To our amazing family in Christ,

We pray that this email finds you each of you blessed! It has been on my heart to send an update about Christian Skaters and let you know of some needs and prayer requests that we have!
 
Christian Skaters started in 2005 after a dream the Lord put in our heart to create a united body of skate ministries. 1 Corinthians 12:12 speaks of working together as a body.

Back in 2001, my husband was saved at a local skatepark, and it changed our lives. Soon we found ourselves in full-time ministry at Ramp 48/Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. We received phone call after phone call from ministries wanting to get started, needing prayer or just some encouragement. Our local skatepark ministry had been launched from a local Christian Surfers chapter and we had called our Tuesday night studies "Christian Skaters." After contacting Christian Surfers, it was clear that there was a need, and that we were being called to meet that need.

This year, we were blessed to help host the second US Skate Conference. We were once again amazed by how the Lord touched everyone who attended and refreshed us all to continue to reach skaters and the skate community. November will play host to the 2nd UK Skate Conference that brings in ministries from all over Europe. This summer, we were also able to partner with SonSkate to launch the first South African conference. We hope to do the same in Australia next year.

Hosting these events is costly, and we can not do this alone. It is our dream for the future that these events will be supported by a body of skate ministries. Please pray that the Lord would lead more ministries to us and that those ministries would be willing to share in the cost and planning for 2009.
 
All of us here at Christian Skaters serve on a volunteer basis and donate to the ministry. We operate on a modest budget but are able to make that budget stretch far to help host conferences, plant skate churches around the world, promote skate ministries, provide resources and more. Still, we know that the Lord has so much more planned for this ministry. This is why we are writing you now to ask for your help.

Currently our funding comes from a handful of people just like you who have a heart to partner with us in our mission. Getting involved is simple.

As an individual, you can become a member and help support our mission for a donation of only $25 annually. As a ministry, shop or park, you can partner with us for a donation of only $100 annually. Benefits include discounts with various companies and events, as well knowing you are making an impact for Christ.  Feel free to email us for details.

We are seeking creative ways to raise funds for our mission. God has been and continues to be faithful to provide, but we have not been very good at pursuing funds for Christian Skaters. So, we need your help. Maybe you have a church or small group that would like to become a monthly supporter of Christian Skaters? Do you have a voice in the skate or Christian community that you can use to help share what the Lord is doing through Christian Skaters worldwide? Do you have a gift that you'd be willing to share with our ministry such as writing, graphic, marketing, networking, video editing, photography, administration, grant writing, accounting, webmasters, or database programming? Maybe you have been wanting to help, but have not taken that step. Now is the time!

Christian Skaters' small staff of volunteers can not do this alone. We are all Christian Skaters, and we need advocates to help people use their gifts to further God's Kingdom and to reach the globe with the gospel through skate boarding. We have some wonderful and faithful supporters, but we know there are many people who have not been given the opportunity to partner with us. Please, pray about this with us and let us now how you feel called to help.
 
In November, we hope to travel to the UK Conference to speak and be a support to this European network. These conferences are always an amazing way to bond and grow deeper with these ministries. We will also have the opportunity to share, encourage, and equip these ministries to reach even more for Christ. It is our heart to serve these ministries. Christ tells us that "for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Luke 10:45). If Jesus came to serve then we need to be doing the same thing!
 
We need $5000 to make this trip happen! This includes airfare, passport fees, and food. If you might be able to help with this, have frequent flyer miles you'd like to donate, or simple can pray for us, email us today.

We also have some "dream" items that would help Christian Skaters reach even more. If you would be willing to donate any items from the list below, please let us know:
 
Projector for events
Inflatable Movie Screen
An Enclosed Trailer for Demo Ramps
Graphics for our vehicles
Support for full-time skate missionaries
Resources for a quarterly magazine
Complete skateboards & supplies for our international skate church plants
Frequent flyer miles for skate missions

There are so many other ways that you can help. Consider selling an item on ebay and donating a portion to Christian Skaters through Mission Fish. Buy product from our affiliates listed on the bottom of each enews. These companies give a percentage back to our ministry. Forward our emails to others, to help spread the word. Consider visiting our international office to intern or volunteer with us for a week in Florida. Become a friend or join our causes on MySpace or Facebook and invite your friends to do the same. Start a skate ministry in your area.
 
Thank you so much for your help and support! Together we are making a difference. We couldn't do this without you!!
 
In Christ,
 
Toni Frallicciardi
Christian Skaters International
www.ChristianSkaters.com
www.SkateConference.com