La Bible des Surfeurs
La Bible des Surfeurs
LA BIBLE DES SURFEURS: THE SURFERS BIBLE PROJECT, a global and missional initiative.
The first French version of La Bible des Surfeurs came out in 2004 thanks to Christian Surfers in Tahiti before Christian Surfers was developed in France. Between 2004 and 2018, six thousand Bibles were distributed in France and throughout the French-speaking world. This Bible is a wonderful tool to share and bring the Word of God to the surf spots.
This New Testament in an every-day language translation, a pleasant, unencumbered layout, and a generous font size was accessible and inviting to read for surfers who had never read the Bible before. The text was interspersed with color surf photography and the testimonies of well-known international pro surfers as well as average surfers from Francophone countries.
In 2018, about two years into the pioneering of Christian Surfers France as a national movement, we gathered new testimonies and oversaw the fundraising, redesign and printing of a new version. At a cost of about 5€ per copy including shipping costs (The US dollar is roughly equivalent to the Euro), we printed 2000 copies for France and sent 1000 to Tahiti. In the five years since, as the Christian Surfers network grew in French-speaking nations, we’ve seen Jesus-loving surfers get excited about giving these as gifts to friends and through personal encounters all along the coasts. We regularly get requests from Christians around the world to ship them a copy to give to a French-speaking surfer friend who has never read the Bible. And the stories continue to come in from believers who have handed them out and people who have received them of how La Bible des Surfeurs has powerfully impacted the lives of many.
Now, a year before the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, with only 400 Bibles remaining we want again to redesign, update with new testimonies, and print up to 6500 copies for France, Tahiti and several Francophone countries where surfing is a growing sport. Surfing will be an official Olympic sport for just the second Games, and the selected venue for the event is Tahiti, a French territory. Christian Surfers has been communicating with several international surfing and sports ministries about how to make the gospel known during the Olympics, and the Bible des Surfeurs is a significant part of the plan (a new Surfers Bible in English is also in the works).
The Société Biblique Française (https://www.editionsbiblio.fr) has given us a quote for 6500 copies at 3.70€ a copy for the printing.
24,050 € printing costs
2,800 € design costs, content development and communication/publicity
3,000 € shipping (the substantial cost of sending 1000 copies to Tahiti)
29,850 € total cost
Given this budget, the total cost per copy is at 4.60€, very similar to our costs five years ago.
We are looking for individuals and churches to partner with us to achieve this project before summer 2024. Our Christian Surfers network and other partner ministries are ready to put these New Testaments in the hands of surfers on the beaches of France and Tahiti, and around the Francophone world: Reunion Island, Mauritius, Madagascar, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Quebec, French Caribbean Islands, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia. May God bring forth fruit as his Word goes out!
A few excerpts from the testimonies in the new edition
We want to take advantage of this new edition to refresh the testimonies to include some surfers who have recently come onto the scene.
« I felt His presence, and I understood in my heart. God loved me. God was calling me back to Him. I understood that all I had done was wrong, and that I was hurting Him. I asked Him for His forgiveness. And I let Him come into my heart through faith. »
- Marurai Igrec, big waves surfers in Tahiti, member of de Christian Surfers Tahiti.
« My life was transformed when I experienced the peace and the love of God. Now I have the confident expectancy of a life full of exciting adventures because my life is guided by the Almighty God. ».
- Kevin Heminway, shaper, surfer and the founder of Christian Surfers Tahiti.
« I was reaching my dream to make the world tour, and right when I reached that dream is when God was right there in my face ».
- CJ Hobgood, world champion 2001.
« In all circumstances of my life, Jesus has constantly given me hope and true purpose. »
- Bethany Hamilton, professional surfer, shark attack survivor when she was thirteen years old.
« Jesus is a healer, helper, holder, he is a friend. »
- Bianca Buitendag, professional surfer and 2020 Olympic champion.
HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE USED
Today, our stock of Bibles has been completely depleted. This is good news! But it also means we need to re-print. And to do that, we need you! We would like to print 6500 Bibles this time, of which about 2000 will be distributed in mainland France and in Tahiti during the 2024 Olympic Games. There are no waves in host city Paris, of course, so the surf venue that organizers have chosen is Teahupoo in Tahiti.
Budget for 6500 Bibles
Budget details:
Graphic design: 2,800 €
Printing: 24,050 €
Shipping: 3,000 €
Total : 29,850 €
Printing:
New Testament, 640 pages.
15 testimonies (printed color photography) spaced throughout the Bible
Beautiful custom-designed cover
Graphic design :
Gathering testimonies and photography
Translation
Layout of testimony pages
Cover design
Shipping :
Sending 1000 Bibles to Tahiti by the delivery company used by the French Bible Society
Total budget for the Bibles : 29,850 €
ABOUT THE PROJECT CARRIER
Christian Surfers is a group of Christians passionate about surfing. Each session, every swell, and every wave reminds us of the beauty and power of nature, and we see God's signature as the creator.
We love Jesus, we love surfing, and we love all surfers. Our desire is to bring together the Christian surfers of France, encouraging them to share their faith at their surf spots and providing them with the resources to do so, including the Surfers Bible.
Christian Surfers is present in more than 30 countries around the world.
Discover our international website: www.christiansurfers.net
POUR DONNER
You can give directly through https://www.christiansurfers.fr/faire-un-don or via the international site https://www.christiansurfers.net/donate where you will need to specify that your gift is for the French Surfers Bible. Both means offer the possibility of a receipt for US tax purposes.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions: info@christiansurfers.fr
THANK YOU FOR SOWING INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT OF CHRISTIAN SURFERS