Today, we’re diving into the inspiring journey of Brett Barley - a pro surfer, filmmaker, and content creator whose life has been shaped by faith in Jesus and a deep love for storytelling.
Brett’s story begins in the world of Christian Surfers, where a 12-year-old kid found both pizza, the Word of God, and eventually his wife - a combination that changed his life forever. From filming waves with a mini DV camcorder to producing high-quality, family-friendly content, Brett has carved out a unique path as a hybrid surfer and creator, often working with a tight-knit team, including his longtime filmer, Jeffrey O’Neal.
 
But his journey hasn’t been without challenges. Burnout, the pressures of professional surfing, and even stolen viral clips of his. Yet through it all, Proverbs 3:5-6—‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart’ has been his compass, guiding him through career pivots, marriage, and even a personal miracle he holds close to his heart.
 
Now, Brett is channelling his experiences into a deeply personal film & his latest release, Ambivalent, exploring the raw emotions of doubt, perseverance, and rediscovery. Brett’s mission is clear: to create with purpose, stay true to his roots, and remind us all that even pros eat it on the waves sometimes.

From the struggles of his family’s early days in Hawai’i to stepping into leadership after his father’s passing, Ron Artis’ journey is one of resilience and hard-earned wisdom. His upbringing, watching his parents persevere through hardship, shaped his outlook on life, music, and faith. Now, as an independent artist navigating the challenges of the streaming era, Ron has released his latest album, ‘We Are Not Machines’, while redefining what success truly means.

Join Mark Sawyer-Chu on the Christian Surfers Podcast as we dive into Ron Artis’ mission—to inspire, uplift, and remind us all that we’re meant for more than just the grind. This is a conversation about music, meaning, and the power of real connection. 

Ron is on tour now around the world with his family. Please check out his music and life here:   https://www.instagram.com/ronartisii/

🌐 Visit the Christian Surfers website to learn more about this life-changing movement: https://www.christiansurfers.net/ 

Please consider donating to the Christian Surfers movement. As a non-profit organization, your donation will help us continue to create quality content, sharing inspiring stories & testimonies, allowing more surfers around the globe to have the opportunity to know and follow Jesus.

Join Christian Surfers’ podcast hosts Mark Sawyer-Chu as he sits down with legendary longboarder JJ Wessels in his creative San Juan Capistrano board and art shed! JJ talks about how Jesus transformed his broken upbringing, how he survived a crazy plane crash, the famous ‘Seedling’ era of surfing and surfboard design and so much more.

"I’ve realized the Lord’s given me this passion for a reason—it’s part of who I’m called to be." – JJ Wessels

🌐 Visit the Christian Surfers website to learn more about this life-changing movement: https://www.christiansurfers.net/

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.

This week on the CS Podcast, we sit down with Trevor Berge, a lifelong surfer, entrepreneur, and devoted follower of Jesus.

From his early days as a young surfer in Huntington Beach to becoming the owner of Degree33 Surfboards and a passionate mentor in the Christian surfing community, Trevor’s journey is inspiring to say the least.

After being introduced to Christian Surfers, Trevor experienced a powerful transformation—but later walked away from faith for nearly a decade. Hitting rock bottom through substance abuse and personal struggles, he reached a moment of desperation. Yet, God met him in that place, leading him back to Jesus and a renewed life with his now-wife, Darcy.

Trevor’s career took him from the auto parts industry to launching Groundswell Supply and eventually rebuilding Degree33, making it a leader in high-performance surfboards. Through it all, he has remained committed to investing in the next generation, helping raise over $350,000 for youth mentorship through the Hway Challenge.

From sponsorships to struggles, success to surrender, Trevor reflects on the defining moments that shaped his life journey.

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_

Welcome to our latest episode of the Christian Surfers podcast (and the first of 2025 with Mark Sawyer-Chu).

This week Mark sits down with Mike Mulkey an inspiring author, surfer, and devoted believer. Mike’s connection to Christian Surfers began through David and Amy Nehrig, the U.S. National Directors, who introduced him to the Christian Surfers podcast.

Mike’s book, Surfing in Heaven, delves into the profound topic of eternity, challenging us to focus on what truly matters. Inspired by personal experiences, including conversations with a terminally ill friend and the faith-filled story of surfer Ben Kelly, Mike offers a fresh perspective on life’s brevity and the hope of heaven.

With deep roots in the surfing community and a faith journey that began at 32, Mike’s story weaves together surfing, scripture, and eternity.

