Oceans of Bible learning

Young Chang

Leaders at Harbor Trinity Baptist Church know that worshipping and

learning about God doesn’t have to happen between podiums and pews.

They’re more than willing to throw a towel on the beach and sing

praises just a few feet from the water. They’re equally willing to

worship between times on the surfboard.

On Sunday, Junior High Youth Pastor Joe Broesamle will take a

group of 15 to 20 students to the sand near Imperial Beach, close to

San Diego. There, they will worship, have Bible study, sing, surf,

swim, Boogie board and have fun learning about God as part of the

Costa Mesa church’s annual three-day Junior High Camp Surf.

“The point of putting them on the beach is to try to get kids who

do not know the Lord to come so we have a chance to hear the Gospel

with them,” said Broesamle. “Some people will come just for the

surfing experience, and they get to sit through the worship and the

Bible study and hear about our Lord and savior.”

The group will pitch tents on the beach and sleep on the sand,

under the sky and near the water. The youth pastor said he will teach

the campers about aspects of the Bible that relate to the beach.

“The ocean, the fact that God put all these beautiful things on

earth here, [about] the power of the ocean and how it can make people

run from it, and it can also make people want to swim in it all at

the same time,” Broesamle said. “We usually go sit by the tide.”

A general schedule of the camp includes a barbecue upon arriving

Sunday, and time for worship, singing and Bible study. The group will

surf early on Monday and Tuesday mornings in the waters right in

front of their campsite.

Jason Rankin, a worship leader at the church and a volunteer who

will accompany Broesamle on the surf camp, said he might choose songs

that have to do with nature or a theme that addresses God’s power.

The 20-year-old said he once attended a similar surf camp when he

was in high school and that the opportunity let him get to know more

than just the Bible.

“You get to know the pastor and staff better,” he said.

Just going to church on Sundays and attending youth group meetings

sometimes doesn’t allow for that intimacy, he added. But when you’re

on the sand, cities and even counties away from your usual turf,

people relax and “get more excited.”

“We’re closer together and just being outside in nature is just

something,” Rankin said. “The Bible says that nature screams out

God’s presence.”