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Fear Factor

Fear Factor

The phrase “do not be afraid” is written in the bible 365 times. That is a daily reminder from God to live each day fearlessly.

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The Latest News

Shredding the Czech Republic

Shredding the Czech Republic

Despite the less-than-ideal weather and reliance on artificial snow, a vibrant community of 35 campers from across the Czech Republic converged for a unique winter ski camp experience this past week. However, the spirit of the camp remained undeterred, with the close-knit community banding together to make the most of the situation. Leave it to a group of shredders to have a good time, right?

Libor Osouch has been hosting ski camps for young people for many years. He started this project with the heart for high schoolers to come to know Jesus and learn how to combine their faith with riding. This year, he noticed an unexpected surge in snowboarders, adding a fresh dynamic to the gathering. In the past, Libor has run these camps mostly on his own. This season, he was blessed with the help of SFC’s European Director Cedric Leung and another SFCer who most call Yoshi Bear.

Libor invited a guest speaker, who captivated the crowd to discuss truth and its significance in contemporary Christian life. This topic resonated especially with newer believers and those rediscovering their faith. Worship nights and Cedric spontaneously sharing his testimony sparked meaningful conversations among the group.

One notable participant was a returnee camper, an unbeliever, who confessed that the camp had sparked her curiosity about God. This year, she asked more questions and engaged more in discussions about faith. The campsite owner, initially indifferent, expressed gratitude for our group’s presence and even participated in some of the nighttime sessions. She confessed that Libor’s group seemed different to her and that she was happy to be hosting the group for a second year in a row. Libor has already booked the same location for camp next year. He is also planning to host two camps with the help of Cedric and Yoshi Bear—one in the Czech Republic, like usual, and a new camp in the Alps.

Please pray for more snow in the Czech Republic next season. Pray for new leadership and the continued growth of the Czech Republic ski community.

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Collin’s Story

Collin’s Story

“Testimony is the biggest tool to experience God for the first time,” Collin comments.

Collin grew up going to church with his parents. He attended youth groups, church camps, and VBS. “I even watched Veggie Tales,” Collin jokes. Though he went through the motions, Collin had no personal connection to Jesus. He thought that church was just the right thing to do, so he followed along with his family. He even got baptized in high school because it seemed like the next thing in line in church life.

In 2018, after graduating, Collin moved out of his parents’ house and stopped going to church shortly after. He didn’t see the need to and had no interest in it. “I was kinda Agnostic,” Collin explains. “I believed there was a God, but I felt like he was putting me through the wringer… a mysterious type of God.”

During Collin’s first few years on his own, he was interested in Jujitsu and loved training in the gym. He spent time observing many professional fighters and recognized that many of them were both disciplined and religious. Collin decided he wanted to search for a religion so he, too, could reflect the lifestyle of a pro-fighter. Collin found a podcast that interviewed ex-Special Ops military personnel who practiced Jujitsu. He said 9 out of 10 of the guys in the podcast mentioned their faith in Jesus. They all struggled with their mental health and talked about the hope they found in him. Collin’s mental health has fluctuated over the past five years, so he resonated with these veterans.

Last Christmas, he was driving home from his parents’ house and listening to an episode. A man named Eddy Penny was being interviewed. Eddy was an ex-Special Ops soldier with a wild testimony. After coming home from the field, Eddy felt purposeless and hopeless. He shared how Jesus saved him from that. Eddy now travels the world, sharing his story and the gospel at conferences. For Collin, Eddy’s story was the final straw. He wanted to follow Jesus, too.

Collin texted his only Christian friend from home and told him the news. He thanked him for being such an influence on his life. During this time, Collin met an SFC staff member named Josh in the back bowls at Copper. As many of you know Josh stands out in a crowd. He wears a yellow helmet, so you can’t miss him on the slopes. Collin had seen Josh out on the hill riding with other guys and passing out PB&J’s in the park. He met up with him one day and shared his testimony. Josh connected Collin to Andrew, a local SFC Leader who hosts men’s Bible Study called Bibles and Brews. Collin was grateful for the information, but three to four months passed without Collin doing much about his newfound faith. Snowboard season had ended, and mud season had begun. Collin felt low and purposeless. He spent much time on his phone and kept coming across Instagram clips about Jesus.