Join us as we dive into his book, his perspective on heaven, and his heartfelt mission to inspire faith and a deeper sense of purpose in others.

Be sure to subscribe to not miss the next episode and tell us who you would like us to interview in the comments.

In this episode of the CS Podcast, we take a deep dive into the life and career of Benji Severson, a name synonymous with surfing and faith - especially in the surfing hotbed of San Clemente.

Growing up in a commune in Mendocino, California, Benji was introduced to the ocean at a young age, surfing alongside his father and uncle. Benji’s uncle, John Severson, was the founder of Surfer Magazine. This early connection to the water was the catalyst for a lifelong passion. By eight years old, Benji was already riding waves in San Clemente, a place that would later become the heart of his surfing journey.

Together, with his brother, Benj founded the Severson brand, blending their love for surfing with artistic expression. As his career evolved, Benji found himself working with industry giants like HIC, Rusty, and Nike, where he played a crucial role in launching Nike 6.0. Yet, it was his faith and dedication to his community that truly defined him, turning his shop into a ministry and a beacon of light in San Clemente, California.

Be sure to subscribe to not miss the next episode and tell us who you would like us to interview in the comments.

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_ Check out our previous podcast episodes featuring the International Director of Christian Surfers here: https://youtu.be/n3duX9qLKbA 

#businesssuccess #SurfIndustry #womeninbusinesss #entrepreneurship #fromscratch #successstory #inspiringjourney #trailblazers #dreamchasers

This week on the CS Podcast, the effervescent Mark Sawyer-Chu aka sits down with the International Director of Christian Surfers (and a man who always has a vision), Mr. Roy Harley!

Roy’s childhood revolved around surfing, but at the age of 16, Roy had a life-altering encounter with Jesus at a camp which completely changed his life trajectory - this pivotal moment led him to co-found Son Surf (which later became Christian Surfers South Africa) in the early 1990s. This organisation merged entrepreneurship with a mission to spread the message of Jesus among the surfers of South Africa.

Roy also talks about his vision for the future of Christian Surfers, about Groundswell Aid, Surf Church Collective, as well CSALT (Christian Surfers Academy of Leadership Training).

Dive in and get to know the leader of this global movement of Jesus-loving surfers.

🌐 Visit the Christian Surfers website to learn more about this life-changing movement: https://www.christiansurfers.net/

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: https://www.facebook.com/csinternational
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christiansurfers_/

The CS Podcast is back and in this episode, Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with Pastor Nate Dorman and long-time Christian Surfer to discuss life, surfing, family, prayer requests, and Jesus in the trails.


Through this podcast, you can clearly see God’s hand in Nate’s life. From his brief time on the QS to the loss of his mentor and former CS conference speaker (Pastor Sumo Sato), who asked him to take over his church, and enduring intense health struggles around the birth of his first child, Nate’s story reflects how, even through the greatest trials, we can see God’s goodness. In fact, it is during these stretching seasons that we truly become more like Him.


The Apostle James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” James 1:2 - and our prayer through this podcast, is that you will begin to count your trials as joy.

🌐 Visit the Christian Surfers website to learn more about this life-changing movement: https://www.christiansurfers.net/ 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

This week on the Christian Surfers’ podcast the ever-frother-stoked Mark Sawyer-Chu sits down with [insert drum roll 🥁🥁🥁] Damien Hobgood! Amongst spending a lofty 14 years surfing competitively on the Championship Tour, Damien has appeared in over 20 surf videos and at the height of his career, finished 4th on the Championship Tour. Damo has been a staple with Christian Surfers and Walking On Water since the early days, and always makes time for people & speaking at multiple CS conferences and events. Enjoy this latest CS podcast where Mark and Damien get pitted deep talking about God, surfing, and everything in between.

🌐 Visit the Christian Surfers website to learn more about this life-changing movement: https://www.christiansurfers.net/ 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

In this episode, we catch up with one of the current pioneers of professional surfing in El Salvador, Marcelo Castellanos. Among being a former professional surfer himself, Marcelo co-founded and runs Puro Surf; a world-class surf academy & hotel based in El Salvador. He is also the official surf coach for the El Salvadorian surf team and co-star of the Sweet Adventure surf film. Marcelo and his family also have deep roots with Christian Surfers.

🌐 Visit the Christian Surfers website to learn more about this life-changing movement: https://www.christiansurfers.net/

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