In this powerful and deeply honest episode of the Christian Surfers Podcast, Cyle Meyers sits down with legendary Hawaiian surfboard shaper Eric Arakawa — the man behind boards ridden by some of surfing’s greatest names, including Michael Ho and multiple world champions.But beyond shaping surfboards, Eric shares the deeper story of how God shaped his life.Growing up in Hawaii, Eric fell in love with surfing at a young age, riding waves on inflatable mattresses before eventually shaping his own surfboards out of necessity. What began as a childhood obsession would later become one of the most respected shaping careers in surfing history.

In this episode, Eric opens up about:
• Learning to shape boards alongside his father in Hawaii
• Working with surfing legends like Michael Ho
• The intense pressure and emotional highs and lows of shaping world-class surfboards
• Wrestling with identity, insecurity, and self-worth throughout his career
• Why he nearly walked away from surfing completely
• His powerful testimony of coming to know Jesus as a rebellious teenager
• Why surfing can either become an idol or a tool for God’s kingdom
• What it means to trust Christ fully and live for eternity

Eric vulnerably shares how years of comparison, pressure, and performance left him searching for purpose beyond success and how Jesus ultimately transformed the way he viewed surfing, identity, and life itself.

This episode is filled with wisdom, humility, laughter, and profound truth for surfers, Christians, creatives, and anyone wrestling with purpose, calling, or identity.“Don’t fear failure. Fear succeeding in the things that don’t matter.” -  Eric Arakawa

Huge thanks to @almondsurfboards and @trestlespropertymanagement for helping make these podcast episodes possible.

Did you enjoy the episode? If so, please consider supporting the Christian Surfers movement. As a non-profit organization, your donation helps us continue sharing stories of faith and reaching surfers around the world with the hope of Jesus.

Donate here: https://www.christiansurfers.net/donate

Facebook: /csinternational
Instagram: @christiansurfers_


#ChristianSurfers
#EricArakawa
#SurfAndFaith
#JesusAndSurfing
#FaithInTheLineup
#ChristianPodcast
#SurfPodcast
#SurfCulture
#HawaiiSurf
#ChristianTestimony
#FaithOverFear
#KingdomCulture
#IdentityInChrist
#Surfboards
#MichaelHo

In this powerful episode of the Christian Surfers Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with former pro surfer & co-owner of Island Water Sports surf shop, Cheyne Cottrell, for an honest conversation about family legacy, surf culture, ministry, and a life shaped across continents by faith. Cheyne shares his journey growing up in Florida around Island Water Sports, a surf shop founded by his father that later became a platform for ministry and community. What began as a surf business soon became a bridge into church planting and outreach, shaping Cheyne’s early understanding of purpose and calling. As a teenager, his life shifted when his family moved to South Africa to help pioneer Christian Surfers South Africa.

There, surfing, church, and mission life became deeply intertwined as his father helped grow a movement connecting surfers to Jesus. The conversation also reflects on Cheyne’s years traveling the world on the QS, living out of suitcases, chasing waves, and eventually stepping back into the family business in Florida. What was meant to be temporary became a long-term calling as he helped steward Island Water Sports into what it is today, now expanded across multiple locations. He also shares the impact of loss after the passing of his father in South Africa, and how his family has continued to live out faith through ministry, education, and service.

Through it all, Cheyne reflects on identity, ambition, grief, and what it means to live with an eternal perspective - seeing surfing not as the destination, but as a tool to serve people and share Jesus.

This is a story of legacy, faith, surf culture, and learning to trust God through every season. Huge thanks to @almondsurfboards and @trestlespropertymanagement for supporting this episode. Did you enjoy the episode? If so, please consider supporting the Christian Surfers movement. As a non-profit organization, your donation helps us continue sharing stories of faith and reaching surfers around the world with the hope of Jesus. 

Donate here: https://www.christiansurfers.net/donate Facebook: /csinternational Instagram: @christiansurfers_ #ChristianSurfers #SurfPodcast #JesusAndSurfing #FaithInTheLineup #SurfMinistry #Testimony #SurfCulture #HopeInJesus

In this powerful episode of the Christian Surfers Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with former pro surfer & co-owner of Island Water Sports surf shop, Cheyne Cottrell, for an honest conversation about family legacy, surf culture, ministry, and a life shaped across continents by faith. Cheyne shares his journey growing up in Florida around Island Water Sports, a surf shop founded by his father that later became a platform for ministry and community.

What began as a surf business soon became a bridge into church planting and outreach, shaping Cheyne’s early understanding of purpose and calling. As a teenager, his life shifted when his family moved to South Africa to help pioneer Christian Surfers South Africa. There, surfing, church, and mission life became deeply intertwined as his father helped grow a movement connecting surfers to Jesus. The conversation also reflects on Cheyne’s years traveling the world on the QS, living out of suitcases, chasing waves, and eventually stepping back into the family business in Florida. What was meant to be temporary became a long-term calling as he helped steward Island Water Sports into what it is today, now expanded across multiple locations. He also shares the impact of loss after the passing of his father in South Africa, and how his family has continued to live out faith through ministry, education, and service.

Through it all, Cheyne reflects on identity, ambition, grief, and what it means to live with an eternal perspective - seeing surfing not as the destination, but as a tool to serve people and share Jesus.

This is a story of legacy, faith, surf culture, and learning to trust God through every season. Huge thanks to @almondsurfboards and @trestlespropertymanagement for supporting this episode.

