After digging around my living room, I stumbled upon an old family relic and stared at it for several minutes. Wondering what he would say, I hesitantly asked him, “Dad, can I have this?” To my surprise he gave me the go ahead: “Sure, we don’t really use it much anymore.” As an ambitious middle-schooler I excitedly hurried off into my room to figure out this new toy. What my dad had given me was my first video camera. With just a couple of tapes, a fresh battery, and endless possibilities, I now had a new hobby to look forward to.
I was always a creative kid, but I could have never predicted the passion I would develop for film, the blessings I would experience from creating, or the places that it would take me. Growing up skateboarding, I quickly found use for this new tool: creating skate videos with my friends. I distinctly remember popping VHS tapes into my old TV and recording our sessions and skate clips directly from the DV tape in the camera. As I watched the glitchy playback edit I would feel such joy in something I created–something I still feel to this day.
Being raised in the church, I had read countless times in Genesis about humanity being created in God’s image and how each of us have been given unique gifts. It sounded nice and I believed it; but admittedly, I wouldn’t come to a greater understanding of this truth until later on in my life. It was when I got to college and started trying to figure out a career path when I started to get the hint. After changing majors four times and almost failing, I prayed and asked God for direction and clarity on what He was calling me to do. Little did I know it was right under my nose the whole time. I had been making videos ever since middle school and was still making them for fun. That next semester I started pursuing film–my grades skyrocketed and I felt more fulfilled than ever. I knew God had led me to the place where I was able to use my passions every day.
After graduating I started a career as a freelance videographer. I gained tons of experience and started getting gigs; jobs that paid well. I was blown away–I couldn’t believe I was able to support myself doing this. Real estate, weddings, commercial work–the list goes on. As my portfolio expanded and work kept coming, I began to feel the need to give back to the Lord. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice to be able to pay the bills, but the thought of only using my talents to make money wasn’t enough for me; it didn’t cut it. God was stirring in my heart a desire to use my creativity–my gift– to help build His Kingdom, not my own. I began actively praying that God would provide an opportunity for me and my skill to be used for His glory.
It wasn’t long before that opportunity presented itself in the fashion of a DM on Instagram. A buddy of mine had tagged me in a post from a ministry I had vaguely heard of–Ride Nature. They were in search of a videographer, specifically one with experience in the action sports world. With eyebrows raised, I thought about reaching out after being tagged in that post, but to my surprise they sent me a direct message after seeing my name tagged and even found my portfolio. Recognizing how quickly the Lord had answered my prayer, I replied to the message and soon I was hearing the vision for the documentary film series To the ENDS. I was sold right away. Skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, and the Gospel? I couldn’t have imagined a more clear fit for what I had asked for. Traveling the world, sharing the truth, and using action sports as the tool to do so–it almost seemed too good to be true. However, they had 10 trips they wanted to film in 12 months, and with a fairly busy travel schedule already, the dates they needed me would determine if I was even capable of going. Within the next six months, there were few sections in my calendar that I knew would be hard to work with in light of my existing schedule and the jobs I had already booked. A couple weeks went by, and as if God had checked my schedule Himself, the dates aligned and worked perfectly. It was such a clear message from God; He was calling me to be involved in this project. An eleven part film series isn’t light work and I couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated. What if I couldn’t complete it? What if I wasn’t good enough? Was I the right guy for the job? In the book of Exodus, God called Moses to deliver the Israelites. Moses, who had a stutter and doubted his potential, wielded only a staff, but God used that staff in massive ways–to turn water into blood, to part the Red Sea, and to display God’s glory to those he was leading out of captivity. In many ways I felt like Moses. I wielded only a camera, yet God chose to use it for the same purpose. I accepted the call to take on this project and it was one that I will never forget. That year of my life was devoted to shedding light on the many leaders, testimonies, and ministries around the world that use skateboarding to bring others into the Kingdom of God.
When going into a foreign country there’s always risk of illness, crime, or danger that you are susceptible to, but the Lord protected our multiple trips every step of the way. From having our drone confiscated at the Nicaragua border to miraculously getting it back - the stories of the miracles that took place during that year are incredible. I won’t spoil all the details of the series, but take it from me, although I’m a bit biased as the director of the project, it’s worth every minute. The Lord is holy and He has a plan that surpasses all of our own plans–an objective that we continue to fulfill as long as we pursue Him.
We are all a part of His story! It was God’s design that I stumbled upon that first video camera in middle school. It was God’s design to captivate me with skateboarding so that I would use it later on in life for the Kingdom. It was His design that I got linked up with Ride Nature. It is still His design every day–through the decisions I make, the things I create, the people I meet, and the places He leads me; they are all for His purpose, His doing, and His glory. I’ve learned that to be made in God’s image includes utilizing the creative ability He has equipped us with. God is creative and has given us the ability to create also. My passions, interests, friends, ambitions, desires–all of these may change; but my identity lies in Christ, and where He calls me I must go.
I grew up going against the grain. Just like running your hand against a rough cut of wood, I got my fair share of splinters along the way. My parents have told me numerous stories of my defiant nature as a child; while I’ve definitely learned to suppress some of that rebellious temper, I’ve predominantly learned how to harness it.
I was 12 years old when my parents asked if I wanted to be homeschooled. I had just gotten a dirtbike that summer–a 1987 Kawasaki KX80. The thought of getting to ride that bike while my friends were in school made it easy to say yes to staying home. As the weather started to change and the temperatures dropped, my parents bought my two younger sisters and I season passes to a small ski resort about an hour from our house–P.E. lived on, even in homeschooling. On Wednesday mornings we would get dropped off at the base of the resort; I would lap the small makeshift terrain park until I took too hard of a slam to keep riding or until lifts stopped running. That small ski resort in the middle of Ohio sparked a passion for snowboarding and was one of the best years of my life! Little did I know, those experiences were preparing me for the future.
If you’ve spent much time snowboarding or skiing, there’s no doubt you’ve heard stories of riding in Japan–bottomless champagne powder, untouched pillow lines, and all-time views. I’d be lying if I said these thoughts didn’t come to mind when I learned about the need for the Gospel in Japan. Finding a Christian in Japan is like searching for the infamous needle in the haystack. The staggering statistic that the Christian population in Japan amounts to an estimated 0.4% was a driving inspiration for my wife and I to commit our lives to global missions. There is a component at the heart of the action sports world like none that I have ever seen: community. The community birthed by action sports bridges the gap between age, gender, race, culture, and even international borders. As a surfer, skater, snowboarder, or wakeboarder, you can travel almost anywhere in the world and immediately build friendships. This was the very thing that inspired the vision for Ride Nature. Knowing that I would always pursue the joy offered from surfing, skating, or snowboarding, the goal for Ride Nature was to breed a deeper purpose within that pursuit. The hope of utilizing the passion I had for action sports paired with the love I had for the Lord led JP and I to a new-found friendship, along with many others around the world.
Tere are stories of missionaries in the 1800’s who were so committed to the advancement of the Gospel in the specific places they were called to that they would pack their belongings in a coffin, symbolizing an attitude and heart willing to die for the work they were investing in. The work we are leading wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for leaders like JP and his wife. They abandoned everything that was familiar to move to one of the hardest places I’ve visited. They left their families, learned a new language, and their kids were born in this foreign place; yet after 12 years, Japan has become their home and their new familiar. This is what it looks like to drop everything and follow. They stand on the forefront of the mission to reach Japan with the Good News of the Gospel and our hope found in Christ. Standing beside and behind them are many others equally devoted to this hope. Not all are called to go, not all are sent, but all are called to support.
In 1997, Apple Computers ran a campaign titled Think Different with a voice over from the esteemed Steve Jobs. “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…the ones who see things differently–they’re not fond of rules. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” I’ve probably read that quote one hundred times and it still gives me goosebumps. I believe it not only describes me, but the many others who I’m blessed to call friends and partners in the work of changing the world. JP is undoubtedly one of them.
