Meet Mel Green!
Christian Surfers would like to introduce you to our brand new team member, Mel Green! Mel will be taking on an Operations Manager role at Christian Surfers. Currently Christian Surfers is working in 33 different affiliated nations with 175 local mission groups focused on reaching surfers & surfing communities with the good news of Jesus. The vision for 2030 is to be in 100 countries with 1000 mission projects! To achieve this practically we need hands on deck! And that’s where Mel comes in; to support CS behind the scenes.
Find out how you can support Mel here: https://www.christiansurfers.net/melgreen and get to know more about Mel and her incredible journey below.
1.) Tell us a bit about yourself & where you currently live?
I’m Melanie Green & live on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands with no cats or kids, just lots of plants. My Mum is from Finland & my Dad is English, I was born in Germany but did college & university in England. I’ve also travelled a lot too with trips & different jobs. Bali was my home for a while, as was East London, where I worked for a church & also Switzerland during some ski seasons, so can’t complain!
2.) How did you come to know and follow Jesus?
My parents definitely prayed & prepared the way for me in my younger years but it was through a girl I met at college when I was sixteen that I made a life-changing connection with Jesus. The girl invited me to an event at her church & I felt bad as I’d said no too many times before, so this time I said yes. That evening a guy at the front explained super clearly what Jesus had done for me. He described the scenario of letting God be in the driving seat of our lives, trusting Him & moving aside to let Him be in control. That illustration really challenged me & I felt like he was talking only to me in the room, even though I didn’t understand it all, I made a decision that night to trust in God- it’s definitely proved to be a wild ride as a passenger!
3.) What role will you be filling at Christian Surfers?
I’m going to be working in an Operations Management role (remote work) to support global CS projects, the International Office Team, Board & Council. This will enable Casey & Roy to be released from some of their workloads & supported in tasks, as we go together for the big CS vision by 2030!
4.) What led you to this role?
God’s kindness! Totally His handy work along with prayers from people in CS & myself long before it all came together. Plus Steve Campbell in Australia was a bit of a catalyst, some perfect timing & God being faithful after some difficult years.
5.) In what ways have you seen or experienced CS in action where you’ve been?
Ahh, so many things come to mind… so whilst Paula Edgar (a Californian surfer who loves Jesus) & I were running the ‘Bali Surf House’ we got invited to an Asia Pacific Gathering that happened in Bali in 2017. There I really felt more equipped & encouraged through being part of a unique mission minded community. Someone from CS also mentored & stuck with me over many years - which I am truly grateful for.
At the National Gathering in France a few years back I re-connected with Lydia & Mark Sawyer-Chu who invited me to manage Oasis Surf House in Lanzarote for a season, so whilst there Eric & Sue Arakawa came over from Hawaii (Eric was shaping for a local company) & we ended up putting on an outreach event for the local surf community - fun times! More recently though I visited friends in CS Sweden & the Surf Church there & went to a new group starting in Norway - I was warmly welcomed & felt loved. So I guess overall I think making genuine connections with people & praying for one other are the standout things for me with CS.
6.) Tell us a bit about your surfing journey and your local surf spot now.
I’ve moved around a lot but have always loved being by the sea & island life. When I was living in Norfolk (UK) where there’s a small beach break in a town called Cromer. Here is where I first stood up on a surfboard rented from a Christian surfer who runs a surf school there. Since then I’ve had lots of trips to Cornwall & Wales in the UK & abroad but I’m definitely more of a ‘die-trying’ surfer so there’s plenty of room to improve!
I had pretty special times in Indonesia; sunrise surf trips with guests & watching huge waves roll in at Uluwatu. I’ll never forget one of the biggest days there with 20ft waves & just three people out surfing, then bumping into local legend & CS friend ‘Made’, on the steps under Single Fin’s bar who was just taking a break from his epic session - amazing!
These days though - on a small volcanic island - I’ll often head with my neighbour early mornings to Famara beach, 10 minutes away. It’s a consistent beach break with enormous cliffs that the sun rises over & feels magical. There’s a solid local surf scene here too, plus a fast firing barrelling competition wave called ‘El Quemao’ & close to that a big open faced point break called ‘Morro Negro’. On big days a brave few locals get out back with jet skis, but it’s a perfect spot for sunset, whatever the waves are like, so I go with my van, hang out & take my camera.
7.) What does it mean to be a Christian Surfer?
For me, I love to build community & connections wherever I am - in the water & out - creating places & spaces to give others the opportunity to know God & make people feel welcome & part of a family. Through my friendship with Jesus & with massive help from the Holy Spirit I try to be myself as I seek to serve others.
8.) Your favourite verse and why you love it.
At the moment two verses from Psalm 147:3-4 really just connect with my heart.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”
It shows God as tender, caring & that He knows our unique journey & experiences. He is always there tending to us. It also reminds me to look up at the stars where I see the awesomeness of God displayed & that He is in control across all space & time.
9.) A cool story of how CS has helped changed a life or brought someone to Christ.
When I was backpacking across South Africa (aged 20) - visiting every beach from Cape Town to Mozambique over three months - I arrived at a random surf hostel in Pepper St, J-Bay, right opposite Supertubes. After a couple of days, I realised there was a very different vibe from other places; the mum & dad invited guests to stay for dinner & we would eat together around a big table. Local kids from the streets were hanging out there & I soon realised they were a Christian family & this was the difference!
I was personally really impacted by this experience & their love for the local surf community. It changed the trajectory of my own life & dreams as this CS family enabled me to see what was possible with an open home & loving people right on their doorstep; street kids, locals, neighbours, surfers & travellers!
10.) What’s next for you and how can CS pray for you?
We were hoping I could start the new role in May but this depends entirely on raising the financial support needed, so I’m really trusting God will provide for me so I can serve the global CS family. I would love your prayers as they can totally move mountains & I only have a few weeks left to fundraise – just pray that God would nudge those who could support me in this opportunity.
….How can people follow along as you journey with CS? Email? Socials? Etc
Check the link below to see more of my story & ways to donate financially, sign up for my personal newsletter & get in touch with me directly...visitors are always welcome!
www.christiansurfers.net/melgreen
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