SAVE THE DATES for the South Africa/Son Skate Conference
JULY 3rd - 7th, 2008
DURBAN
UK Skate Conference TBA
If you are interested in speaking, volunteering or exhibiting at any of the events, please contact us at info@ChristianSkaters.com
YEAR 2 - A Groundbreaking Event
Skateboarding has become a huge part of the youth culture today. You walk through the mall and see the influence it has had on fashion. Tony Hawk has become a household name and, XGames is the largest viewed sporting event in the 13 to 24 age range. Twenty percent of young people in the US alone skateboard. That’s over 15 million. To top that off, over 38 million more have expressed a desire to learn an “extreme sport.”
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Youth today are being bombarded by temptation. We see the statistics on youth involved in sexual activity, drugs, alcohol, and crime. These rates are alarming. In fact, youth ages 12-17 who are frequently bored are 50% more likely than those not often bored to smoke, drink, get drunk, and use illegal drugs. As recess is being cut from schools, our youth are replacing physical play with MTV and MySpace. As the youth culture turns more to media for stimulation, the need to focus on relationship-building is evident and crucial.
So, how do we reach these youth? Jesus met people right where they were at and continues to do that today. As pastors begin to see this cultural shift, this need to reach our youth with culturally relevant ministry becomes apparent. To meet this need, skate ministries have begun to pop up all over the world. Ministries like Skatechurch, Christian Skaters, Livin’ It, Boarders for Christ and Steelroots have stepped up to the plate to present the gospel in a way that reaches this culture.
Maybe you are a pastor or parent who constantly finds themselves chasing skaters off their property. Maybe you have a heart for "the hippies of the 21st century" and want to reach out like Jesus did. Maybe you were a skater yourself and your heart breaks for those in the next generation. Or, maybe you have found yourself planted right in the middle of skate ministry and feel like you just need some help.
With this in mind, Christian Skaters hosted the 1st Annual Skate Ministry Conference September 13- 15 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over 100 people from different ministries were able to help equip, encourage and pray for one another. We were blessed by numerous speakers from different background and a amazing location in which to meet.
Audio from many of the speakers has been uploaded to You Tube. Download these amazing sessions from speakers like Christian Hosoi (Hosoi Skateboards/The Sanctuary), Steven Wolfe (Touch The World Ministries/Solid Foundation Skatepark), Mark Janetta (Splinter Skatepark), and more.
To follow, Christian Skaters took part in the UK Skate Ministry Conference in Dundee, Scotland this November. We are humbled to see how the Lord is using skate to make a global impact on youth. To read more about the UK Conference, please visit www.ChristianSurfers.co.uk
....Don't forget to join us in 2008