Although Steve Bligh has been Rector of St John’s, North Ryde, far away in Sydney’s north, he has been ministering to the Maroubra surfing community on and off since 1975. As a young university student, Steve was involved as a competitive surfer at Maroubra from the mid 70s. “As a mission-minded person, inevitably God blessed me with solid relationships,” says Steve. Further boosted by the 1979 Billy Graham Crusade, a strong community of Christian Surfers began to form which Steve helped lead throughout the 1980s.

Today, Christian Surfers is well established in Maroubra, with members “having good partnerships” with other local churches, especially Baptist and Anglican. Anglican ministry took Steve away from Maroubra, but in 1999, Steve decided to take a risk and work full time at planting a self-funded surfer’s church on Sydney’s eastern beaches. In the end it wasn’t viable fi nancially and became “a huge stress” on Steve’s family life. Yet, a seed had been planted, and a small Bible fellowship kept meeting and growing. It’s clear the ministry now needs Steve’s full-time focus. “Right now, Monday nights is our main gathering,” he says. “We average twenty guys and girls crammed into a grungy lounge room. Literally, people are sitting four abreast on three-seaters, sitting on the floor, and up the hallway.” “

Being full-time with Surfers Church means a core mission team can form involving existing members, gap year students, and others,” Steve says. “As this core team becomes increasingly active, so will the quality and number of mission activities.” Contact Steve via Mobile on 0408 804 038 or email: