Contact
Richard Leonard
P.O. Box 1060
Jeffreys Bay
6330
Eastern Cape
[p] 27-8277-39529
[f] 27-8663-10908
snoek@sonsurf.co.za
www.sonsurf.co.za
Mission
Son Surf is the name of CS in South Africa. We offer local groups along our coastline, as well as Son Skate groups in other parts of SA. These involve a surfers bible study, camping, contests and coaching.
Groundswell 2010 Report
by Brett Davis
Son Surf (CS South Africa) have had a year of some transition. Roy Harley has been freed up some to focus on his African Regional Coordinator role. The result has been that quite a few people have stepped up.
Richard ‘Snoek’ Leonard is the National Director for the local missions and ran the National Conference so successfully Roy says, "I didn't have anything to do with it and was so stoked to see the leaders meet under Richard's leadership. He has a passion for training and mentoring." The northern region died back a bit but the south has powered on under Rees's regional leadership and there are some 16 local chapters. One of the highlights this year was serving at the South African Nationals and being Christ's love in action there. The J-Bay national office had to be relocated early this year to an even better location. In all, there are some 4 Son Surf staff workers operating out of the office and it makes for a crazy inspiring work environment.
Andy Pitt is the African Regional Chaplain and invested in all the WQS’s and the J-Bay event. Andy is focused on both the surfers and the staff of the events. "I just make myself available to do whatever I can to help and trust God to open the doors," says Andy. He was especially stoked at the J-Bay event where the Walking on Water movie premiere included none other than Tom Curren playing some music at it. Andy is perfectly shaped for this ministry and believes it will grow in impact.
Son Surf schools continue under Mikael's leadership and both his school and Andy Pitt's operate with a profit, as well as impacting many kids lives. They are both committed to offering free lessons to poorer South Africans and are able to tie in gospel elements in their contact. You see some of this exampled in the Walking on Water movie with the kids from Mossel Bay that CS leader Nick Kroner has invested in for many years. "I love the fact that the surf school ties in perfectly with our Son Surf clubs. I can point all my kids I coach to the club where they can continue to develop their surfing and connect with the gospel," says Mikael.
"The internship program is one of the best things we have ever done!" says Coordinator Sharon Harley. For their second year, two girls took on the 10-month course that involves orientation, training, exposure, placement, application. It is a life-changing time of both personal and ministry leadership development. The plan is to open this internship to the world in 2010. It is not a basic discipleship course, but rather suited for CS leaders who want to go to the next level. If you have some potential leader looking for a gap year, consider this!
‘On The Rocks' is a surfer-friendly gospel presentation delivered by 2008 conference speaker Terryn Williams. Jonty, the media staff person for Son Surf, has done an amazing job producing a very professional film of 6 parts. A Bible study booklet is being developed by Terryn to go along with this. "Our vision is to have something like a surfer-friendly Alpha style resource that CS groups all over the world can use," says Jonty. Check out www.ontherocksdvd.info.
Son Skate with Bradley Jones continues as its own related identity and Brad reports they have had their own National Conference as well as linking in and attending the European skate ministry conference. "One of my favourite things is to go hang out with the kids up the back of J-Bay near kitchen windows, we get all kinds of kids, mainly poorer ones, and they are stoked an older guy will hang out and show them some skate moves as well as life advice."
Roy himself has been more proactive in the region with a visit to the new mission in Reunion Island as well as an investigative mission trip to Namibia. He is also keeping in touch with contacts in Madagascar, Mauritius, Ivory Coast and Morocco. "After watching the movie ‘Sliding Liberia' I am convinced we in African surf ministry need some social action cause to accompany our traditional surfing ministry."
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