Did you enjoy the episode? If so, please consider supporting the Christian Surfers movement. As a non-profit organization, your donation helps us continue sharing stories of faith and reaching surfers around the world with the hope of Jesus.

Donate here: https://www.christiansurfers.net/donate

Facebook: /csinternational
Instagram: @christiansurfers_

#ChristianSurfers #SurfPodcast #JesusAndSurfing #FaithInTheLineup #SurfMinistry #Testimony #SurfCulture #HopeInJesus

In this inspiring episode of the Christian Surfers Talk Story Podcast, host Mark Sawyer-Chu chats with Kirk, the Asia Pacific Area Director for Christian Surfers, to discuss his transformative journey from local church ministry to leading a thriving international organization. Kirk shares his personal faith story, a powerful spiritual encounter that deepened his relationship with Jesus, and the vision that drives Christian Surfers' exponential growth across the Asia Pacific region. 

With a core philosophy of "equipping leaders to equip leaders," Kirk reveals how the ministry is not just growing, but multiplying across nations, from Hong Kong to Japan and beyond. Tune in to hear about God’s provision, the heart behind the mission, and how you can support the movement.Huge thanks to @trestlespropertymanagement and @almondsurfboards for helping make these podcast episodes happen.Did you enjoy the episode? If so, please consider donating to the Christian Surfers movement.

As a non-profit organization, your donation will help us continue to create quality content, allowing more surfers around the globe to have the opportunity to know and follow Jesus. 
You can donate here: https://www.christiansurfers.net/donate

Facebook:   / csinternational   
Instagram:   / @christiansurfers_   

#ChristianSurfers #LeadershipDevelopment #FaithJourney #AsiaPacificMinistry #SurfingForJesus #ChurchLeadership #GodsProvision #SurfersCall #MultiplyingImpact #GlobalMinistry

In this episode of the Christian Surfers Talk Story, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with longtime friend and surf missionary Chris Chon at the 2025 Christian Surfers International Gathering in Bali last year. 

Chris shares his powerful testimony - from growing up in Southern California with a troubled family background to finding Jesus in Alaska of all places, and eventually pioneering Christian Surfers Taiwan. He opens up about the challenges and breakthroughs of surf ministry in Asia, the early days of planting a team in Taiwan, and his new role as East Asia Coordinator for Christian Surfers International. Ironically, Mark is of Taiwanese descent.

You’ll hear stories of surfing next to temples, building grassroots movements with just a few people, and the vision for raising up national leaders across Asia. Chris also shares prayer requests, future plans, and how others can get involved in this exciting kingdom work.

Huge thanks to @trestlespropertymanagement and @almondsurfboards for helping make these podcast episodes happen. Did you enjoy the episode? If so, please consider donating to the Christian Surfers movement.  As a non-profit organization, your donation will help us continue to create quality content, allowing more surfers around the globe to have the opportunity to know and follow Jesus. You can donate here: https://www.christiansurfers.net/donate

Facebook:   / csinternational   
Instagram:   / @christiansurfers_ 
  
#TalkStoryPodcast

In this inspiring episode, host Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with professional surfer Jessie Van Niekerk as she opens up about the realities of life on the Challenger Series, the mental and emotional toll of elite competition, and how she stays grounded in faith through it all.

Jessie gives us a behind-the-scenes look at navigating the surf world’s pressures, the importance of surrounding yourself with a solid support system, and why losing more than winning is part of the journey.

We also dive into her entrepreneurial side - how she founded her plant-based protein bar brand, Bubble Out, born from a need for healthy fuel on the road - and her role on the Amazon Prime reality show "Surf Girls." Jessie shares how she uses every platform, including TV, to authentically share her values and glorify God.

Whether you’re a young athlete, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just someone chasing a purpose, Jessie’s story will challenge and encourage you to stay true to who you are - even in the spotlight. Huge thanks to @trestlespropertymanagement and @almondsurfboards for helping make these podcast episodes happen.

Did you enjoy the episode? If so, please consider donating to the Christian Surfers movement. As a non-profit organization, your donation will help us continue to create quality content, allowing more surfers around the globe to have the opportunity to know and follow Jesus. You can donate here: https://www.christiansurfers.net/donate

Facebook: / csinternational
Instagram: / @christiansuurfers_

This week on the Christian Surfers Podcast, your host, Mark Sawyer-Chu, sits down with Hannah Leary from FCA Action Sports. Hannah serves as an Area Representative in the Carolinas, stepping into a role FCA had been praying to fill for over a decade.

Her journey to this point is a powerful testament to God’s timing: though she grew up in the church, it wasn’t until a season of personal surrender - praying “send me anywhere” - that she fully committed her life to Jesus. Shortly after, her local church highlighted FCA, and doors swung open for her to bring the Gospel into the action sports world.

In this conversation, we explore how FCA - a ministry historically known for football fields, basketball courts, and mainstream stick & ball sports - is now intentionally reaching every athlete, including surfers, skaters, and outdoor enthusiasts. Hannah shares how this expansion led to natural, kingdom-minded partnerships with ministries like Christian Surfers, working together to run Surf Church outreaches, serve at contests, and disciple young athletes.

Huge thanks to @trestlespropertymanagement and @almondsurfboards for helping make these podcast episodes happen.

Did you enjoy the episode? If so, please consider donating to the Christian Surfers movement. As a non-profit organization, your donation will help us continue to create quality content, allowing more surfers around the globe to have the opportunity to know and follow Jesus. You can donate here: https://www.christiansurfers.net/donate