The Pursuit Collective exists for this purpose: to inspire others to take a leap of faith, to encourage those who might not fit the mold, and applaud those who see things differently. As a collective, we are all working together to create a better world– and the world needs you. It is waiting. Our hope is that you’ll go after it! From wherever you might be reading this, to the ends of the earth
If you’ve seen the movie The Terminator, I’m confident you can imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger with his black Ray Bans and Austrian accent saying the renowned line, “I’ll be back!” In fact, I’d be surprised if you haven’t said the line a few times yourself. Sadly though, with most short term mission trips this is far too often a phrase that is thrown out as someone’s time in another country comes to an end. Assuredly with good intentions, but nonetheless causing fractured relationships and a lack of trust when the next team arrives. We’ve always strived to be the kind of organization that was committed to returning to the locations we visit, and for me, this is where I came into the picture.
After watching the Cuba episode from the To the ENDS film series, I was stoked to have the chance to lead a small team returning to Havana. It was my first trip to Cuba, but growing up in Venezuela, I knew the feeling all too well of the tease of America being nearby. When we landed we parted ways with the tourists who had sat next to us on our flight; our team’s destinations were to the very places even Cubans are trying to leave. I had been given the rundown of the 400+ skaters that cruised the streets of Havana, but until I witnessed it first hand, it was hard to wrap my mind around a skate community that had literally been built from the ground up. Without a single skate shop on the entire island, what the skaters had developed through sheer determination was beyond inspiring. The deeper we trekked into “the real Havana” as they called it, the more skaters we met. I saw myself in them and related to their needs; they needed safety, hope, and healthy escapes. But beyond the physical needs, they faced the same need we all do: the need for hope. I’m confident it wasn’t an accident that had God brought me to a very similar scene from the one I had grown up wanting to run away from. It couldn’t have been anything short of the Lord’s sovereignty to have given my family and I freedom, physically and spiritually, all so that I could show these young men the same. That is what brings our team into Havana: to love the skate community well.
As an organization, we don’t just bring boards to kids around the world; we bring boards to kids around the world and then go back to them-time and time again. We find leaders in the communities we’re investing into and we partner, train, and equip them to continue the ministry after we leave. The kids we met dream about crossing the mere 90-mile gap into America; ironically our intention is to go in the opposite direction. Growing up it was my life goal to get out of Venezuela–not even caring where that took me–to escape poverty and never look back. In Cuba I found myself returning–this time as the individual investing into the youth in a way that I wished someone would have with me.
Since visiting Cuba when we filmed in 2018, we’ve crossed that 90-mile gap four more times, myself having the privilege of leading three of those trips. Leaders are being trained and raised up and lives are being impacted. We are committed to loving those in Cuba well and for us that means being as consistent as possible. Our mission remains the same each time we return: to generously share the blessings we’ve been given, knowing that the doors for making disciples in Havana will open naturally by our love. Through something as simple as a skateboard, oceans are being crossed, friends are being made, and the Kingdom is being established. We are well known now in Cuba and will continue to press forward with the hope that every individual within our reach receives the opportunity to hear, see, and respond to the Good News of our Lord and Savior. Much like Arnold, I can say in full confidence that we’ll be back.
Iggy! It’s good to hear your voice man. How are you? What are you up to these days?
I’m doing really good! I’m actually in France right now on a holiday just traveling around in a van with a few buddies– camping, surfing, enjoying some time away to recharge.
How’s school going? How much longer do you have before you’re finished?
School is going really well. We’re on break right now which is why I’m away. I have one year left and then I’ll have my Bachelor’s degree in Theology. I’ve been going through some lessons and classes on church planting which is pretty rad. I had to do an internship for school but I’m actually doing it through Bowl Church, which it’s growing a lot right now.
It sounds like you’re eating some food?
Oh yeah, just some couscous and rice. Ha! We just got done surfing–I was starving! The guys are making some pancakes for dessert, but I’ll wait for that until we’re off the call.
Sweet man, well, we don’t want to keep you from those pancakes too long. Can you tell us more of your story growing up? How old were you when you started skating? What did the action sports community look like then?
I think I was 13 years old? No, 12–yeah, 12. When my brother and I were younger there really wasn’t too much of an action sports community. When we wanted to skate we had to drive to the next city over to find a skatepark or other skaters. Back then there were really only a handful of guys at the parks. When I got older, maybe around 15 or 16, I started to really notice the lack of community within the culture. My friends and I liked to skate so we just started to build our own community. We didn’t have a park in the city we lived in, so we built The Bowl. The community is definitely growing. We have about 50 of us that skate regularly now.
Did you grow up playing other sports?
Do you know the sport handball? It’s like soccer but with your hands; it’s pretty big in Germany. I used to play it a lot–for like eight years probably. But when I was around 13 I quit and started skating. Well, until I broke my arm pretty bad, then I started to BMX. Later I went back to skating again; I didn’t really like BMX anymore, skating is just better for me. I used to go back and forth between BMX and skating. They definitely seemed to swap in popularity. A few years ago BMX was really big and there were no skaters; now it’s the opposite. During the winters I skied in Austria and I just started surfing in Florida during my internship with Ride Nature. That was actually my first time on a surfboard.
How did you break your arm?
I was learning 50-50s on the quarter pipe. It was at the end of a really hot session and I told myself, “Just one more.” I went to drop back into the quarter from a 50-50 and my back truck got hung up on the coping. I went to flat. It was really broken. That actually sucked pretty bad.
What about motorcycles? Last time we came to visit you were ripping around on a pretty rad Enduro!
Oh yeah! I bought my first bike when I was 16–the Husqvarna. That was really just so that I could drive it to school. Funny story, when I first got it I lost my license plate for the bike so I would just ride to school through the forest so that I wouldn’t get pulled over. That was crazy! Lately I’ve been building and restoring a couple of older antique motorcycles. I like motorcycles for sure.
When we first met, I remember you telling me about how there were a bunch of festivals in your city where all of your friends–as high schoolers–would just go to get wasted and party. What has it been like growing up in Germany as a Christian with a culture that seems pretty Counter-Christian?
So in Germany we have all of that stuff just handed to us; it’s easy to get to here. In America you’re not allowed to drink in public or you have to wait until you’re 21, but here it isn’t like that. Everyone here usually starts drinking around 15–really early. When I was 15 I started to drink and smoke weed. It was the same with most of my friends. Life was school during the week and drinking, partying, and skating on the weekends. Then my family and I came to visit my brother when he was interning with Ride Nature. As soon as I visited you guys, I started to ask God who He was and seek Jesus. I began to question if it was good or not to get wasted–like if it was good for my body or even my soul. When I came back to Germany all I could think about was my old habits but they actually pushed me to pursue Jesus even more. The more I steered away from those old habits, the easier it was to walk away from them. I wasn’t drinking all that much and would just watch all of my friends and classmates get hammered on the weekends. As I started to grow in my faith I saw that it wasn’t good for me to drink so much beer or lose control of myself at parties and I pretty much stopped drinking and smoking. Now a lot of my friends and I will still go to parties, but we’re not getting drunk or smoking, we just chill and hang out, and honestly, share the Gospel. We’re trying to make it clear that people who go to parties are allowed to be Christians and vice-versa, in the sense that Christians can party too–but in a different way. We should definitely be partying. We’ve got Jesus! We are living our best life! We can go to parties and we can be the light. So many people just think, “partying is bad, you should just stay home.” But I really believe we can go and we can be the light–we don’t have to run away from it. Like in Matthew, when Jesus says we’re not supposed to put a bowl over our lamp. In the same way, when we run away from places or avoid certain places where we could be the light to those people, it’s like we’re putting a bowl over our lamp. That’s my opinion on this topic right now.
