History
Christian Surfers was born in the late 1970’s by a group of Australian teenage surfers who had a vision for reaching out to other surfers. Australia went on to become the first national movement with their first full time worker in 1983 - 23 year old Brett Davis.
Other nations followed the Australian model, led by New Zealand in 1985, then the USA in the 1980’s, South Africa in 1990, UK in 1990 and more recently groups in Tahiti, Portugal, France and Japan since 1998. The dynamic Surfistas de Cristo of Brazil have been operating since 1990 and affiliated in 2001. Other South American groups in Peru and Venezuela also affiliated in 2001.
In 1993 Christian Surfers were challenged to consider how would it reflect God’s heart for world mission. CS initiated the world’s first international Christian surf conference held on the North Shore Oahu Hawaii. A network called `Surf Ministries International’ was established. 1995 conference was held on the North Shore of Hawaii and strengthened links.
By the third 1997 New Zealand conference, CS was challenged to consider something far more serious than a casual network, to actually become an intentional international mission movement. In 1999 Brett Davis and his family visited every surfing ministry world wide to mobilise this vision and stepped up to the role of the International Director. Christian Surfers International was born and affirmed at the 4th international conference in Santa Cruz 2000.
The Surfers Bible was launched in 2001 and other translations done in French, Japanese and Portuguese in following years. In 2002 a website, leadership school and new board of directors was launched, along with the 5th conference in Australia where the SMI network was disbanded.
The first international leadership team meeting was held in 2003 and core strategies were developed. The role of Regional Coordinator was established in 2004 and the 5th conference was held in France as the first purely CSI one.
In 2006 a new structure was launched at the 6th conference in Brazil, with a full representative council giving affiliated missions a greater influence in the future of the mission.