One night, when it was thunderstorming (a rare occurrence in Colorado), Collin went out on his porch and prayed. It was the first time he had prayed in four years. He asked Jesus not only to save him from his sins but also his mental health. He talked to the Lord about everything that had happened over the past four years. He decided it was finally time to reach out to Andrew about Bibels and Brews. Once he started getting plugged in, he didn’t stop. Collin then heard about everything SFC does through the Bible study. He began to understand what SFC was all about and got involved. He decided to attend SFC’s Southwestern Conference. While there, Collin realized SFC was a vast, global organization. Collin is now engaged in SFC and shares about the organization with many people. He even hosts wax nights for the SFC Summit Group in the gear shop he manages after hours.

“In a small town, it can be hard to get in touch with people,” Collin shares, “but it can also be easy. SFC is kind of a middle ground for that.” And that, friends, is precisely the mission of SFC: to be a light of Jesus in the ski/snowboard culture and to be a BRIDGE with the culture to Jesus Christ by partnering with the local church.

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UK T.I.M.E. TRAVEL

UK T.I.M.E. TRAVEL

A wise man once told me, “If your travel before a ministry trip goes smoothly, the devil is not bothered with it.” I kept that in mind as I drove up to the airport, and behold, the first hour of my Time Travel Trip to the UK was anything but boring: my booking and I were not to be found in the system, my board bag almost didn’t get checked in, I got pulled over for an additional security check, and upon my arrival at the gate, I saw how our flight got delayed. I couldn’t be happier! The devil is interfering, but my eyes are set on Him, and He even blessed me with the opportunity to share the gospel with the person sitting next to me on the plane!

My travel buddy for the trip was none other than the best Czech guy ever to live, Libor Osouch. Libor and I started attending SFC conferences three years ago, and look at us now! Upon our arrival in Glasgow, we were welcomed by the smile of an SFC hero, Jenny, and for the next two days, she showed us around Glasgow, together with Bobby and Andrew, who cooked the most impressive Scottish meal (yes, I do love haggis) for us. There was no shredding here because their indoor dome closed down, and there was not enough snow in the Scottish Highlands.

A time travel to the UK means indoor shredding. That is how the SFC UK crew on this little island bridges the shred culture and Jesus. They organize hangouts in the park, movie nights, etc. There are active Jesus-loving shredders in the UK. SFC legend and UK National Coordinator Andy Brumby organizes worship sessions at the church he and his crew started in the mall where the local ski dome is situated! Genius! Shred the park Friday evening and invite people to church for a hangout! Conrad, in Milton-Keynes, does not have a church at hand, but his attitude to keep showing up and to keep serving the tiny local community of skiers and snowboarders for nearly a decade is worth looking up to.

Altogether, Libor and I traveled for six days, of which we spent 2 hours and 10 minutes on the slopes. It was not what we had hoped for, but the warmth and kindness with which we were welcomed each time is what truly set this trip apart! As we were invited into people’s lives and homes, we got a taste of who these people are and witnessed their hearts for Jesus and our unique ministry. SFC in Europe has its own identity, SFC UK has its own identity, and I love it! I pray for togetherness for the SFC’ers across this nation and for new leaders to come up and continue this indoor shredding ministry.

Cheers,
Libor and Cedric

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Weekly Devotional

Fear Factor

Fear Factor

The phrase “do not be afraid” is written in the bible 365 times. That is a daily reminder from God to live each day fearlessly.

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As Seen Through a Goggle Lens

As Seen Through a Goggle Lens

Just as I experience God while on the mountain, others might encounter Him while going on a hike, or sitting and reading a book.  Just as I may worship with my hands raised, making up words, and top of my lungs, others may worship singing hymns, or in silence.  We are all different and that is okay.

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Things That Never End

Things That Never End

Usually, when we think about things that will never end, we think of bad things that we don’t want. But the things of God – his wonderful deeds – never come to an end.

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