Jessi & her 6 month old puppy named Asher.
Where do you live & what's your local surf break / community?
I currently reside in Ocean Grove, Victoria and attend The Wave Baptist Church. My favourite local surf break is Point Impossibles, and I also love surfing Boings along 13th Beach (on high tide).
Any recent significant relationship / family news?
I have a 6 month old puppy named Asher. She’s in training to be the first CSA National Dog Coordinator.
Jodene Watling & Jessi Muir
How did you feel drawn into the role of CSA Womens Coordinator?
At my first National Gathering in 2013, I met Jodene (AKA Jods) Watling, the CSA National Women’s Coordinator, who became a mentor and good friend to me. Jods invested a lot into me over the next 5 years and empowered me to step my faith-game up a notch and really pursue God where He was calling me. Getting to do life closely with Jods over the those years gave me some insight into the Women’s Coordinator role, and I remember always being so stoked on what Jods was doing within the role and how girls all over the country (and world) responded to Jods passion for CS Girls, and the wider Christian Surfers movement.
For me, having an older female mentor was life changing, and Jods really encouraged me in some big decisions throughout those years. Just having someone to talk with, to pray with and to get some wisdom from was awesome and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am today without the time and love Jods invested into me. I felt drawn to the role because I wanted to be that for girls – to be available, to be real, to be encouraging and empowering, to be an example of what life lived with God looks like. This role gives me all those opportunities and more.
What has been your leadership journey in CS to this point?
It started in my hometown of Bonny Hills, NSW, where I became a leader in my local Christian Surfers mission in 2013. In 2014 I followed God into a year-long journey of Bible college alongside an internship within the Northern NSW region of Christian Surfers. In 2015, I felt God call me to move to Victoria the following year. I moved to Vicco at the start of 2016, and God opened up doors for me to lead the CS Girl’s ministry in Victoria. Every year God has opened up doors for me to lead in different capacities, and alongside different people.
NEW SWELL 2015 - 12 Apostles Vic
From there, I was given the opportunity to help lead New Swell, a junior leadership training program run by CSA. This will be my 4th year helping to run New Swell, and it’s one of my biggest passions within Christian Surfers.
In 2018, I officially stepped into the National Women’s Coordinator role, with lots of encouragement from Jods and from Steve Bailey (the CSA National Director), and of course, God. I’m apart of the CSA National team, and couldn’t be more stoked to be leading alongside a group of awesome people who are sold out for God and the Christian Surfers ministry.
What are your big picture dreams for CS Girls?
Honestly, I just get so stoked on seeing girls living out God’s calling for their life, whether that’s in surf ministry or overseas mission or just doing the daily grind in their local community.
I’d love to see a CS Girls mission running in every CS community around Australia, with girls being intentional about building each other up in God, and spreading that love into their communities, in and out of the surf.
And I just want to be there to pray for and empower girls to go out and live their best God-fuelled lives. I don’t know what that looks like in the big picture, but if you want prayer or someone to talk to, I’m so there!
I’ve been praying about a CS Girls Surf Trip for a couple of years now, and would love to take a group of girls overseas for a mission/surf trip, where we get the chance to serve and surf. I would also love to organise a CS Girls weekend surf trip somewhere in Australia, and just invite a whole bunch of girls to hang out and praise God – what a dream!
Jessi enjoying a wave
How does your vision for CS Girls fit within the CSA broader vision?
It’s 2019 and girls are well and truly apart of the surfing culture, all over the world. Aligning with the broader CSA vision, I want to invest in creating a nation-wide community and culture where girls feel valued in their surfing community, which can be pretty raw and unforgiving at times. I think Christian Surfers is the most inclusive way for girls to be apart of the surf culture, and to be invested into a community that celebrates surfing for it’s true roots, and not just the “scene” of it.
My vision for CS Girls is to see girls empowered in their local surf communities, both in and out of the water, and to be apart of a CS tribe that thrives on The Good News, and carries that with them out into the water and their community. As girls are becoming a more respected and integral part of the surf culture, they are apart of the vision of Christian Surfers, that every surfer in every surfing community has the opportunity to know and to follow Jesus.
CS Girls at this years CSA National Gathering
For girls that are interested in getting more involved in CS - what would you recommend?
If you love God, love surfing, want to know about God, or have a heart for surfers to know God, find your local CS tribe and get connected. The Australian coast is littered with CS missions, and a family of people who love God and love surfing. Once you’re connected into a local mission, it’s an open door to connecting to the wider CS family all over Australia (and the world). The Christian Surfers Australia website has a link to all the Regional Coordinator’s contacts, where you can get in touch and find your closest CS mission.
If you’re a girl who wants to get connected with other female surfers, send me an email and I will help you find some salty sisters!
Jessi Muir
National Womens Coordinator
Christian Surfers Australia
Email: [email protected]
Follow: CS Girls Facebook Page