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November 10, 2009 in City
Christian skateboarding group gets ready to head to Egypt
Boarders to perform for thousands at festival near Cairo
Boarders for Christ members, from left, Josh Monteith, Zach Black, Josh Tyvan at the Coeur d’Alene Skate Park on Monday.
(Full-size photo)
Thousands of Egyptians are expected to watch next week when a group of Coeur d’Alene skateboarders and bikers soar up and down ramps, jumping cars and rows of people. Then they’ll listen as the young men talk about their personal experiences with Christianity.
Boarders for Christ, a Coeur d’Alene-based nonprofit organization, will make its second annual trip to Egypt on Monday to perform at a three-day Christian festival expected to draw 20,000 people to a large church camp near Cairo.
“We want to say that God is love, and we want to work through his hands,” said Josh Monteith, 22.
“It’s cool that we are skateboarders because a lot of skateboarders have a bad rap.”
“The whole point is to preach the Gospel,” said Josh Tyvan, 21, who went on last year’s trip. He said many of the Egyptian Christians he met fear God and pray for mercy rather than experiencing God’s love. “We don’t have Bible school degrees, we just want to love people and do whatever we can to serve.”
Last year, Boarders for Christ was invited to the festival and raised $15,000 to attend.
The group joined with skateboard manufacturers to give away 100 skateboards to Egyptian youths. This year, plans to attend didn’t come together until a few weeks ago, but the North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad, Calif., donated $5,000 toward travel expenses. The church supports events at the Egyptian church, said Chris Lauri, director of Boarders for Christ.
Some $9,000 of the $15,000 in trip costs have been raised. Boarders for Christ will hold a fundraiser on Saturday in Coeur d’Alene; then the group leaves Monday for Egypt.
Boarders for Christ was formed in Coeur d’Alene in 1997 and now has chapters in Washington and California.
The group has released a skateboarding film and has toured the country holding skateboarding demonstrations at Christian events and festivals.
The trip to Egypt will be a different type of mission, Tyvan said. About 90 percent of the country is Muslim, with Christians forming the largest religious minority, U.S. State Department statistics show. The festival will be held at the El Wadi camp of the Kasr el Dobara church, about two hours north of Cairo.
“The church is literally an oasis in the middle of the desert,” Tyvan said. The church camp offers free sports programs to Cairo youth, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, a ropes course and a skate park. The Boarders group includes: Tyvan, Monteith, Lauri, Zach Black, Noel Riske, Terry Riske, Mike Miller, Greg Foeller, and Wes Luke.
“We’re bringing the Gospel and the story of Jesus,” said Black, 22. “That’s our whole mission.”
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empyrius on November 10 at 8:35 a.m.
“Christians” in Egypt?!? Infidels! I dare you guys to skateboard around Israel trying to proselytize the Judaists! Har har har har . . .
fletchbiz on November 10 at 12:46 p.m.
This article is describing, not Christian evangelism, but rather an expensive Egyptian vacation for some kids. Let’s be realistic here. They’re not sharing the gospel with unreached people. They’re sharing the gospel with Christians at a church near Cairo. That’s generally called preaching to the choir.
Since proselytizing Muslims is illegal in Egypt, this is not a surprise. (Islam is considered a newer religion and therefore better than the older Christianity and Judaism.) What is surprising is that so much treasure could be wasted in this way. (Not that there is anything wrong with a nice vacation, but it’s wrong to call a vacation a missionary effort.)
Why do I say that it’s a waste to spend missionary dollars this way? Because it would be better to spend it aiding the efforts of Egyptian evangelists who know the culture, language and people. Best of all is to spend the resources aiding Muslim-background Christians who intimately understand both religions and are prepared to take the necessary risks to bring their brothers and sisters out of the darkness of Islam. My wife and I have met a number of these Egyptian evangelists during the past few years and can testify to their record of success and commitment.
Moreover, one of the people quoted in this story accuses Egyptian Christians of hiding their light under a basket. (“He said many of the Egyptian Christians he met fear God and pray for mercy rather than experiencing God’s love.”) Only an American Christian, one who has grown up in a country with a huge emphasis on freedom of religion, could be so arrogant.
