Almost 20 years ago now, I was circling the 60-foot maple tree that stands just yards from my front door, talking to my Heavenly Father. Forward Edge needed to upgrade the training we provided for our short-term mission teams, and I was asking God for guidance. In a matter of seconds, the following concept poured into my brain like water from an open spigot:
Imagine that God is an ocean, always sending waves toward the shore. Now imagine your mission trip as a wave. How do you “catch the wave” of God’s plan and purpose for your trip? You have to SURF. “S” = servanthood. “U” = unity. “R” = respect. And “F” = flexibility.
For almost two decades now, this SURF acronym has been the focal point of our training for short-term mission teams. What I didn’t realize when God gave me this concept, though, was that SURF was not only relevant for our short-term mission teams, but anyone wanting to “catch the wave” of God’s plan for their lives.
Consider, for example, how SURF applies to what we’re all going through right now because of Covid-19:
SERVANTHOOD: What opportunities has the pandemic provided for each of us to reach outside ourselves to serve and bless others? At Forward Edge, we’ve been reaching out to our friends and partners around the country, just to see how they’re doing, and to ask how we can pray for them. This may seem minor, but it’s been a major blessing—to those receiving the calls, as well as those making them.
UNITY: I believe the pandemic opened “a window of grace” in the area of relationships—a unique opportunity to deepen and, if necessary, repair relationships that had become distant or damaged. I have personally taken great advantage of this opportunity—deepening my relationships with family members, Forward Edge partners, and precious, old friends, some of whom I hadn’t spoken with in years.
RESPECT: If nothing else, the pandemic has made us much more aware of our shared humanity. Never in human history (with the exception of the Flood perhaps) has the entire planet been impacted—simultaneously—by the same, life-threatening calamity. It’s an experience that can deepen the love, compassion, and respect we feel for our fellow human beings.
FLEXIBILITY: Think of the ways we’ve all had to pivot in the face of circumstances we didn’t see coming, circumstances beyond our control. I’ve especially appreciated the way our Country Directors and Field Staff have “caught the wave” of the pandemic by preparing and distributing food baskets and hygiene kits to the children and families in our programs. They are my heroes.
One of my favorite singer-songwriters, David Wilcox, wrote a song a while back that reminds me of the metaphor God gave me years ago—the metaphor of God as an ocean. It also reminds me how the threatening “waves” God sometimes allows to crash into our lives not only test our faith, but reveal the true condition of our hearts. The song is called “Let the Wave Say Who I Am.” Here are the lyrics:
If the surface of the ocean
Is this time that we’re alive
Then this rising wave in motion
Is this moment that we ride
If you don’t move when it’s moving
Then your life leaves you behind
If you can’t see what it’s doing
Trust the wave more than your mind
When the wave is all around me
I got no other plans
I just balance through the changes
And let the wave say who I am
From a thousand miles of water
From the wind beyond belief
Every wave roars out its power
As it rises on the reef
And the high blue wall can break you
You can never fight the sea
You just learn to let it take you
To the place you want to be
Now the wave is all around me
I got no other plans
Keep my balance through the changes
Let the wave say who I am
As we ride together this wave of the pandemic, may we each find ways to serve and bless others…ways to deepen our relationships…ways to grow in respect for our fellow human beings…and, if necessary, ways to pivot from old routines and patterns to embrace the “new thing” God is doing—in our personal lives, and in the world around us.
Yes, dear friends, let the wave say who we are: The Body of Christ!
Picadillo has its origins in Spain, but it has been adapted and modified over the years by Cuban cooks to suit local tastes and ingredients. Picadillo is a versatile dish that can be made with various ingredients depending on regional preferences and what’s available. The base typically consists of ground
If there’s one thing the Covid-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear it’s that none of us are fully in control of our lives. What we can control, though, are our choices. And those choices ultimately determine the story of our lives. Several years ago, I coined a word that conveys
Photography is more than just a way to document your mission trip—it’s a bridge to connection, a chance to honor the stories of those you encounter. As you step into communities, camera in hand, pause to reflect. Are you capturing moments with care and respect? Are your photos fostering dignity rather than reducing people to subjects?
by Joseph Anfuso I had no idea in the spring of 1980 that a two-day trip to Nicaragua would not only change the trajectory of my life, but cause me to reimagine Jesus’ commission in Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” At
9 yrs. old
Entered the program: November 2025
Gloria lives with her parents, 2 siblings, and 13 additional extended family members in an eight-room mud house, with an aluminum roof and a dirt floor. They cook outdoors with wood and there is no bathroom or toilet facility.
Gloria’s family is both Muslim and Christian. Her father is a farmer and cultivates maize and millet to provide for the family, but it usually isn’t enough to sustain them until the next farming season. The family struggles to have 2 meals a day. Meeting all of their children’s needs is challenging, especially education. Without assistance from CHG, Gloria’s tuition would not be paid and she could not attend school.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