What was the thing that really changed you and your lifestyle at such a young age? It’s not easy to stand up for what you believe and go against the crowd–especially in high school.
For me it really was just focusing. By focusing on Jesus and my life with Him, I learned a ton and even developed a new identity that was based on Him as well. I feel like when I would drink it was because I was running away from my identity. I would get drunk and would lose control of myself. I would try to dance or check out girls because I thought that if I could give off the impression of a different identity, maybe they would like me more. I was afraid to just be myself. But as that shifted and changed, I stopped running away and started running toward a new identity. When I met Jesus and began to grow into my new identity in Him, I realized that I could be who I really was. I realized that I didn’t have to be king because Jesus was my King.
What did your parents think when you told them you wanted to turn their barn into a skate bowl?
They were like, “Yeah, we don’t know about that. That’s one of your crazy dreams.” Ha! I wish I had a picture of what it looked like before–it was so messy man. There were old cables and blankets and junk everywhere. It smelled so bad too! I had the idea during a school holiday. I told my parents we should restore the barn and do a skate bowl because we didn’t have a skatepark. I’ve had a lot of dreams of projects and stuff I wanted to do and that was for sure one of them. At the beginning my parents thought I wasn’t going to follow through, but after a few days of pulling all of the junk out of the barn, my parents started to see the vision and we got it all cleared out and organized. At that point they were all in! My dad taught me how to use all of the tools; he’s into that stuff. The rest is history
What is your big vision for what you’re doing? What is God putting on your heart lately?
After my trip to Japan with Ride Nature I learned that there is a mission field all around me. Missions doesn’t mean that I have to pay for an expensive plane ticket or go somewhere far– I can literally walk right outside. My dream for Cologne and this area is for all of the young people to have a place they can find community and get the chance to discover Jesus; a place that is a light in the community. My hope is that young people will just show up and they’ll find Jesus. This is really what we’re doing through Bowl Church–it’s a place where everyone feels welcome and they can grow in their faith. So really something like that. Maybe bigger. Maybe a coffee shop or retail shop with it.
Do you feel like you’ve outgrown the space in the barn?
Recently we’ve had too many people. In the winter we had 125 people in one service and it was too much. The barn was so packed that we almost had to turn people away that night. We’ve talked about splitting it into two nights. But during this time with COVID we’ve been working on the foundation. Not literally, just metaphorically. We are working on setting up the non-profit and also smaller groups with more leaders like home groups. We actually have a ton of home groups meeting right now, but as soon as we get the go-ahead to go back to having services together we’re going to need to find a bigger location. That’s the dream. A place like The House of Ride Nature so that people can come in 24/7. We definitely want to host events and larger groups of people.
You’ve been on a bunch of trips with us, but what was your favorite one?
Honestly, I really liked going to North Carolina during hurricane Irma. It wasn’t really a planned mission trip, but I thought that was the sickest part. We just picked up and left to evacuate and we talked to people about Jesus the whole time we were there.
What advice would you give a young person that’s wanting to start something?
Just do it. If something is on your heart just go for it. Full send. Don’t worry or be ashamed if it doesn’t work. Remember, your identity isn’t based on your successes or failures. I used to think, “What if Bowl Church doesn’t work out or what if it fails?” Even as a Christian, I let my identity become a part of the thing I was leading. You are who you are, regardless of if it works out or not. Bowl Church is rad and I love what I’m doing, but I’m Ingmar…I’m not Bowl Church. That’s my main advice. Let Jesus keep you hyped up, wait for Him to give you the visions, and definitely keep going full send with the mission!
Casa Vida. House of Life. “A church without walls.” I slipped into my seat next to the rest of our team and soaked in the overwhelming feeling of “vida” that was building up around me. Wide-eyed, I listened to the congregation singing in spanish in one accord. Individuals who were once homeless, addicted, or just coming out of the morning swell–they were all bringing glory to God with their own voices. I personally believe that a church congregation represents the ones who lead and shepherd over it, and Casa Vida paints a beautiful mosaic of this truth and God’s redemptive power. What stood out to me the most when I stepped onto the property of Casa Vida is the church itself. It’s simple–no stained glass windows, no doors, no walls; literally just a roof. A church without walls symbolizes to me the mindset and heart behind the church as a whole.
Tamarindo is a hot spot for tourism in Costa Rica, and sadly as a result has become a hot spot for drugs, alcohol, prostitution, and homelessness. Bumping shoulders with people on the streets, you can’t be for sure who the locals are or who is visiting. Oftentimes in coastal tourist towns, the locals are lost in the hype of it all and those struggling are many times overlooked and ignored. Casa Vida aims to change that–to really see the unlovable and the avoidable. They don’t do outreaches for show or to impress state-side teams who might come down for a few days out of their year. They reach out to their community consistently in an effort to be an active part of where they live, not just as a shiny decoration for entertainment.
Contrary to the majority of traditional churches in Costa Rica, Casa Vida creates a space for the sinner to be wrapped in grace and love. They seek out the lost so that they may be found–at all costs. From my first of many trips to Costa Rica, I remember huddling around a table full of hot pizzas in a dilapidated skatepark, rain pouring down all around us, and Pastor Alex delivering a message of hope in Christ for anyone who was there to listen or just needed a meal. He closed the message with an invitation to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, but to also remind all who were listening that they would always have a place at Casa Vida. There were no preliminaries that needed to be handled before they could enter; just a welcoming “come as you are” invitation.
As a member of Ride Nature, every time I left Tamarindo I left encouraged. That is the goal for overseas missions. Not to serve in an effort that is hinged on a team, leaving a void once the group returns home. It’s not meant to be another stamp in a passport, a check on a humanitarian box, or an adventurous story told to friends at a party. To enter into a world where ministry is already taking place, to be able to lift the hands of the leaders as Aaron lifted the hands of Moses during battle– this is what short term trips should look like. Standing, serving, and equipping the work that is currently taking place lifts up a community and allows others a place to return and familiar faces to seek out. As outsiders, it’s our job to fully humble ourselves and turn all the attention to the beacon of life that is already in the unbeliever’s proximity.
I vividly remember something Abner, a leader from Casa Vida, said, “We don’t need people who can paint the fence again, we need people who are willing to open their mouths and share the Gospel.” Most of the pastors leading the church were at the end of their ropes; they had hit rock bottom. In listening to their stories, there was a resounding “but God” turnaround point in each of their lives. The body of believers in Casa Vida is diverse; it isn’t cookie-cutter, and I pray it never will be. The unique salvation stories of each leader gives them a new vantage point of the sinner. When they see them in their sin, they see their own past and their continued fierce need for God. The men and women who lead Casa Vida are God’s mouthpiece; His very hands and feet. They don’t take the call of God lightly. They’ve been chosen to bring their own neighbors to the foot of the cross and to share with them an unexplainable love. I’m reminded of how fearless and brave these men are as they walk the same streets in righteousness that they once wandered around in sin. To be called to shine your light in the same community where you once lived in darkness is a big ask. To accept it, I can only imagine how terrifying it could be. More often than not, the people who watch you stumble in the streets are the harshest critics when you decide to turn your life around; yet these same critics are the ones that are being fought for, because with every opportunity there is an urgency to share the hope that transformed the life being judged.
We have seen first hand the leaders of Casa Vida living out the Great Commission, the call from Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” These men, whom many were known for fist fighting in the streets, are fighting once again, but this time for their community, rather than against it. My prayer is that we will all be inspired to do the same.
Mid-90’s. High school. Teenage salad days. I had just transferred to a public school and was hunting down my identity daily. At the time I was more influenced by music than sports; that quickly changed when I saw one of my new classmates pop an ollie up onto a curb as the surrounding students observed with a new level of fascination. I had just seen the greatest thing done on a wooden plank with four wheels and from that day on I started to hang out with the “cool kids” from school. I was exposed to new music, mainly punk rock, and since I played the guitar pretty well iI got into this inner circle fairly easily. A trade of some sort–music knowledge equalled a VIP pass into the skate community. What I had avoided up until now sadly became a regular part of my routine. I started bullying. My pride swelled as I began to smoke. I was an outcast, or in my mind, a true skateboarder.
