Reaching the worlds surfing community
in Puerto Escondido Mexico
with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mike & Vanessa Allbutt
Priscila 2005-April-06
Joel 2006-September-13
The Allbutt family - more photos
Mike & Vanessa both grew up in missionary families. While Mike's parents were Australia- based, Vanessa's parents worked in Spain for fourteen years. Both Mike and Vanessa have had missions on their hearts for several years.
Mike completed his carpentry apprenteship after highschool, then worked as a highschool chaplain with Scripture Union for three years prior to attending Bible College. During those years, he undertook two trips to Mexico to do short-term mission trips.
After highschool, Vanessa completed her Occupational Therapy training and worked for two years before Priscila's arrival.
Mike and Vanessa attended the 2004 International Christian Surfers conference in France, and extended their travel to include Mexico. Their call to work with Christian Surfers was confirmed during this trip. Since then, they have been working towards the goal of moving to Mexico as full-time missionaries.
If you want to know more, support or get involved then please contact Mike & Vanessa Allbutt via email or telephone .
Support Opportunities
Team up in prayer with us.
Our greatest need is for people who will commit to faithfully pray for us, the people and our work. Colossians 4:3 "And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ..." to the surfers!
Team up with us financially.
We are trusting God to provide all our financial needs through His people; We need a team of financial partners to make our relocation and ongoing work in Mexico amongst the surfers a reality.
Be encouraging to us.
We would love to hear what is going on in your part of the world. You could keep in contact by phone, letters or email. You could also be an advocate for our surfing focused ministry in your church or home group, or even organise a short term trip to visit us (once we are there).
If you want to become a partner with us, then please download, print and return the Response Form to Pioneers in Australia.
Partner in Prayer
The items listed below are also on our Pioneers prayer cards.
- protection from harm and evil, and for good health
- safety in travel to and from and within Mexico
- speed and accuracy in language acquisition and cultural learning
- the development of meaningful and long lasting relationships with local surfers and their families
- open minds and receptive hearts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- acceptance and blessing from the local Christian churches for this outreach to the surfing community
- the establishment of a CS Mexico ministry made up of nationals
Immediate concerns
- Perseverence
- Visas for living in Mexico
- Strategic insight
We do a monthly email update so if you are interested in receiving this, please ask to be included on the mailing list.
surfers reaching surfers
The Christian Surfers movement started in the late 70’s, when surfers started reaching out to surfers. Christian Surfers International (CSI) became an international mission agency in 1999.
The vision of CSI is to be a Christian presence and witness to the world surfing community.
The goals of CSI are
- Evangelisation of the surfing communities of the world
- Serving the local church world wide by providing a bridge between the church and the beach
- Networking Christian Surfers missions world wide and thus providing a mission niche for surfers
Brett Davis (International Director for Christian Surfers) says "Puerto Escondido is a world crossroads for surfing for the America's and beyond. Every year thousands of surfers descend upon the 'Mexican Pipeline' and a growing local surf community has sprung up that has no contact with the gospel.
Mike and Vanessa Allbutt have had these surfers on their hearts for years and are ideally shaped to reach them. I wholeheartedly support them in mission to this unreached people group of 'surfers' and encourage you to back them as people of integrity, passion and purpose."
Brett Davis - CSI International Director & Buck Waters
A new way of doing mission
New countries. New Ideas. New technologies. It is a fast changing world, and it demands a whole new generation of men and women who will step up to the task - people who remain committed to crossing new frontiers with creative strategies and fresh ideas!
This is what Pioneers is all about. It's our passion. Reaching people who have the least opportunity to hear of God's love.
Timothy Meyers (Director Pioneers Australia) says " we are excited to partner with Diamond Valley Baptist Church in sending Mike and Vanessa to Mexico. Let me encourage you to personally participate in this strategic work.
Write to Mike and Vanessa, support them financially, determine to keep informed about there work; and most importantly - pray for them. And may you know the blessing of God as you walk by faith each day."
Paul Bentley (Field Leader) says "It's exciting to see the opportunity for this new outreach to take the Good News of Jesus to an often overlooked group, the surf community. As PI we pray for God to open the necessary doors for evangelism along the Mexican coast."
Going into all the world
Rod Draper (DVBC Pastor) says " our church has a vision to see the good news of Jesus Christ proclaimed worldwide and with Mike, Vanessa and Priscila heading off to Mexico, we have now placed missionaries on every continent. The Allbutt’s make it 29 DVBC adults currently serving in mission in Australia and across the globe.
As with each of these dedicated people, Mike and Vanessa will be supported by praying and giving teams at home in partnership with Pioneers, Christian Surfers and the Allbutt’s local church in Mexico.
They will be our ambassadors to two exciting people groups. Together with their local church, they will have an impact in the community in which they reside necessitating proficiency in Spanish but they will also have a unique opportunity to share Jesus Christ with a global community of surfers, who bring their own particular culture as they seek the surf of Puerto Escondido.
Our prayer is that Mike and Vanessa will help them to find the Saviour as well as the surf! "
The best place to surf or bodyboard in Mexico is undoubtedly in Puerto Escondido - where the infamous Zicatela beach break of the mexican pipeline can be found.
This small fishing port in Southern Mexico is the home of the world famous surfing wave, "the mexican pipeline".
Map of Mexico indicating Puerto Escondido
CS Mexico Projects
Forseen projects & opportunites for ministry in Puerto Escondido by CS Mexico include:
- Spending time with the surfers in the community, sharing Jesus with them
- Praying without ceasing
- Speaking the local language & lingo
- Facilitating the establishment of a CS Mexico ministry made up of nationals
There is now a 5 minute promotional web movie available for download. 9mb Quicktime movie. (made in January 2006)
Day to day
In Puerto Escondido, our daily routine includes:
- spending time at the beach, getting to know the locals
- surfing
- learning the Spanish language
- surfing
- faciliating surfer related bible studies
- sleeping
- & dreaming of surfing
Mike is initially spending time learning the langauge and getting to know the locals through talking and surfing.
Vanessa, who already fluently speaks Spanish, spends much of each day caring for Priscila & Joel. She also supports Mike where possible.
Priscila & Joel are learning Spanish and English, showing their parents how to eat chillies, and learn to surf better than their dad.
Prayer Cards
We have some prayer cards that can be placed on your refrigerator on in your bibles etc. You can request one/some anytime.
Contact Details
Our supporting agency is Pioneers of Australia in Melbourne.
Pioneers of Australia
1/39 Railway Road
Blackburn Vic 3130
Phone +61 (3) 8814 4444
Email info (at) pioneers.org.au
www.pioneers.org.au
More Information
- Christian Surfers International
- christiansurfers.net
- Christian Surfers USA
- christiansurfers.com
- Christian Surfers Australia
- christiansurfers.org.au
- CS Surfers Bible
- surfersbible.info
