Since the late 70's this mission has been reaching out to surfers. We became an international mission agency in 1999. The following explains just who we are.
CSI Vision
To be a Christian presence and witness to the world surfing community.
CSI Goals
- 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
Links:
- Christian Surfers International
- christiansurfers.net
- Christian Surfers USA
- christiansurfers.com
- Christian Surfers Mexico
- www.christiansurfers.info/mexico
- Surfers Bible
- surfersbible.info
CS Mexico Projects
The following snippet is from a 7 page PDF document outlining most of the possible projects & opportunites for ministry in Puerto Escondido that CS Mexico are aware of. This document is available upon request.
"In all ministries done in Puerto Escondido, these things are keys to being effective.
- Make friends & change the world
- Live out Jesus through words & actions
- Pray without ceasing
- Speak the local language
- Facilitate the establishment of a CS Mexico ministry made up of nationals
Anyone involved in the CS Mexico ministry would be expected to hold to these values and plans."
¡Hola! (spanish for hello!)
Christian Surfers International has commenced the first stages of establishing a Christian Surfers mission in Mexico.
The preliminary work has been done in recent years and now the first workers are on location.
Some original possibilities/ideas have been documented and are worth a read if you want to see the Mexican surfing community reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
A bodyboarder about to pull into an everyday mexpipe barrel.
The CSI ministry is planned to be commenced in 2007 in the famous surfing community of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.
The main surf beach is called Zicatela and the break is often referred to as "the mexican pipeline" - or mexpipe.
Map of Mexico indicating Puerto Escondido.
Christian Volunteers
There are currently two families now located in Puerto Escondido.
The Allbutt family are from Melbourne Australia and the Velasquez family are from Los Angeles USA.
The Allbutt and Velasquez families - more photos.
This new work was shared and discussed at the 2005 July conference of Christian Surfers US in Hawaii.
In October 2005 some Christian Surfers leaders visited Puerto Escondido to see the town and the surfing community. During the week they met regularly to discusss the future mission opportunities and how as leaders they might be able to support the new CS Mexico mission work.
In May 2006 the Velazquez family arrived in P.E. and have been joind by the Allbutt's arrival in October 2007.
If you want to know more about this or get involved then please contact via email Mike & Vanessa Allbutt or telephone call them.
There is now a 5 minute promotional web movie available for download. 9mb Quicktime movie. (revised in January 2006)
Bodyboard or Surf Mexpipe
The best place to surf or bodyboard in Mexico is always done in Puerto Escondido - where the infamous beach break of the mexican pipeline can be found.
The small fishing port in Southern México is the home of the world famous surfing beach Zicatela. This is where the even more famous wave of Mexpipe can be ridden.
When you go to Puerto Escondido make sure you drop by the great cafes that are built right on the beach.
When you get a to surf the zicatela beach break (or other great local (less publicised) surf spots), Miguel Diaz will probably be there taking GREAT SURFING PHOTOS of you and the others - which you can buy for a good price later that day.
wannasurf.com also has heaps of photos and comments from those surfing tourists who have been to Puerto Escondido.
And above all, if you do get to "Puerto", make sure you stop by the Mexpipe Surf Shop and get some surf gear that will last years.
Puerto Escondido in Mexico
In 1928 the town of Puerto Escondido was established as a port for shipping coffee, but the area has been inhabited by indigenous populations for centuries.
The Mexican flag.
Since the 1960's it has been connected to other coastal towns by Highway 200 and is about a 12 to 14 hour bus ride away from Mexico City (best done overnight).
There is now an airport that caters for international conncetions making quick travel easier.
Tourists began discovering the town and surfers found its beautiful beaches and great waves.
Puerto Escondido's importance as an export port lessened as the coffee shipments changed to truck transportation instead of boat. The little port does still continue to support commercial and sport fishing activities.
Now a days, Puerto Escondido is a home for fishermen, surfers, vacationers, and an eclectic expatriate community.
The large waves of the Zicatela beach break put this wave into the top ten surfing destinations.
It is a great place to visit or live. Get a custom quality surfboard shaped by Ody.