The face of skateboarding was growing–Toy Machine, Girl, Birdhouse, Flip, and Zero were on the rise. However, you couldn’t get a decent skateboard in the Philippines, especially in Davao. Best-case scenario was you ordered a board from Manila, but even that was rare and hard to find. As a result it required two uncommon gifts: patience and money. Being a young student without a job, I had neither. I would beg my mom to get me cheap boards from the local shopping malls just so that I could have my own setup. The decks were trash and the boards broke easily, the trucks didn’t turn, and the wheels hardly rolled, but it was the best feeling having your own board, and it was definitely better than nothing. A little bit of spray paint covered up the tackiness of the off brand graphics. I skated pretty much everyday after school and every weekend. I befriended my classmate’s older brothers and started hanging out with an older group of friends on the weekends. I was the youngest of the crew and they introduced me to trouble I had yet to find. Late nights and parties, drugs, alcohol–the cultural norm for what I knew of skateboarding. It didn’t take long before I was part of the elite and my ego looked down on my fellow peers. I was blinded by pride and misplaced ambition as I was wrapped up in the underground music scene and skating. Time went on and my obsessions had shifted. Skateboarding had been replaced by music, smoking exchanged for alcohol, relationships multiplied and complicated themselves. Years passed, and through an effort here and there to change, I found myself for what I was: a broken man, no longer seeking the rush but pursuing the fix. Mundane, routine, painful
At the time I was working for a billing company. My boss asked me to join him and some of the other employees for a Bible study after work. I obliged because, well, it’s not everyday that your boss invites you to something and I wasn’t trying to leave a bad impression. The conversation during the Bible study instantly caught me off guard. They talked about Jesus and the adventures He and disciples had gone on. It was interesting in the sense that it wasn’t a discussion I usually found myself in…or have ever had for that matter. As weeks passed, the studies continued weekly and each time I sat up straighter in my chair, I listened more intently, and I started to share my thoughts as I began to be more engaged. Eight months into this Bible study I was staring at the reality I had been seeking so desperately–a reality that couldn’t be ignored: Jesus was the solution to everything.
Fast forward one year and I was watching my bride walk down the aisle. Praise God I found a wife who also loved the Lord and desired to grow in her relationship with Him. My wife and I, with a new-found passion in life, prayed that God would lead us to a ministry to be a part of. Fast forward another year and I bumped into a buddy from high school–he was still skating. We talked about how the skate scene had changed, how it was still growing, and how boards were now easy to find, when–click!–like straight from a cartoon, the Lord hit the switch and a lightbulb turned on in my head that revealed the answer to our prayer and how God was calling me to serve it on the trip and it ended up being the best decision of my entire life. It was during those three days that I experienced alongside Him. I knew instantly that God could use my old drug–skateboarding–as my avenue of ministry!
The same boss that invited me to join him for the Bible studies each week asked if I would like to be a part of a three-day men’s retreat. No phones and no communication with the outside world–just a few guys with a deep longing to change, or better said, be changed. The thought of this kind of vulnerability scared me and the day before the retreat I got so drunk that the shame and embarrassment of joining them led to having second thoughts. By the grace of God, I made the Lord in such a special way and truly understood my need for Him in my life. My life was changed that weekend–I was restored and reborn. All of the years of placing my hope and purpose solely in a skateboard or guitar had come to an end. No more searching, no more emptiness. God became my sole desire. Life had come full circle. Jesus healed my heart and I felt his forgiveness, but little did I know, my journey was just beginning.
After nearly 10 years of not stepping on a board, there I was setting up a new complete. It wasn’t easy, but I was eager, determined, and focused. Tricks didn’t come back effortlessly but that wasn’t my goal anymore–my objective now was to build relationships with the youth in my community, to share the hope found in Jesus, and be the example that I wish I would have had as a child growing up. I no longer had distractions in this stage of my life; I was anchored in this new purpose. I was back on the grind, visiting the local parks almost daily. I started intentionally hanging out with the kids there and spending time with them on a regular basis. They were lost, tired, hurting, and searching. We built relationships. They talked and I listened. In time I started to share my story and encourage them through their struggles and hardships. I was so excited to see the passion the Lord had originally given me being used to build the Kingdom. As I continued visiting the parks I thought surely I was the only one doing this type of ministry; it never even crossed my mind that others could be doing skate ministry as well, especially in the same city I lived...until the night I was greeted by a foreign accent. There were just two of us at the park that evening, so we naturally exchanged some small-talk that led to a conversation about Jesus. I discovered that this fellow skater was also a believer and Davey and I instantly became close friends. Wild enough, God had put it on his heart as well to also use his passion for skateboarding as a way to build relationships with the youth of Davao! The similarities we shared could only be explained by God appointing this moment for us to meet one another. Davey’s wife was studying in Davao to become a midwife, and while growing up in the surf and skate scene in the U.K., Davey naturally continued pursuing these passions while he was living in the Philippines. As our friendship grew, Davey introduced me to other action sports ministries around the world, one being Ride Nature. As I read about the organization and the work they did, my heart felt an immediate connection. I exchanged emails with the staff at Ride Nature for a little over a year before a small crew was able to come visit in 2015. As I introduced them to the opportunities that existed in the Philippines, we visited several surrounding cities where we met other leaders and shared the Gospel with anyone that would listen. God had answered my prayer in a way I would have never imagined.
The mission is never-ending. I continue to visit the neighboring cities. I am learning more and growing more every day. I’m creating new friendships and building up old ones. I’m able to encourage new leaders to keep going strong and together, we are being inspired by God, His power, and His purpose. God is at work. His hand is moving. He’s changing lives forever. Leaders are being humbled, and skaters are being saved.
No question you’ve been blessed with a power of influence as a professional athlete, business owner, even as a character in a video game. Through your life and career, has that influence ever felt like a weight and responsibility or more of an opportunity?
Early on, before I gained any wisdom about my role, I felt that whatever anyone told me my role was, that was it. I didn’t grow up with super clear boundaries or practice implementing boundaries, so it was really hard to determine what I was obligated to do. When I came to Christ I felt an obligation, but then I got burnt out. I felt like my relationship was just on display; like I was selling a product and was pushed to do so. That kind of put me in an untrusting place where I lost that spark and connection and had to go find it by destroying myself and blowing up my world all over again. It’s sad that I had to go through that but, you know, that’s what my faith journey looked like. Now I am seeing it as an opportunity. Even now though I tread lightly on how to share my faith. It’s not that I’m afraid to turn people off or that I’m afraid of rejection, it really is just a personal relationship–there are parts of it that are easy to profess and there are parts of it that are still personal. I’m trying to find that sweet spot of letting my light shine for others in all categories of life, but it’s not always easy to know what that looks like. I pray about it. The goal is to live it out so that people see a difference in you.
One of the last series of Zero skate decks had Bible verses on all of them and with you also brought back the original cross graphic for one of your pro models; it’s been pretty cool to see those. It seems like you’re becoming more vocal about your faith.
Well, I think that the external processing, or the external promotion if you will, is a byproduct of me coming to a degree of solidity in my faith; it’s like I’ve reconnected. When life gets really difficult, we should go to the Lord and fall to our knees and ask for help, guidance, and wisdom, but oftentimes I’ve been a bit blind to that and have tried to control things on my own. That’s really never a healthy path. I’ve led myself down that road though, and it’s a bit like a prodigal son type of story where I just turned my back on the Lord and tried to do things my way for an extended period of time. It basically imploded my world by developing bad habits and getting addicted to the world, acknowledgment, Instagram. I realized that I was severing my relationship with the Lord and the relationships that I value in this world even. It got to a point where it got so bad that I had to have that meeting with Jesus. I needed to surrender to the will of the Lord, and as cliché as it sounds, I had to go to the cross.
