Bethany Hamilton Hosts Make-A-Wish Surf Camp, Still Anchored In God After Losing Arm To Shark

By Julie Brown Patton 6 Mar, 2016 21:32 EST

Life is very fast paced now-a-days for pro surfer and mother Bethany Hamilton, yet she urges everyone to focus on what really matters and cherish all they love. The Christian athlete, who lost her left arm in a shark attack in 2003, authored a book "Body and Soul: A Girl's Guide to a Fit, Fun and Fabulous Life" to share her faith beliefs by emphasizing God's love for his children. Having a child of her own now emphasized that connection, and she recently hosted the 3rd annual Make-A-Wish Hawaii Surf Camp for wish kids and their families.

Hamilton said the Surf Camp was amazing. "One wish girl, I was extra proud of, because she overcame her fear of the water and ended up actually surfing waves, though I bet there were a few who overcame ocean fears."

"I love just sitting and talking with the kids and sharing life. I hope all of the families enjoyed their time with our community and in beautiful Hawaii," she said.

One camp participant, 12-year-old Contessa said, "She [Bethany] makes me want to fight my disease so I can live a long life."

Another participant from Missouri, 13-year-old Carlei said, "I wanted to meet someone that went through something tough, but got through it because she was brave. Someone to tell me to stay strong and to uplift me."

Hamilton and husband Adam have a nine-month-old son Tobias. She said is in "full force crawling, eats anything we don't sweep up, stands on his own and likes swimming in the water with us."

She said although she didn't do much filming for her new month "Surfs Like A Girl" lately, they and filmmaker Aaron Lieber have been raising more funds so that they can finish the film. To date, the project has raised $116,671 from 1,453 backers through a Kickstarter crowdsourcing campaign.

Bethany Hamilton surfing Mike Coots courtesy of Bethany Hamilton

Hawaii has had an amazing surfing season this winter, she confided. "My body smiles at the thought of some of my surf sessions this winter. Awww, so fun!"

She said she's personally enjoying cooking and snuggling with her family, and sharing prayers of thankfulness, prayers over loved ones and prayers over hardship. "These are the moments I cherish. And this, to me, is what makes life awesome."

Locations of Hamilton's upcoming spring speaking tour include the following cities: Orlando, Fla., Satellite City, Fla., Kalamazoo, Mich., Sioux Falls, S.D., Columbus, Ohio, Columbia, Mo., and Bear, Del.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

In order an effort to promote traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, in collaboration with Macao YMCA, Guangzhou Suigang'ao Teenagers Institute, and the Teacher Chang Foundation of Taiwan, has conducted a survey on teens measuring their cultural awareness. They found that Hong Kong youths generally identify with and support the values of traditional Chinese culture.
Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.
Yesterday, October 31, was Reformation Day, and Lutherans around the world held various events in commemoration. In Singapore, the Lutheran Church advocated for Christian communion, while the German Lutheran Church encouraged believers to face the challenge of “trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time.”
Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.
2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation
In the afternoon of Reformation Sunday, Oct. 27, some 2.1 million Christians gathered for a joint worship service from 2pm to 5pm in Seoul, Korea to “unite for repentance, revival, and restoration of holiness in our society.” According to organizers, an estimated 1.1 million joined onsite despite the bad weather with another 1 million joining online. The unprecedented joint worship service brought together Korean churches across denominations as they affirmed traditional marriage and family and
Willow Creek Community Church invites believers to write prayer cards for the next president
This past Sunday, Willow Creek Community Church based in Illinois invited believers to “pray for the next president” during the service. The church not only expressed its concern for the upcoming election but also emphasized the role believers should play in the process and the importance of offering prayers for the nation's leaders.

Bethany Hamilton Hosts Make-A-Wish Surf Camp, Still Anchored In God After Losing Arm To Shark

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.