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Christian Skaters recently visited Sweden on a Skate Mission to serve at the annual Christ Air Camp.
The majority of Swedes don’t think the big man exists. That’s according to a European Commission report which states just 23 percent of Swedes believe there is a God. Only Estonia and the Czech Republic can wave their atheist flags higher, making Sweden the second most secularized country in Europe. However, the Lord has opened a door for Christian Skaters to share the love of Christ in Sweden for the last two years. Although many follow the traditions of church (attending on holidays and major events), many youth do not have a relationship with Christ. They are slower to respond to typical American style alter calls but do best with one-on-one relationship. Through daily devotions at the camp, sharing the Gospel, being a daily witness and continuing to pour into the lives of those we meet in Sweden through social networks like Facebook, we are building true disciples of Christ, meeting them where they are at and being Jesus' hands and feet. Skaters Roberto Bustamante & Josiah Gatlyn headed over to represent Christian Skaters US. Roberto shared devos and challenged the campers each morning. Josiah was able to share his testimony & the Gospel during an interview on stage. One skater emailed us to share about how they accepted Christ during the weekend and was baptized. We are looking forward to hearing even more stories like this!
Here is a recap from Christian Skater's Roberto Bustamante who was part of the team from the US:
"Christ Air Camp 2010 was an event full of ministry and prayer. We left for Sweden on May 11 and the camp started May 14. When we first got to the church that we were going to be staying at some of the leaders of the camp home. They told us it was forecasted to rain all three days of the camp and to pray that the Lord would hold back the rain so that ministry could be done. Any time we had a change we were thanking God for the day he had given us but asking him to put his hands over the camp and shelter it from the rain. The first day of the camp I had the opportunity to share morning devotion with the kids that were in attendance. After that we headed to the skate park for a game of skate BATB style that took up most of the day. That night, right as we were about to head in to the church for the night to enjoy a teaching and concert, the rains came. God held the rains back till we were going to be inside the rest of the night.
The next morning we woke up to a downpour of rain, the day that the skate contest was to be held at noon. The leaders of the camp kept praying that God show favor and stop the rain in time for the biggest event of the whole camp. Once again God showed up and stopped the rain just in time for the skate contest to start. We started to squeegee the whole park to get rid of the water and dry the park and we were given a little help with the sun God brought out. We had the skate contest and everything when smoothly except for a minor injury. Josiah and I were able to share a little bit that day of what God had done in our lives, how he changed us, and how we came to know who God was. That night we had another church service where we were able to worship God and thank him for all he had done that day.
After the Camp was over we went on a short road trip to several skate parks in the south of Sweden. We planned to stop at several cities that some of the kids had come from to go to the camp and to encourage them and fellowship with them and to strengthen their faith. We went to about three cities and several skate parks and prayed for many of the people that we came in contact with that God would continue to lead them or that they would find Him.
In all, the trip was a blast and something that God is definitely blessing. I’m glad I could be a part of all the fellowshipping and ministry that took place in Sweden and hope to go again in the future."
Here is a wrap-up summary from Magdalena @ Christian Skaters in Sweden:
"140 skaters gathered in Alingsås, Sweden on the 13-16th of May to skate and hang out with each other and God (although a lot of people didn't know Him). Almost pro skater Josiah Gatlyn was with us and completely destroyed the park and hung out with the kids. Christ Air Skateboard Camp was like a party with no end and the love of God was all around. On the Saturday we were gonna have a big skate contest but it rained like crazy and the sky was completely gray! A few of us had gotten the same picture when we prayed: That the sun was gonna break through, and at the meeting in the evening we would also have an open sky with God's presence. Almost everyone thought the contest was gonna get canceled and when it was 2 pm I also started to doubt, but we still went on in faith and it soon stopped raining and the sun came out and we could run the contest as planned, for little dudes, older dudes, ladies and also a best trick contest. There were Christian punk bands playing and graffiti artists painting also. At the meeting that night a lot of people were healed of injuries, some rolled ankles that were instantly healed, some sore knees, an old hip injury etc! God is good! As any normal skateboard competition we had an after-party, at the swimming hall. Words are not enough to describe the super fun (non-alcohol of course) craziness that took place there, so I'm not gonna spoil it by trying. One of the non Christians who was at the camp for the first time said that this was probably the best thing he had ever been to. He was at the most hyped and expensive Swedish skateboard camp the year before, but that wasn't even close to the awesomeness of Christ Air, he said. And me, I'm so pumped to be with Jesus and see His kingdom infiltrate the skate scene! The most popular Swedish skateboard mag Giftorm asked us to write an article about the camp and they also wanted to do an interview with Josiah! A few of us went on a road trip after the camp to hang out with the kids in their home cities. We also met up with a photographer from Giftorm who took us to all the gnarly skate spots where Josiah pulled off insane tricks like there was no tomorrow! Pray with us that the articles will be inspired by the Lord and that they won't be cencured and that everyone who reads it will get touched by our loving Father! See you in Sweden next Christ Air!"
What a blessing it has been! We thank you for your prayer and ask that you continue to pray for the skate culture in Sweden. Can't wait to see everyone again in 2011.