As you have grown in your relationship with God, has it become easier to let go of those things that try to hold onto you?
I spent a lot of my life being addicted to the things in this world that temporarily take away pain. The opposite thing of addiction is connection. For me, I see being tethered to the Lord is the starting point for that connection. If you’re spiritually connected to the Lord, you can be open to connecting with other people. That’s what I’m practicing: being connected; just calling people, showing up. There are a lot of ways to connect. Before I could do that though, I had to identify the addictions and obsessions I had. I couldn’t stop the obsessions or behavioral habits until I replaced them with other patterns for sure.
What did it look like and what does it still look like for you to connect with others more?
I began to actually physically go to church again and get plugged in. I joined a men’s group. I started studying my Bible and got plugged back into my faith. I had to be seen and share my struggles with other men. So that’s what I did. That helped me start a daily practice of prayer and checking in with the Lord. That daily practice really helped me set the course for the direction of my life. The more my confidence builds in the Lord, the more it makes sense to share that with others. I also feel this level of obligation to let my light shine. I think that’s where you see it coming through with more graphics. I think over the last few years I’ve become more mature and obviously you gain wisdom and maturity in your walk. This time feels more real–I can feel it permeating every part of my being.
You’ve never considered Zero a Christian brand though, right?
Zero is a very conflicted company; you have stuff that looks evil and stuff that looks Biblical and every shade in between. Zero was never a Christian company and even though I started the brand, it has a lot of different layers and lots of different facets; it represents lots of different individuals. I just try to make sure that I represent myself, my presence, and my company in a positive way. Zero is conflicted like the world is conflicted.
When we first connected and invited you to join us on the Colombia trip, you had shared that your family had done some ministry and missions in Mexico. What was that like?
My family has been on a few smaller mission trips. We also serve locally at our home church trying to help out however we can. But yeah, we had traveled down to Mexico to help build some homes. Getting to serve the Lord and other people is honestly probably one of the best feelings you can feel. Especially when you’re serving alongside those you love, building memories, helping others, just learning and working hard. I used to travel a lot more but nowadays I can’t afford time away from my family. My kids are teenagers, it’s not long before they’re gone. I’ve made the decision to only travel alone if it is absolutely a necessity so that I can spend more time with my family. I’m still down to travel but only if I can bring my family or at least one of my kids.
We were stoked on the idea of you bringing your boys. It was a blast having them–they definitely brought a fun dynamic to the group. Do you think they enjoyed the trip?
Yeah, they really liked it! They really enjoyed all of you guys. They definitely made a ton of great memories through the shenanigans, conversations; all of the things that we experienced, really.
That was your first time in South America, right?
It was. It’s crazy, you know, as a pro skater for 25 years I’ve never been to South America. I’ve traveled all over the world and visited a bunch of places in Central America, but never South America.
What did you think of Colombia and the people?
Well, what’s interesting is that the year before that trip I had taken some time off from traveling and touring, so I hadn’t really been in the public eye too much. That trip felt a little bit like a blast from the past. I will go on tours now and a lot of the fans that show up are so young–they’ve heard my name but they don’t really have a direct understanding of who I am. It was a little crazy because I felt as relevant in the skate scene in Colombia in 2019 as I was in the States 15 years earlier. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the admiration. It was tough to stay patient as everyone was trying to get pictures with me or get my autograph. But I have a lot of memories from the trip–for sure a lot of funny ones! It was just rad to witness even the relationships between the other guys on the trip, you guys playing cards, late night conversations, riding in the van together.
We were in Colombia over Go Skate Day. Have you ever experienced a gathering of skateboarders as big as the one in Medellín?
No, that was definitely unique. For the past ten years I’ve tried to avoid those insane crowds to be honest–not because I’m not into it, just because I’ve always felt a little overwhelmed by it. It was a little bit crazy because my youngest son Trey was only 11 at the time, and I had to keep an eye on him the whole time. You know, it’s an overwhelming experience and pretty chaotic with so many people but it was cool to experience it. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Sorry to make you relive this, but you took a weird fall right out of the gate on the first day of the trip. What happened?
Yeah, injuries aren’t very traumatic for me. I’ve gotten hurt a lot in skateboarding; it’s just part of my life. So there’s no problem reliving it. It definitely was just a minor injury. It didn’t cause me a lot of pain, it just kept me from skating which was a bummer. We had just gotten to the park and it wasn’t even really open yet. I rolled down a bank and my heel clipped the top of a hubba and it kind of lunged my body forward. I jumped off and dove to roll it out but landed on my shoulder weird. My body wasn’t warmed up at all and I separated my shoulder. It hurt at first and I remember massaging it, trying to see how bad it was, and even at one point thought it was okay. But then about five minutes later the stiffness and soreness set in and I couldn’t lift my arm at all. I was out for about two-three weeks.
Before the trip you had shared that your goal and hope was really just to watch, observe, and make memories with your boys. Do you feel like getting hurt that first day forced you to do more of that rather than skating?
Yeah, I wanted to be there just to be on the trip; I didn’t really have any expectations. I really love skateboarding and I love the connection it brings with the people I’m skating with, but it’s like when one of your senses is gone you just lean into the others more. Once I knew I couldn’t skate I had to embrace it; my only option was to embrace it or be miserable. There were times when it was tough watching everyone skate and trying to sleep at night was pretty rough. But those were just small inconveniences. Looking back, it was a blessing to see the trip from a different perspective.
You brought a camera with you on the trip. What were you shooting with and have you always been into photography?
About two years ago I started bringing a film camera with me any time I traveled. On this trip I brought a Leica M6. Shooting with the film camera really slows the moment down though–I like that. I like investing in things that slow the moment down. It’s really a newer thought for me; earlier on in the social media days I was completely immersed and addicted to Instagram–I was constantly thinking about instagram opportunities. That has kind of passed now and I’ve found a healthy relationship with social media. I just try to imagine the small pieces that most people don’t really notice and try to capture those. They help string together memories later on. I also really love how you don’t know what the picture looks like immediately. You just shoot it and a month later you’re completely surprised at all of these little moments that flood back into your memory. When I take a photo, I press the button, I see the shutter click, and I tend to live in that moment. Later when I get the film developed it reconnects me to that moment and that connection feels like it lasts a lot longer.
We’d love to have you join us on another trip in the future.
You in? I’d love to! Same thing still stands though–I’d want to bring my family. That last trip was awesome and something that my boys and I will remember forever. I’m super thankful that you all invited me and am looking forward to the next one!
The first time I landed in Fort Myers, Florida, I left the air-conditioned baggage claim and as I stepped outside, I was hit with a level of sticky humidity that I had only experienced in one other place in the world–Chennai, India. We landed in Florida in the evening and the feeling was almost identical to the memory that raced through my mind of landing in India for the first time as well. My family and I had felt the Lord tugging on our hearts to step into full time missions for several years. I had been serving at a church as a youth pastor in Pennsylvania, but this leap of faith was a bit more immense. To surrender a paid position at a church and jump into self-funded missions was something only the full confidence of God’s calling in our life would allow us to do. With a family of seven, we knew that leap wasn’t going to be easy; but our faith was in the assurance that God is unwavering in equipping those He calls.
Fast forward several years and I was hit with the same familiar humidity that I had grown accustomed to in Florida, but this time I was back in India. It was September 2013. My wife and I had recently founded a cycling ministry–Ends of the Earth Cycling–and I had returned to explore opportunities to support youth ministry in the southern part of the country. Since moving to Florida I have become close friends with Mark and Shannon Koch, the founders of Ride Nature, as well as Ramon Martinez, the founder of a dance ministry called Pure Movement. We extended the invitation to have both ministries join us and I was so blessed and honored that they accepted that proposition. Three mission-minded ministries, founded and established at similar times, each with visions and values that aligned to bring us all together on an international trip is something only God could have ordained.
