Every surfer knows the awe-inspiring power of the ocean, yet the message that The Wave Church in Ocean Grove aims to spread is that God is even stronger and greater (Psalm 93:4).

The Wave joins many coastal churches in sharing the good news of Jesus with locals and holidaymakers through surfing and summer missions.

“Surfing is a real point of connection with people, especially those who might find going to church itself less appealing or less comfortable until their faith develops more,” says Associate Pastor Lena Johnstone. “The aim is to do mission where we live. It’s surfers reaching out to surfers.”

Throughout the year, The Wave is a local mission hub for Christian Surfers Australia (CSA). This international organisation aims to share the love of Christ with every surfer, swimming against the tide of the often-rough surfing culture. Wave Church members have served on the CSA board and hosted camps, fundraisers and events for around 24 years.

“We have a group of 6-7 people who gave out free egg and bacon rolls this summer, and opened up conversations about what they do and why they do it. They often have a bible study too. The idea is that they be intentional while they’re in the water and have conversations to challenge people to think about their faith.”

This year the church handed out around 200 Surfer’s Bibles, a helpful tool that contains the New Testament and personal testimonies from well-known surfers who love the Lord.

“We have seen people come to faith through our involvement with CSA at different times, usually through a friendship that developed around surfing. One example is a lady who comes from a non-church background, and she knew some people who invited her to events and camps. She became a Christian through these connections, and now she and her husband are involved in CSA.”

On Resurrection Sunday, The Wave will hold its annual Family Gathering dawn service at a local lookout, with other local churches. Previously, Lena has participated in CSA’s annual national Easter gathering where surfers form the shape of a cross together in the water as a witness to the self-sacrificing love of Christ. “It’s a beautiful way of reminding everyone what we’re about,” she said.

This summer, the church also sent two teams to help run the Wye River Blue Moose mission, and several members volunteered with Red Frogs at Phillip Island, Lorne and Byron Bay. The Ocean Grove Blue Moose team stayed at the church and used its Op Shop complex in town to run games and a coffee shop for young people.

“A strong focus of our church currently is forming resilient disciples – both seeing people converted to faith and teaching them what it looks like to follow Jesus. We’ve focused on a lovely definition from Faith For Exiles, about making disciples: ‘to develop Jesus-followers who are resiliently faithful in the face of cultural coercion, and to live a vibrant life in the Spirit.’ We also talk about the understanding that sharing our faith is important. Just as this faith is good for me, it might be good for my friends too.”