See all of the photos HERE
[caption id="attachment_205" align="alignnone" width="479" caption="Josiah at the demo for Christ Air camp"]
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The majority of Swedes don’t think the big man exists. That’s according to a European Commission report which states just 23 percent of Swedes believe there is a God. Only Estonia and the Czech Republic can wave their atheist flags higher, making Sweden the second most secularized country in Europe. However, the Lord has opened a door for Christian Skaters to share the love of Christ in Sweden for the last two years. Although many follow the traditions of church (attending on holidays and major events), many youth do not have a relationship with Christ. They are slower to respond to typical American style alter calls but do best with one-on-one relationship. Through daily devotions at the camp, sharing the Gospel, being a daily witness and continuing to pour into the lives of those we meet in Sweden through social networks like Facebook, we are building true disciples of Christ, meeting them where they are at and being Jesus' hands and feet. Skaters Roberto Bustamante & Josiah Gatlyn headed over to represent Christian Skaters US. Roberto shared devos and challenged the campers each morning. Josiah was able to share his testimony & the Gospel during an interview on stage. One skater emailed us to share about how they accepted Christ during the weekend and was baptized. We are looking forward to hearing even more stories like this!
Here is a recap from Christian Skater's Roberto Bustamante who was part of the team from the US:
"Christ Air Camp 2010 was an event full of ministry and prayer. We left for Sweden on May 11 and the camp started May 14. When we first got to the church that we were going to be staying at some of the leaders of the camp home. They told us it was forecasted to rain all three days of the camp and to pray that the Lord would hold back the rain so that ministry could be done. Any time we had a change we were thanking God for the day he had given us but asking him to put his hands over the camp and shelter it from the rain. The first day of the camp I had the opportunity to share morning devotion with the kids that were in attendance. After that we headed to the skate park for a game of skate BATB style that took up most of the day. That night, right as we were about to head in to the church for the night to enjoy a teaching and concert, the rains came. God held the rains back till we were going to be inside the rest of the night.
The next morning we woke up to a downpour of rain, the day that the skate contest was to be held at noon. The leaders of the camp kept praying that God show favor and stop the rain in time for the biggest event of the whole camp. Once again God showed up and stopped the rain just in time for the skate contest to start. We started to squeegee the whole park to get rid of the water and dry the park and we were given a little help with the sun God brought out. We had the skate contest and everything when smoothly except for a minor injury. Josiah and I were able to share a little bit that day of what God had done in our lives, how he changed us, and how we came to know who God was. That night we had another church service where we were able to worship God and thank him for all he had done that day.
After the Camp was over we went on a short road trip to several skate parks in the south of Sweden. We planned to stop at several cities that some of the kids had come from to go to the camp and to encourage them and fellowship with them and to strengthen their faith. We went to about three cities and several skate parks and prayed for many of the people that we came in contact with that God would continue to lead them or that they would find Him.
In all, the trip was a blast and something that God is definitely blessing. I’m glad I could be a part of all the fellowshipping and ministry that took place in Sweden and hope to go again in the future."
Here is a wrap-up summary from Magdalena @ Christian Skaters in Sweden:
"140 skaters gathered in Alingsås, Sweden on the 13-16th of May to skate and hang out with each other and God (although a lot of people didn't know Him). Almost pro skater Josiah Gatlyn was with us and completely destroyed the park and hung out with the kids. Christ Air Skateboard Camp was like a party with no end and the love of God was all around. On the Saturday we were gonna have a big skate contest but it rained like crazy and the sky was completely gray! A few of us had gotten the same picture when we prayed: That the sun was gonna break through, and at the meeting in the evening we would also have an open sky with God's presence. Almost everyone thought the contest was gonna get canceled and when it was 2 pm I also started to doubt, but we still went on in faith and it soon stopped raining and the sun came out and we could run the contest as planned, for little dudes, older dudes, ladies and also a best trick contest. There were Christian punk bands playing and graffiti artists painting also. At the meeting that night a lot of people were healed of injuries, some rolled ankles that were instantly healed, some sore knees, an old hip injury etc! God is good! As any normal skateboard competition we had an after-party, at the swimming hall. Words are not enough to describe the super fun (non-alcohol of course) craziness that took place there, so I'm not gonna spoil it by trying. One of the non Christians who was at the camp for the first time said that this was probably the best thing he had ever been to. He was at the most hyped and expensive Swedish skateboard camp the year before, but that wasn't even close to the awesomeness of Christ Air, he said. And me, I'm so pumped to be with Jesus and see His kingdom infiltrate the skate scene! The most popular Swedish skateboard mag Giftorm asked us to write an article about the camp and they also wanted to do an interview with Josiah! A few of us went on a road trip after the camp to hang out with the kids in their home cities. We also met up with a photographer from Giftorm who took us to all the gnarly skate spots where Josiah pulled off insane tricks like there was no tomorrow! Pray with us that the articles will be inspired by the Lord and that they won't be cencured and that everyone who reads it will get touched by our loving Father! See you in Sweden next Christ Air!"
What a blessing it has been! We thank you for your prayer and ask that you continue to pray for the skate culture in Sweden. Can't wait to see everyone again in 2011.
See all of the photos HERE
[caption id="attachment_205" align="alignnone" width="479" caption="Josiah at the demo for Christ Air camp"]
[/caption]
More coming in English soon!
Rough Translation: We had such a great time! Josiah, Roberto and two other guys had a raaaaad demo in the skatepark. About 10 ppl got healed during the camp!! (rolled ankles, bad knees, old hip injury etc.) And the atmosphere was that of God and we had soooo much fun!!! :) Sorry I'm not the blogging kind of person and I've been really busy too.... We had such a great time tho! Josiah, Roberto and two other guys had a raaaaad demo in the skatepark. About 10 ppl got healed during the camp!! (rolled ankles, bad knees, old hip injury etc.) And the atmosphere was that of God and we had soooo much fun!!! :)