There were six of us total–a small team for sure, but boy did we hit the ground running! For two weeks, we used skateboarding, breakdancing, drama, and testimonies to share the Gospel with as many as possible. Between schools, hostels, villages, and churches, we hosted a total of 22 presentations and more than 3,000 Hindu children heard the clear Gospel message! I am still blown away by all that we were able to do in such a short time and with just a few people. I can only imagine the prayers God was answering for those opportunities to all fall into place long before we ever even stepped into them.
As we were approaching the final stretch of the trip, we all were feeling the desire to bless our taste buds with anything else except some more curry. I would like to think it was the desire for something familiar, but for whatever supporting reason, we found ourselves in a McDonalds in Chennai. Much to our disappointment, the food somehow still tasted like curry and was far from the familiar McDonalds we were hoping for. While getting up to probably throw away his tofu hamburger, Mark happened to glance over and see a newspaper laying on the top of one of the trash cans. I remember vividly the double-take he took in shock at what he saw: an advertisement for a Red Bull surf contest happening the next day! As we studied the details of the article, written in Tamil, we realized it was only a few hours away from where we were staying outside of Chennai. The contest was being held in the small fishing community of Kovalam, along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. We didn’t know what to expect or if the detour would lead to any lasting relationships, but it was evident that we needed to go check it out.
It was refreshing to get outside of the city and be in a car driving faster than 10mph! With the windows down and the absence of honking and bumper-to-bumper traffic, we were on our way. As we closed the door to the taxi and began to walk around the dirt streets, we stumbled upon one of several surf schools there. Intrigued by the name “Bay of Life” we knocked on the door and were greeted by Showkath– the owner of the school. We were excited to discover that Showkath spoke English, and although he was a professing Muslim and his wife was Hindu, he was very open and willing to learn about who we were and listened intently as we shared about our time in Chennai and what led us there, all while organically intertwining the Gospel. In hindsight, the way God works is so incredible. We had brought with us several new Zap skimboards without knowing for sure where we were going to leave them. After seeing some of the surfboards that the local kids rode on a regular basis and were even planning on competing in the contest with, we knew this was our clear answer. We were able to bless several of the local young shredders with the skimboards, a few skateboards, and even Bibles as well. After hanging out at the contest that afternoon, our time in Kovalam was cut short as we needed to head back to the city and get ready to fly home the next day. As we boarded the plane, we couldn’t be more excited about the seeds that were planted. We were excited to see what would come about from our time in Kovalam–we just had no idea what, how, or when it would come!
Gospel in the community of Kovalam. Nearly simultaneously with the emails Mark was exchanging with Showkath, he received an email from another individual from India, Jose Victor. Jose introduced himself sharing that he had grown up with Showkath and their families were very close. While their families had two conflicting religious views–Jose’s family being Christian and Showkath’s family Muslim–the two of them grew up together as best friends. After we had left Kovalam the day we visited, Showkath called Jose to tell him he had met American Christians. As Jose was the only Christian that Showkath knew in India, he thought that it would be worthwhile to connect him with the organization.
As Mark and the team began to get to know Jose a bit more, he shared how he had just graduated from seminary with a degree in ministry. He felt the Lord tugging on his heart to plant and pastor a church. Although he didn’t skate, surf, or have really any involvement in the action sports world, he loved the heart of Ride Nature and was anxious to partner. I would love to share the rest of the story, but for that you’ll have to watchTo the ENDS episode 7. I’m reminded of Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” I write this to share that God is and always has been at work. Most times in ways we would never expect, using things that are far from what we would ever imagine. Sometimes even McDonalds!
It started with me making a sheepish call to a stranger. As I talked with Yassine I could feel his excitement through the phone as he was telling me about the upcoming surf camp they were planning for Moroccan young adults that were connected across the country. It would be my first time to Morocco as well as the organization’s so it was all a bit uncharted. With our departure date inching closer, we packed decks, trucks, wheels, penny boards, glow sticks, and marshmallows (we were told they were hard to find in Morocco). We had no idea what to expect, but our team of seven was anticipating a whirlwind of a trip. Travelling by plane, train, and bus for hours on end to get there was so worth it when we finally made it to our destination and saw the team that warmly welcomed us. The first thing we did after we got settled was share a meal together. The dinner table in Morocco is not just a checklist item; it’s a time for community–to gather, to listen, to laugh. We were all physically spent, but listening to them interact with each other and ask us questions of what we were most excited about and what we enjoyed was refreshing. Through lack of sleep and complete exhaustion, it was a great commencement to the trip.
We would spend the next few days engaging with the local team, helping them prepare for the upcoming camp, and in some ways just observing. The sound of worship music filled the hallways and spilled out of the windows–a beautiful representation of the boldness of faith these men had. In a country that does not openly welcome Christianity, these men were truly unashamed of the Gospel. We listened as they told stories of times where they had been treated as outcasts for their faith. Yassine is one of two Young Life leaders in all of Morocco. His story of the Lord finding him will leave you breathless at the intentionality of our Father. He truly held Yassine in the palm of His hand throughout his life and led him to where he is now.
We wandered around the winding alleys of the medina, Yassine proudly wearing an Arabic translation of John 3:16 on his shirt. His audacity challenged me. In America where no one bats an eye if you profess Christianity, I find myself silently navigating my life, not taking every opportunity to share the Gospel; whereas Yassine lives in pursuit of these occasions with a bizarre confidence and assurance in finding them. I asked Yassine if any of his family had made the decision to follow Christ as a result of seeing his testimony first hand. He smiled at me from ear to ear: “Not yet, but they’re close.” I hung on to every word as he told me stories of reconciliation with family members who wanted nothing to do with him as a child for making the decision to follow Christ. He is persistent and patient.
The inviting nature of the people we met in Fes loved and accepted us without reason. They are so proud of their culture and so eager to share it with you. Religiously we may be different, but the conversations I’ve had with individuals throughout Morocco have been incredible. Learning more about our differences, and even our similarities, makes the gap between us a bit smaller. I vividly remember a conversation I had with a young man on a beach in Kenitra. We talked about what it means to be “good” and what that looked like for me as a Christian and him a Muslim. I answered his questions with the help of the Holy Spirit, and he answered mine. I went into that conversation with an inclination to learn, not to convert. I wanted to understand him and what he believed and he did the same. Morocco is a big country and Islam is intertwined in the very fabric of it. As a Christian, the goal and objective is not to stir up controversy or try to convert those thinking we even have the power to do so. Rather, by planting seeds and investing into intentional conversations and relationships, we are able to trust in the Lord to lead and guide as He wills. There are missionaries we were able to meet in Morocco who have been there for over five years and have seen very little fruit compared to other places in the world; but man, how heaven rejoices over the saved souls they have led to the Lord! It’s about perseverance. In Morocco, if you rush in expecting prompt results you will be disappointed, but if you go in expecting to make friends and build relationships you will leave full. Like lunch with your family on a Sunday afternoon, we left feeling stuffed.
Morocco is easy to love. The terrain is vast and beautiful– from the red canyons in Ouarzazate and the Sahara Desert in Merzouga to the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains and all the way to the bright blue Mediterranean Sea. The ground is tough but it is fertile and ready to be worked. I’m so excited to see what the future holds for the country of Morocco.
