“I thought I had to give up surfing to be serious about faith. Now I know that Jesus meets me in the water.”
— Surf Church participant
As the sun rises over the Pacific, a group of barefoot surfers gather on the beach—some with boards, others with Bibles, all drawn by something deeper than the tide. This is Surf Church Collective, a growing network of micro-churches meeting in beach communities across the globe. But this isn’t just beach ministry. It’s a Fresh Expression of church, offering a spiritual home to people who may never step into a sanctuary but are still longing for community, meaning, and Jesus.
Rooted in surf culture and shaped by the Spirit, Surf Church Collective represents a new kind of missional movement—one where discipleship is organic, community is authentic, and church is as natural as breathing salty air.
From Discontent to Discipleship: The Birth of Surf Church Collective
Surf Church started not with a master plan, but with a holy discontent. Ministry leaders and surfers alike noticed something stirring: churches weren’t connecting with the vibrant surf communities along their coastlines.
“We saw people hungry for spiritual connection,” one leader explained, “but disillusioned with institutional religion. We needed to meet them where they already felt alive.”
So they started simple—gathering at sunrise for prayer, hosting bonfire Bible studies, sharing meals on the beach. What began as informal connection quickly became intentional discipleship.
“We didn’t set out to plant a church,” one leader said. “We just followed Jesus into the places we already loved.”
That kind of organic beginning reflects the Fresh Expressions Journey—a process rooted in listening, loving, building community, and exploring discipleship before church “takes shape.” It’s how Surf Church moved from friendship circles to vibrant communities of faith.
A Church Shaped by the Sea: Meeting People Where They Are
Surf Church Collective is designed for people who often feel left out of traditional church—surfers, spiritual seekers, the de-churched, and the “nones.” It reaches people who might describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious”, a group that now makes up nearly half the population in many U.S. coastal cities (Barna, 2019).
But here’s the beauty: instead of asking people to leave their lives behind to find Jesus, Surf Church reveals that Jesus is already present—in the waves, the wonder, and the community.
“People are not targets to get into church, but creatures beloved by the Creator.”
— Dave Male, How to Pioneer
This ministry meets very real needs of isolation in transient or tourism-driven communities, spiritual curiosity without pressure to conform, and safe, inclusive spaces for discipleship and vulnerability
Real Church, Just Without the Walls
Discipleship in Surf Church is anything but conventional. It happens around beach fires, in the lineup between sets, or over a shared meal in the sand. There are no stages, no productions—just authentic life shared in the presence of Jesus.
This approach mirrors the early church and the heart of the Fresh Expressions movement, which defines church as “a form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church”.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
— Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
Surf Church takes this literally—making disciples in wetsuits and sandals, drawing people into a Jesus-centered community shaped by their context.
Surf Church Collective is a bold, joyful reminder that church can begin anywhere—a skate park, a dog park, a coffee shop, the beach! Wherever people are gathered, Christ is already there. The Fresh Expressions movement invites us to see these everyday places as potential sacred ground.
Snapshot of a Fresh Expression of Church
What is the Fresh Expression called?
Surf Church Collective
Where is it?
Surf Church Collective is a global network with active expressions in various coastal communities around the world.
Who is it for?
Surf Church is for surfers, coastal dwellers, and spiritually curious individuals who may feel disconnected from traditional church but are open to exploring faith in authentic, community-centered ways. It creates space for people to encounter Jesus in the rhythms of surf culture—right where they already live, gather, and belong.
What do they do?
Surf Church creates vibrant, contextual communities of faith in surf culture through beach gatherings, shared meals, discipleship groups, and relational outreach. By meeting people in the water and on the shore, they offer a tangible expression of church rooted in friendship, mission, and the way of Jesus.
Who is the Pioneer?
The pioneer of Surf Church is Phil Schwarz, a missionary and surfer who helped launch the first Surf Church community in Ericeira, Portugal. Motivated by a passion to reach people in surf culture with the love of Jesus, Phil has been instrumental in shaping the vision, training leaders, and growing the Surf Church Collective into a global network of contextual, beach-based faith communities.
Where can I learn more?
