Soph tell us a little bit about yourself…
Originally from the North West coast of Tassie, I’ve just spent the past 18-months on Phillip Island leading the CSALT students, and now have moved to the Surf Coast- West Vicco to study Nursing and Psychological Science at uni. I’m also a competition judge for Surfing Victoria, and my hobby is probably people if that’s even a thing.
Haha that is so a thing. What compels you to live your life every day for the Lord?
Put simply, I’m a Christian because life with God is way better than without Him. The moment I step away I always seem to screw things up situationally and relationally in my own humanness haha. Therefore, partnering with God is just way better for me, you, and the kingdom.
Personally, I didn’t grow up in a family of faith but think I probably always knew Jesus from a young age I just didn’t really realise it was Him initially. As a teenager I got caught up in the world a little and really didn’t like who I was or the idea of who I was becoming, so my prayer so desperately became “God, please transform me into someone new, someone more like you Jesus.” That teenager seems so unidentifiable and distant now. I couldn’t be more grateful that with the support of CS community, CSALT, Gods word, church, mentors and a relationship with Jesus, I am stepping away from who I wasn’t meant to be and becoming more like who God intended. Being a follower of Jesus is such a rewarding and encouraging process of growth, I just never want to stop becoming more like Him really, that’s what compels me to live a life with and for the Lord.
What excites me on the day to day though is just the fact that it doesn’t matter what happens God just enjoys us being close to Him so we get the crazy awesome opportunity and privilege to live alongside him as close as we want. It’s epic! In Philippians 1 Paul expresses that he is caught between wanting to die to be with Christ and wanting to live to be fruitful for Christ and the salvation of others. I think this is so beautiful and brings loads of perspective that our walk with the Lord isn’t about having this or that but actually everyday getting “the privilege of trusting in Christ.” This is no small thing that God died through his Son to have relationship with us, why waste that privilege. No way Jose, I’m not giving up that honour haha, I want to be a part of it every day for the rest of my life please! Being a Christian is not about our worthiness (which we are so valued and worthy btw) but it’s about stepping into service for the kingdom & helping & loving others. Honestly, that opportunity is just way too exciting to miss.
Amen sistaaaa. What is the most whacko thing that happened at CSALT last year? There were plenty…
Oh wow, how could I list one. Believe it or not there wasn’t anything that I can recall that was super crazy dangerous like stories from the good old days of CS. We’re pretty mellow these days but still get a bunch of young surfers together and we had jumping off bridges, rooves and rocks, creating mass waterslides, sketchy surfs, and kitchen dance parties with a 10-20 piece utensils orchestra. However, maybe one of my most memorable nights started out with a game of spoons. The cards game quickly developed into much more as we played around the kitchen bench. The spoons were changed for folks coated in peanut butter and the cards were swapped for closed eyes and a mystery timer also known as a microwave set for minutes at a time. This was rather amusing watching the students stand blindfolded for minutes at a time waiting for either the timer to go off or microwave to blow up (whichever was coming first). Lucky for us there was no explosions, but someone was slapped in the face with ham and that was it we broke into a full on food fight with mustard squirting, PB smudging and flour throwing. This went on for some time into the midnight hours until our clothes were stained, hair was sticky and we realized we had to clean up for church in the very same room the next morning. If any group of people are boss cleaners at 1am it’s CSALT students that have put off their chores.
CSALT class & worship session on a grassy hilled cape, overlooking the beauty of God’s creation hehe.
What is the main thing you took away from CSALT as a student and as a leader?
I didn’t grow up in a heavily surfy community and certainly wasn’t surrounded by Christians that surfed (legit zero) or even many girls that surfed (maybe 5 max across the coast). Therefore, CSALT was massive for just realising there was a community of like-minded peeps out there. For a number of reasons, CSALT was personally such a redefining year regarding identity, which made it super powerful! Also, I grew a lot in scriptural context, depth, and understanding, which has been a helpful foundation for further biblical knowledge and spiritual growth in the years that have followed.
As a peer leader, the biggest takeaway has been the joy of watching others grow, knowing the depth of how defining the year is for them and getting to be a part of it. It blows my heart and mind with love for them, and gratitude for the opportunity! Witnessing the students transform is such a massive privilege and so so so incredibly, amazingly, rewarding! The best way I can describe it is that you get to witness God part the seas of people’s individual lives, a miracle that never gets old!
This vulnerability and connection have grown an overwhelming love in my heart for all the students. I kind of didn’t really realise this would happen so intensely and it’s already happening with the students this year too haha. Guess that’s the Holy love of Jesus for ya, so contagious!
CSALT dad & dreamer of it all Lucas Bartlett, myself & the other CSALT leader Nathan Pearson.
Little stopover on the central coast for CS girls camp 2022.
Yeah man, you were such an incredible leader & just such a strong woman of God, so we have to thank you so much for all your prayers & words of wisdom that you imparted on us. Not a paid partnership* hehe but why would you recommend CSALT to people that are thinking of doing it?
CSALT is advertised as the “best year or your life.” This statement isn’t wrong, in fact, it’s as true as Jesus healing the sick or Noah building an arc (at least it was for me anyway). Honestly though, whether you want it to be or not, CSALT is the most transformative, educational, refining, growth provoking, fun year ever! So much so I came back as a leader just for more 😊. If that’s not enticing enough, just do it for the road trips, for the experiences, for the surf, for the lifelong friends, for the community, or just do it for GOD!!! He is worth it.
Do you have a prayer for the group that just finished up CSALT? As I guess the goal of of training up these leaders is that they would use these new skills in their lives wherever they go, and use it to bring glory to the Lord above all…
My prayer for past, present and future students remains pretty consistent and something you can for sure be praying for too. Its Ephesians 3:18, that they never stop perusing growth and seeking Gods heart to know just how “wide, how long, how high and how deep His love is.” Also, for obedience over their lives to step into everything and anything God is inviting them into on a daily basis but also within their leadership journeys. I think it’s pretty important we’re praying for all young leaders that they would not conform to culture but rather create it. Also, of course that they forever feel and know just how loved they are by their heavenly father and the CS community. Amen to that!!
PRAYER POINTS // FROM SOPH
1. That every day is a day closer to Him. Another incrementable step up the stairway to heaven.
2. Less humanness and more of His holiness. Also, for direction and discernment as a step into a new routine and lifestyle.
3. Would love prayer for where & what I am meant to do for the kingdom and where I am next meant to lead.
4. Also, that I can be a voice and image of Christ with the Surfing Victoria judging tent. My prayer and dream is to transform that tent into a place that truly knows the name of Jesus.
Prayer for CSALT crew now…
- Home sickness
- Flow of relationship
- Easy intergartion
- Transformation beyond measure
- A new generation of community like God designed for Eden
Gratitude for CS!!