This trip cemented the fact that action sports is an incredible way to share Jesus in Morocco. From surfing and skating to snowboarding and mountain biking, there’s a little bit of everything. As is anywhere with a coastline, surfing is a big deal. Though year round you can catch a wave somewhere in Morocco, surfing is usually reserved for the wealthy, expats, or tourists; even bringing along skimboards for a local orphanage collided the two clashing realities of poverty and opportunity. The skate culture in Morocco is growing as well and it has been amazing to see that up close. With the desire to continue pioneering ministry opportunities within this country, I recently returned with two other Ride Nature staff members and headed several hours south to the city of Taghazout. There we visited a brand new skatepark that had just been built by a fellow non-profit, Make Life Skate Life. We were able to leave some skate gear for the locals and through that connection quickly became friends with the skatepark manager. While our time in Taghazout was short, we unfortunately weren’t able to connect with any Christians there; but in the words of Yassine, there are no believers there yet…but they’re close!
I sent the text midsummer: “I’ve been praying about it–I want to talk to you about going on a trip with Ride Nature. Location doesn’t matter; send me where you think I should go.” Within a few minutes I received a text back from Mark saying that I should go to Peru in December. We would be returning two days before Christmas. Being 57 years old and having no experience with board sports, some said I was crazy; but I’ve come to know I was inspired. Regardless of my lack of action-sports experience, I love the Lord, and after supporting the organization for several years, I knew it was important for me to tag along and learn more first hand. A crazy peace came over me to seize the true meaning of the Christmas season and just go–no questions asked. I was along for the ride.
During our time preparing for our trip it quickly became obvious that the whole group fell into the “young adults” category–yet another category that I fell out of when it came to this trip. On top of that, they all had experience with either surfing or skating. Despite feeling a bit like a fish out of water, our mutual love for the Lord broke the stereotypes and we set out for Huacho, Peru. We were believing and anticipating that God was going to use our team to bridge the gap between the people we were going to encounter and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Funny enough, it took us traveling 2,600 miles before I realized that I was the only one who actually spoke Spanish fluently. My mind assured me, “Okay Kelly, maybe you were needed on this trip! These “kids” need you to communicate with locals, and you need them in return to learn how we’re going to use skateboards and surfboards to attract youth into curiosity about who we are and why we’re in their country.”
We made a pit stop in Lima on our way to Huacho. We were meeting up with Aldo, his wife, and the Christian Surfer crew to help them host a surf competition. There were many local surfers that had traveled with groups of kids scattering all ages; the leaders were glad to have our helping hands to set up stakes and tents and were more than grateful for the prizes that we brought with us. It was clear that the word had been spread about the contest and we were thankful we came prepared. I made my way around the beach, passing out Bibles that we had brought, excited to know we were putting the Word of God in the hands of many who have probably never owned a Bible before. The event was a huge success and exhausted, we ended the day at Aldo’s home on makeshift beds with over 25 surfers and myself. We spent two more nights in Lima visiting several local contacts and skating around the city–and even on the roof of the house we were staying–I followed closely behind on foot. We definitely attracted attention; but on the bright side, it’s so easy to share the Word when someone is curious about you.
Craig and his wife Daisy had been leading this surf camp every year for over 10 years and each year it had grown larger than the year before. We were there to help and support however we could. There were over 70 surfers and friends of all ages and what felt like no man’s land quickly became a refuge for conversation. If you set up a campfire and some surrounding chairs, there’s no limit on how far a conversation can go! Each night, we would huddle up in our sleeping bags with the odd and all too near animal sounds outside our tents that left us so thankful for each sunrise and the opportunity to live another day. We shared testimonies and meals while Craig and the team helped teach lessons and held several impromptu contests. I was able to witness multiple individuals surrender their lives to the Lord during those three days and got to celebrate together as they were baptized there at the beach.
As all good things come to an end, we packed up our camp site; as we pulled away, the secluded beach returned to the original image that seemed so distant in my mind. As I sat on the plane with my time in Peru coming to a bittersweet end, I recounted the worries I had before arriving. Over the trip I learned that I had no board, no experience, and yet it wasn’t a problem. The body of Christ is much like a mission team–it isn’t intended to all look the same. Being old enough to be the mother for pretty much everyone on the trip didn’t keep me from finding my role. If creating curiosity allowed us to share the Gospel while skating around Lima, then a 57 year old traveling with a young group of skaters and surfers definitely did the same. While my experience on the board might still need some work, I’m honored and blessed to currently be serving on the best board I know: the board of directors for Ride Nature. It might not be a surfboard or skateboard but it’s a board nonetheless and I’m enjoying the ride.
After those couple of days in the Capital, we made our way north where the homes and roads were less than we had imagined. The dusty roads and lack of pavement made a bumpy ride, but once again were greeted by such welcoming locals. An old orange VW bus pulled up and Pastor Craig slid open the side door and smiled as we exchanged hugs and stories from the day of travel. We were headed to an even more rural area for a three-day surfing retreat. The dust path seemed to never end and in between makeshift little towns all that we saw was vast and barren fields. I’m confident we were all beginning to wonder what would happen if we got stranded so far away from everything, but about that time we arrived at a secluded beach and as quickly as we arrived, we were dropped off and left. We had packed in every supply you could imagine–from portable toilets to toothpaste–we watched as the only sign of civilization drove off into a cloud of dust. I began to ask myself if I should have tried a more “introductory mission trip” rather than going so big so quick.
I was just like any other kindergartener when my parents told us we were moving to the Dominican Republic. We were headed overseas for at least a year to serve as missionaries and as a five year old, I didn’t have much on my mind except for naps, snacks, and monkey bars; but I knew life was about to change. Looking back, this was the start of my heart’s desire for missions. The D.R. was rugged, adventurous, warm, and friendly and naturally it quickly became my new home. My parents made close friends as they built homes, helped plant churches, shared the Gospel, and developed lasting relationships. Their lives were a ministry to numerous people, including their five year old son. When we moved back to the States, even as a young child I couldn’t help but see the world differently. In the D.R. I gravitated to the dirt streets and built friendships with the kids that had next to nothing.
With a lack of clean clothes, toys, and sometimes even food, what stood out far greater than the things they were lacking was their abundance of joy. Smiles existed because family, community, and unity was the foundation they were built on. The families and friends we became close to all had each other and that was more than enough for their contentment. While I learned what true physical need looked like, I also witnessed true spiritual need. That year planted the seed of full-time missions into my heart which has rooted itself deeply. Spending a year in a third-world country creates more than just a humanitarian heart; this experience began a trajectory in my soul and a movement that I haven’t been able to shake since. I believe God was shaping me much like he did my parents all those years before, to also become a vessel that would pour His love into a world desperate for hope.
The years went by and as I got older I got involved in what most kids do: team sports, youth groups, surfing, skating, girlfriends. I had an intensity about my life that as I got older it grew and began to consume my identity. Surfing the biggest waves, bombing the steepest hills on a skateboard, hitting the hardest on the football field, drinking the most at a party, jumping off the highest cliffs or bridges; you name it–not only did I want it, but it fueled me. This reckless abandonment sat in the driver seat of my life until the age of 30 where I was still recovering multiple injuries. Broken shoulders, wrists, even dealing at one point with frostbite on both of my feet from jumping into an icy Colorado river when it was zero degrees. What seemed like harmless adventures at the time revealed itself as a “fig leaf” for the insecurities I had about wanting to prove myself. I had it all. A great job making six figures, a beautiful home in the mountains, endless travel at my fingertips, but I was lost and lonely. To say I was searching was an understatement and it was nobody’s fault but my own. I knew who God was but I chose to do my own thing and it nearly led me to death. My soul was starving for affirmation that even the riskiest affair couldn’t fulfill. I came to the place where the only leap I hadn’t taken was faith.
Through multiple trips alongside the organization, several years of serving on their board of directors, and after years of prayer, planning, and fasting, my wife and I are stepping out in faith through an undeniable call on our lives to continue pioneering the organization in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. We’re building up and planting a facility that will represent a headquarters for the work of the organization for all of Central and South America. Much like the story of the prodigal son, we are welcoming those who are lost home into La Casa De Ride Nature. Being here only for a short time now, we are already seeing lives being changed as we share a message of what it looks like to live under the influence of God–both radically and intentionally rather than under the influence of the world. The vision for this facility and headquarters will be to both serve this local community while also raising up leaders from all over Latin America to be discipled, trained, equipped, and then sent back home to do the same. This facility is a home that will be used to love, plant, build, and multiply.
