for Miriam and her team - they had a great national gathering in May.
CS IN SOUTHERN EUROPE (France,Spain, and Portugal)
We give thanks for the team in France as they continue to expand the mission, especially for Powell and Audrey as they are expecting a new baby in the next couple of weeks. We also pray for the French Surfers Bible about to be launched before the Olympics. In Spain we give thanks for their national gathering which took place over Easter. Tim has settled in well on the North Coast. Please continue to pray for Portugal, especially for Pali and his family, and for a growth in members.
EMERGING NATIONS
Please pray for new contacts in Ireland, Italy and Iceland, some great connections.
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SURF CHURCH HOSSEGOR
The Surf Church Collective continues to grow around the world and particularly in Europe, where CSUK has close links with Surf Church in Hossegor (south-west France). Please pray for Audrey and Powell, as they are expecting a baby very soon plus the remainder of the team, especially Martijn and Lianne as they now lead the church, and of course for plans for the upcoming busy summer.
We also pray particularly for Richard and Regi Ellerington who head up the Surf Church Collective, for the next step for them and the family now that they are making important decisions, especially with regard to the children’s education. Please lift them up in your prayers.
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OLABE
It’s been amazing to see the Olabe project develop in north-east Spain over all these years, and incredible to see the resilience of both Joanna and Joseba as they push on towards the vision which they believe God has given them.
Amazing news that the majority of the building is now completed, so prayers that the paperwork to open the hostel officially goes through smoothly. Also for strength and stamina for Joseba as he will be sheep shearing for the next few months, and also for discernment and energy to begin the new chapter of them receiving people and using the place for God’s will.
Also pray for protection over the place to be used as God wants it to, and renewed passion and energy for them as a family to move into this new phase as they’re feeling quite drained spiritually and physically at the moment
For the latest news, check out the website https://www.olabe.eu/
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ACTS EUROPE NETWORK
The Action Sports Ministry Network (ACTS) was set up internationally several years ago, with Brett Davis, former director of Christian Surfers International, heading this up.
Christian Surfers UK is now part of this network with Phil Williams being on the leadership team for Europe, and recently the Global Worldwide Summit, a really encouraging time. Please pray for the other leaders Phil Goldney, Dan Vika, Tabea, and Buddy, as we continue to encourage other sports missions and contacts.
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