In Remembrance of Rafael

It is with truly heavy hearts that we say goodbye to one of the legends of the Christian Surfers movement, Rafael Ferreras.

Rafael was the former Dominican Republic National Director and a pioneer of CS Dominican Republic. He had a passion for sharing the good news of salvation until the last day of his earthly journey, providing love to all who surrounded him.

In celebration of a life lived for Jesus - we asked some of his close friends to share testimonies about Rafael.

I first connected with Rafa on April 10, 2010. He contacted Bryan Jennings about the Noah’s Arc movie that Giovanni lent him. He wanted to show the movie for the surfers at Macao Beach where he ran a very successful surf camp. We had already started Christian Surfers in Encuentro Beach in Cabarete. Three of us from Encuentro came down to help him put on the movie event in July of 2010 and then Christian Surfers Macao was begun. Since then, there were Chapters started in Nagua, Santo Domingo, and even Barahona. Rafael was pivotal in helping us start all of those chapters and was eventually named National Director in 2013. Rafael grew tremendously in his personal faith and was a huge influence on his wife, Sonia coming to Christ.

In his last days, Rafael celebrated his many relationships through Christian Surfers and even in his death bed was sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the hospital staff. Rafael was loved by many and will be greatly missed. We praise God for the eternal impact Rafa had on the Dominican surf community and across the world. We know he’s not suffering anymore and celebrating alongside Jesus Christ.

- Dustin Miller

The word that marked Rafael's life was grateful.

Rafael never took for granted the new life he had in Christ, the second chance that God gave him, after living a life of excess in his youth. Rafael lived grateful for having a dream life, living off surfing in the tropical paradise of Macao, Dominican Republic.

When he was diagnosed with cancer, many would think that his life of gratitude to the Lord would disappear. But on the contrary, his "GRATEFULNESS became more evident. One of the last phrases he said to me was, "How can I not be grateful to God if the doctors gave me 3 months to live and I have lived for 3 years, furthermore these sufferings do not compare with those that Christ suffered for me to save me." "

Therefore, I am grateful to God for having shared with Rafael, especially his last two years, both of us living in Florida, USA. Grateful to enjoy his good humor, his faith, optimism, his human quality and above all, grateful to Jesus because my friend Rafael is more alive than ever.... " Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." - John 11:25.

- Luis Gutierrez,  CSI Spanish Caribbean Coordinator

I’m met Rafael over 20 years ago while visiting Dustin Miller and Christian Surfers in the Dominican Republic. I was in a bit of a dilemma of how to get back to San Domingo to catch my flight. Rafael volunteered to drive me over the day before introduced me to his mother and father and gave me a place to stay for the night. He stayed with me. We had a great visit with his family and he took me to the airport the next day. I came to know Rafael as a man of peace, love and great hospitality. We became great friends and established great admiration for each other. When Rafael was told the end of his life was eminent, he invited me and some friends to come over and celebrate and say farewell to a life well lived. When we arrived, he was the same gracious host with lots of good food and hospitality. It was a wonderful time of reminiscing about a life well lived, and the great comfort of the love of Jesus in our lives. I invite you to look closely at the face of Rafael in this picture. He was a man confident of God‘s love and great comfort in knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for him. I will miss him greatly.

- Cal Fisher