Egyptian Christians endure lives of persecution from the time they’re born until they die or immigrate to a Western country. Egypt is a police state that, in many ways, is worse than Nazi Germany. If you think the Jim Crow laws of the South were bad, think again. The state-sponsored prejudice against Christians in Egypt is beyond intense. Just because the country allows Christians to worship publicly in churches does not mean that anything approximating religious freedom exists there. It does not.
You are born into a religion in Egypt, and your religion is stamped on your identity card from the time you are a child. It is illegal to change your religion — unless you become a Muslim. Once you change to Islam, it is nearly impossible to change back, should you have a change of heart. Muslims who convert to Christianity do so in hiding. Churches will not baptize them for fear of being destroyed by local Muslims (often with the help of the police). Muslims who convert to Christianity are often murdered by family members with the tacit encouragement and complicity of the police.
I’m old enough to remember how it was before the fall of the Berlin wall and the breakup of the USSR. The Soviets said they had religious freedom and showed off their crowded churches as proof. However, it turned out to be a lie. The priests and pastors were actually forced to spy on their congregations by the secret police and not allowed to actually preach the gospel in their churches.
So let’s be realistic here. Sending skateboarders on a vacation is fine, if that is how you choose to spend your dough. What’s more, you have figured out a way to give the kids a vacation and take a tax deduction on the expense. But don’t delude yourself into thinking that you’re somehow doing evangelistic work in the process.
bfcadmin on November 10 at 4:35 p.m.
Charlie…its unfortunate that you believe that. Last year we (BFC) did the same trip…we preached the gospel to over 12,000 kids and saw 400 Egyptians give their lives to Jesus Christ. Some of which were muslim and suffer huge consequences for taking that step. We also witnessed a blind man receive his vision back after never seeing a day of his life prior. Our duties there are much more than skateboarding, we are there to love and serve the Egyptians however we can while we are there. Last year that was done through teaching skateboarding tricks, giving out skateboards, helping put a skatepark together and helping the church but on this event for the Egyptians. Its funny because at times we feel as though we face more persecution from the church then we do from people that have never proclaimed Christ, because often people think missionaries look a certain way and go door to door and they cant understand that we are modern day missionaries…taking Christ to a lost and dying world. We serve a God, the Creator of the universe, who gave us passions and giftings (1 Peter 4:10) so that we can in turn glorify Him and serve His people through them. Thats what we do. It just so happens that a stupid skateboard is the platform Christ has given us, so we use it….gladly….we are blessed.
Also, if you were familiar with the Egyptian society you would know that many people labeled Christians from birth in Egypt are what they call “Coptic Christians”. They have never accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior they have merely had a stamp put on their birth certificate that claims Christianity. This is often how it is in the United States…we have 80% of our society claiming to be Christians and a very small percentage of those people have truly surrendered their lives to Christ. Jesus says…”I am the way the truth and the life, and nobody comes to the father except through me”. We dont earn our salvation. Many of these “Christians” go through the motions of Christianity but are only Christians because of the stamp on their birth certificate. Its unfortunate, that you, as a Christian, honestly dont see a need in sharing the Gospel with everyone, even Christians. Because eventhough people call themselves Christians, it doesnt make them a Christian. Christians are followers of Christ with whom their hearts are surrendered to Him and they are a reflection of Him.
Your comments are harsh, judgemental and religious and sometimes we, as Christians, need to know when to hold our tongues. Proverbs 11:12 says ” A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.” Then is Proverbs 12:18 it says “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
I hate to write a story on this blog but beings that somebody felt it necessary to make us fools, then I want the truth to be told. We are sincere men and women of God that desire nothing more than to love and serve the world we live in and preach a message of hope, forgiveness, restoration and salvation to a world that seems to lack many of those things. The result of our trip last year was impacting enough that the Egyptians wanted us back again and we will not apologize for using hard earned money to send a group of faithful servants to take the Gospel to a broken world. That….we do not have to defend. God Bless. BFC
Swim on November 10 at 9:28 p.m.
