A deck, trucks and wheels " all you need to clear the air with on-the-edge teens who might not otherwise care for God, says one southern Sydney evangelist.
Street-wise evangelist Neil Oliver, a member of Mortdale Oatley Baptist Church, has spear-headed the creation of a skating outreach program that is connecting with his region's elusive teens.
"I see a real need in the kids I skate with during the week," he says.
"They're searching. If we can befriend these kids and be there for them, maybe [they] might grow with direction and guidance."
The ministry aims to tie skateboarding and Christianity together in a way that reaches vulnerable youth.
What began life as a holiday program has now grown into a monthly meeting where leaders share their passions, while teens grind the evening away.
"We have the opportunity to enjoy what we love " skating and God " with them," he says.
The second holiday program run by the church has attracted up to 60 participants each night.
Evenings included regular skating competitions with prizes donated by local businesses.
Themed nights set aside up-front sermons in favour of creating space for personal conversations.
Mr Oliver is a relative novice when it comes to skating, with a mere ten months deck-time under his belt.
But his passion for reaching out has already driven him to build the ministry all the elements of its own skate park " jumps, box and grinding rails included.
He hopes the program will help teens make the same connection that saved him from a dangerous slide.
"As a youth I was what you would call a lost cause, into all sorts of trouble," he says.
"Through the death of my mother I was left to wonder there must be more to life? Is this all there is? Through this period of mourning I came to know Jesus and it has made all the difference in my life."
Behind all the grinding, faking and air-time is a desire to see youth drop the stereotypes that keep them far from church doors.
"This is the passion [that] has driven me to find any way possible to help people and close the gap. It's been a real surprise for most of the youth and their families to see that we are a bunch of people who are as normal as the next."
For more information on the skateboarding program call the church office on 9570 5722 or email Neil Oliver.
