Waves and Worship (surf church)

Tonight on BBC’ Heart and Soul (rebroadcast on CBC Radio One
from 3:34 a.m. to 4:01 a.m. here in Newfoundland, so probably
a half hour earlier on the mainland) there was an episode on

Waves and worship: Portugal's surf Church

which can be accessed by clicking Listen now on
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct6vnv

The description is:

In the coastal city of Porto, Portugal, a unique spiritual community is
making waves—literally. The Surf Church, led by Brazilian-born pastor and
avid surfer Samuel Cianelli dos Anjos, blends traditional Sunday worship with
the sport of surfing.

In a country with deep historical and cultural ties to the Catholic Church,
Portugal—like many other countries in Europe—has seen a steady decline in
the number of young people engaging with their faith. Many feel disconnected
from the Church and believe it no longer speaks to them in a way they
understand. In response to this, the Surf Church movement was born. Every
Sunday, young people gather on the beach to surf together before walking to a
nearby church to worship. Their motto: “We love waves, and we love
Jesus”. Their mission: to connect with young people through a shared love
of the ocean.

In this Heart &  Soul documentary from the BBC World Service, reporter Colm
Flynn travels to Porto to discover more about this innovative approach, which
has attracted a diverse congregation of over a dozen nationalities. Colm
meets several members of the community, including Ukrainian teenager Uliana
Yarova, who found refuge and faith within Surf Church after fleeing her
war-torn country — culminating in her baptism in the Atlantic Ocean. He
also speaks to Ana Marques, a local Portuguese woman who says she grew up
watching her mother make sacrifices to please God, suffering in the process.
Ana says she has now found a home in the Surf Church.

However, this unconventional ministry has not been without criticism. Some
argue that Surf Church prioritizes surfing and socialising over worship and
theological depth. There are also concerns about the high turnover of
members, with some newcomers expecting a looser interpretation of the Gospel
because of the Church’s casual style. But Pastor Sam is clear: “The
Gospel is the Gospel, and that will never change.”

-- 
https://www.nfld.com/~dalton/dtales.html Salmon on the Thorns (mystic page)
“And now the angry morning; Gives the early signs of warning; You must
face alone the plans you make; Decisions they will try to break" (S.McL.)