The Spirit of God, the Gospel, and the mission of the church is one that cannot be stopped. The body of Christ speaking, leading, and acting in love toward those who are spiritually poor and without hope is a movement that dates back thousands of years and has yet to be shut down. Jesus shared with the disciples in Matthew 16:18, “The gates of hell will not prevail against the church.” We live, breathe, and exist with the sole purpose of bringing glory to our Creator. It is in this that I have found the greatest adventure I’ve experienced–far more gripping, thrilling, fulfilling, or exciting than what this world will ever be able to offer. This is the mission Christ has called us each to and we are counting it a blessing each and every day that we get to just sit back and and enjoy the ride...from San Juan Del Sur, to the ends of the earth!
It fascinates me to reflect on the path of God’s pursuit in my life. My heart hurt for over 20 years through the countless negative decisions I made, yet I still felt the voice of God crying out for something different. The Bible says that there are ways that seem right to a man, but in the end they lead to death, both physically and spiritually; but there is grace that dares to save even the wildest risk-takers and that grace is a gift offered up for free. I knew about this grace but I had never experienced it. The common thread I have witnessed most of my life is that many might know about God, but few have a Biblical understanding or concept of His Sovereignty. As a result, they deny His power.
In January 2010 my life changed forever. My sister had told me about a church in Melbourne that had impacted her life several years prior. At that point, a large impact was exactly what I needed. I was listening to the pastor share the story of the prodigal son. In the story, this son walks away from his family, taking and squandering all of his inheritance on wild, lavish living. Eventually he gets to a point where he has depleted all he owns. Humbled and ashamed, he returns home with the hope that his father might allow him to potentially be just a servant. As he approaches his father–who I learn was waiting all along for him to return–sees him and runs to greet him. With a strong, unforeseen embrace, the prodigal son is not only welcomed home, but he is celebrated. This story painted an image in my mind with new and bright colors that has now been etched into my soul of what love really looks like. This son deserved nothing–he literally sought after the same adrenaline and worldly pleasures I too had pursued, and came back asking for a consequence, but what was he given instead? Love! With nothing to give, he was welcomed home. God made it clear to me that day that at the slightest response of a lifted head in His direction, the Lord runs towards us with a welcome home.
My life changed that day and I knew it was time to channel my intensity in a new direction. I started started over–faith, friends, marriage, finances, living, and learning. The Bible became my lifeline. I studied it, slept on it, meditated on it, and shared it. The Lord celebrated my return to Him by leading me to ministries that shared the same intensity I had and were using sports to reach the world. Ride Nature was just starting as a ministry and without a coincidence, I was just starting out a new life as well. An immediate connection led us to become family. Understanding the impact that the gift of a surfboard or skateboard can have in a person’s life excited me, but partnered with the desire to go and make disciples through that fueled me.
My courage from the week prior was running low. Maybe it was the paired exhaustion coming off of a busy week that drained me. “I don’t know what I’m going to say; what are we supposed to talk about?” My dream of doing missions was unfolding right in front of my baggy eyes. Regardless, it wasn’t my usual environment and I was fairly uncomfortable. Whether I was uneasy over my situation or my general lack of confidence is still uncertain. The pit in my stomach dug itself deeper when the doors opened; they quietly piled in as murmurs tried to keep up with the volume of the worship music in the background, reminding us all that God is still in control. I stood for a minute, wobbling left and right as if to make myself look busy. That didn’t last as long as I’d hoped it would and my curiosity got the best of me. The fear bubbling inside began to intrigue me. I felt my feet come unglued and I did what was right in front of me, taking off on my most amazing adventure yet: Jerusalem.
I introduced myself through subtle eye contact and shy smiles as I made my way to the open chair across the room. “Can I sit here?” Frank, who I at first mistook for Santa Clause, gently nodded. My intrigue, still feeling bold, began asking questions. It could have been Frank’s 74 years that continued to forget my name, but it seemed it was genuine politeness that inspired each “ma’am” weaved throughout his answers. Frank and I quickly became friends and the conversation became easier as we discovered it was both of our first mornings at The Breakfast Club. Frank shared some stories, and through tears, he opened up about his past. He told me that he had just been released from 30 years in a Texas prison and how his wife and kids had passed away while he was inside. With no family to return home to, Frank was homeless. He met a bus driver that had pointed him in the direction of Fort Myers, Florida where he found himself three weeks later–sitting there next to me. Pancakes, eggs, and sausages were passed around the room as the Word was shared over coffee in styrofoam cups. That’s when my calling of missions shifted from happening before me to happening through me.
Frank and I are good friends now; he catches my eye on Thursday mornings and adds his weekly, “Good morning, Ma’am!” Since meeting him, I’ve witnessed Frank’s profession of faith, and even got to be a part of throwing his first birthday party at 75 years old. Regardless of obvious trials, Frank finds his joy in the Lord and credits God to being his refuge and salvation. He is passionate about helping children with difficult backgrounds and is expectant that the Lord will use him. When you sign up for missions, there’s always someone new to meet, and never without a purpose.
Since that morning when I first met Frank, life in Southwest Florida kept moving forward at a fast pace. I walked into the office to see Nick sitting there. I knew I’d seen him somewhere before. His bleached hair and one of a kind tattoos reminded me of someone I knew I had seen before. It took me a few minutes, but then I realized I recognized him from an episode of the To the ENDS film series. He seemed like a cool guy in the video; I hoped I would get the chance to meet him in person when I moved to Fort Myers. Being the newest staff to join the team, I took the liberty to introduce myself and he subconsciously confirmed that he was even cooler in person than he was in video. He shared with me that he grew up in “ the area but has only been coming to Ride Nature for the past three years, how he recently had given his life to the Lord, and to my excitement, that he would be starting an internship with the organization that following week!
I’ve gotten to know Nick better in and outside of the office and hear his testimony. Growing up without Godly influences, he pursued the only things he knew, but they weren’t enough. Once he started hanging around Ride Nature, everything about it stuck out to him–even the Christian community. He wanted in, but he wasn’t convinced he wanted God. Through the combination of time, consistent conversations that pointed him toward the Lord, and the continual failings of his pursuits, he slowly began to give God power over his life. Ride Nature has become a home for Nick; quite literally. After interning with our team for three months now, it is clear that Nick is a walking testimony of Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When Jesus shared these final words with His disciples they were in Jerusalem, signifying the urgency to be witnesses of Christ everywhere we go, starting first with those right around us. For Ride Nature, Southwest Florida is our Jerusalem.
My Jerusalem is a beautiful place. Its sun shines through palms and onto faces even brighter. After four months of working at Ride Nature, my knees don’t buckle when I unlock the doors and invite the homeless community inside for breakfast; my prayers are said out loud; my faith proves itself to me through its action. Regardless of the cheap airfare, Jerusalem isn’t free; it requires sacrifice of all kinds. It’s easy to watch others travel the world, jumping from location to location without a final destination in sight to ever hold them back. The 21st century calls us “influencers”–you know, the lucky ones who get paid to head up humanitarian projects and tell you where you should vacation next; but Jesus designates us as missionaries. The truth is this: if you’ve put your faith in Christ, you’re one of us. You’ve been to Jerusalem. What did you think? Who did you meet? What did you do there? You are called to be a missionary, and regardless of modern labels, you are influential. You are currently encamped in Jerusalem’s walls–locals, guards, and authorities pass by daily. Don’t reject pursuing Jesus, and don’t miss your flight to Jerusalem–it’s closer than you think. In fact, you’re already there.