Char - indeed I see the angle in which you are coming from, but how dare you criticize people you don’t know. Matthew 28:19 says “go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and Holy Ghost.” I guess God forgot to mention…”Make sure you study up on the culture, language and people so you can be more effective in your ministry.” Are you dedicated to spreading the Word of God? Well, you better study up on the many cultures in Eastern Wash, and N. Idaho regions or else you will be unsuccessful (Sarcastic).
God empowers His people to do ALL things through Christ who strengthens them Phil 4:13. Would it be lack of faith if I were to step out my front door and not expect God to work through me? Is it a giant leap of faith to gather a group of fellow believers, head to Egypt (a terrible place to vacation) with one goal, to share Jesus with people without Jesus?
LISTEN! Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, AND ONE WHO SOWS DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN.” The word abomination is the bibles strongest expression of hatred for wickedness. In a list of this type, the last item is the most prominent. Causing discord among brethren causes God’s greatest disapproval.
BFC - 400 souls now in the Kingdom of Heaven, waste of money.
tompowellgmx on November 10 at 9:38 p.m.
stay home religon causes wars
fletchbiz on November 10 at 9:48 p.m.
I’ll just say one more thing in response to BFC and then I’ll remain quiet.
It’s fine to say that his American group reached 12,000 people, but it wasn’t necessary to fly Americans to Egypt to accomplish that. Indigenous groups, like the Egyptian Christian Youth Union, have been reaching out to Copts and Muslims for decades. However, they don’t just fly in and then leave. They remain in the country and continue to build relationships with the new converts. They work to rescue Christian women who have been kidnapped and forced into Muslim marriages. Who is the real brother in Christ, the one who flies in with his American passport and wealth to visit for a few days, or the one who stands by his brother’s side and helps him day by day? My only point is that it’s the indigenous missionary who understands the lay of the land and is truly equipped for the work.
I appreciate the vigor with which you approach your mission, but it is somewhat misplaced. Moreover, your quotations from Proverbs are only cherry-picked from scripture to tell me to chill out. If Paul the Apostle had followed the approach you’re advocating with your quotations, he also would have remained mum when he observed other missionaries drawing crowds while speaking nonsense to their delighted audiences. Because I speak up at all in criticism, you accuse me of speaking recklessly. In fact, I have spoken carefully and out of years of missionary experience.
I’ll leave you with a couple of my own quotations, ones I think are more applicable to the discussion.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
He who is full loathes honey,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
Proverbs 27:6-8 (NIV)
As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and he who looks after his master will be honored.
Proverbs 27:17-18 (NIV)
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)
Thank you for listening. May God give you the wisdom you seek.
JoshTyvan on November 11 at 1:31 p.m.
I assure you, i do not write in response to charlie or any others previous. I desire to write only what i feel the Lord has told me to say…
I do not pretend to know a whole lot, I dont even want to. All i desire is that people know God. And understand, and experience, the kind of supernatural love i experienced, not in a church, although i grew up in them, not from any ‘christian’ at all. Although i do acknowledge entirely, those men who have sewn MANY tears, and dollars, conversations, and arguments, that brought me to the door of this revelation(BFCAdmin, Swim). But just as Paul says in Galatians 1:12, “I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.” I opened that same old book i grew up reading, and God began to reveal who He is to me. A love for me, so indescribable, so gentle, so warm, so moving, I fell down on my face, and for nearly two to three weeks, could not hear, or see, or feel anything but an unexplainable, undeniable, love for me. Which then caused an equally great love and change in me. In an instant, i fell from a complete pit of blackness and despair, and for the first time in my life, God opened my eyes up to WHO HE IS. THAT HE IS GOOD! That HE not only wants to be a help in every circumstance of our life, but He let His son die so that I would get the point, that it is His will to do so. And in the greatest way, to save us from ourselves, and our inherited destiny. And instead make us like Him.
“God is Love.” All that matters is pleasing Him. But what i’ve realized that in doing so we become the beneficiary, in a infinitely, GREAT, BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL WAY! GOD IS GOOD!!! “It is His GOODNESS, that leads men to repentance.” “For my plans are not to hurt you, but to prosper you! To give you a future and a hope.”
I could give a rip what anyone says about me. Thats the kindergarden of being a Christian. What i care about is being like Jesus. If that means i quit my job with no idea of how im gonna receive an income, if this means selling literally my one and only possession my 1,800 dollar guitar, if it means breaking up with a absolutely wonderful person, i care for and love, if it means being misunderstood by literally my entire family, friends, even the entire whole of society, if that means i will be like Jesus…and that even one of you, would be able to understand, the Love He has for you, for me, it will be worth it.
“Greater Love has no one that this, than to lay down my life for his friend.”
Your right my friend, this is a vacation.
2 Corinthians 6:3
“We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether peope honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.”
I love you Lord. You are wonderful…
calvinandhobbes on November 13 at 12:20 p.m.
in response to the people who are critisizing this group, Mark 16:15 (KJV) says
” And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
the word “He” in this verse refers to Jesus Christ himself! If Christ says that we should preach the Gospel to EVERY creature, then stop complaining that this group is doing the great commision!
Diana on November 14 at 7:40 a.m.
How presumptuous and arrogant when Egypt has no appetite for your religion. Believe what you want, but keep it to yourself.
calvinandhobbes on November 16 at 1:38 p.m.
my religion? try what millions of people believe and what God says is right. and by the way, if the Egyptians have as you say “no appetite for my religion” how come several hundred got converted?
2snaps on November 17 at 12:35 a.m.
PEACE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL THOSE GOING ON THE TRIP! BE BOLD! SHARE GOD’S LOVE! IF GOD CAN SPEAK THROUGH A DONKEY, WHO’S TO COMMENT AND SAY THAT A GROUP OF ON-FIRE CHRISTIAN SKATEBOARDERS CANNOT BE USED TO SHARE THE MESSAGE OUR OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, TO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STARVING EGYPTIANS. BE BOLD, BE STOKED, BE BLESSED!!!! I KNOW IT’S NOT ABOUT THE SKATEBOARDING. YOU GUYS COULD BE MAKING BALLOON ANIMALS, OR WHATEVER…IT’S A PLATFORM. GOD HAS GIVEN YOU GIFTS AND TALENTS AND YOU ARE USING THOSE GIFTS AND TALENTS IN THE MOST HUMBLE OF WAYS. SELFLESSNESS. GOD GIVES US OUR HEARTS’ DESIRES. AND SEEKING HIM AND BEING BOLD ENOUGH TO FOLLOW HIS PLANS, NO MATTER WHAT, IS SOMETHING ALOT OF CHRISTIANS DON’T DO. CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!
THANK YOU JESUS FOR THESE YOUNG MEN, WHO ARE WILLING TO TRAVEL WHEREVER THEY ARE CALLED TO SHARE THE MESSAGE OF THE ULTIMATE ATONING SACRIFICE, YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST. A MESSAGE OF LOVE. A MESSAGE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. A MESSAGE OF LIFE TO THE FULLEST, THE WAY YOU INTEND IT TO BE.
THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING CHARGE OVER YOUR ANGELS. ANGELS GO FORTH AND FORM A HEDGE OF PROTECTION AROUND THE BOARDERS FOR CHRIST TEAM, I PRAY THAT YOU BRING THOSE TO THE OUTREACH THAT NEED TO HEAR YOUR MESSAGE AND BE LOVED ON BY THESE GUYS. I ASK THAT ALL, YOUNG AND OLD, ALL IN ATTENDANCE HEAR YOUR VOICE, THAT PEOPLE GET HEALED, THAT PEOPLE GET DELIVERED, THAT MIRACLES ARE WITNESSED, AND GET SAVED! IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
-SNAPS
calvinandhobbes on November 17 at 12:07 p.m.
Amen 2snaps!