After that first men’s trip in 2018, something clicked. Guys came home different — lighter, bolder, more spiritually awake. And not just for a week or two. These trips were planting something deep. Something lasting. The combination of service, surf, brotherhood, and faith was unlike anything we’d experienced.
As the trips continued – one in the spring, one in the fall – a pattern emerged. We weren’t just building houses, repairing schools, or feeding families. We were building relationships not just with the people of Nicaragua, but with each other – and with God.
Eventually, I felt a strong pull to bring my own family. I wanted my kids to see what I had seen, to meet the people who were becoming like family to me, and to experience the same kind of transformation. So we did what most families wouldn’t – we packed our bags and spent a whole month in Nicaragua.
That one month turned into a tradition. Each summer, our family returned — and each time, more families joined us. Parents, kids, friends – all coming down not just to serve, but to learn, grow, and reconnect with what matters most. The mission was no longer just mine – it was ours.
Over time, the work began to expand. We weren’t just doing short-term projects anymore. We were walking alongside locals. Building homes with them, not just for them. Launching a youth center to disciple the next generation. Helping single moms find safe housing, purpose, and support. We started gardens, funded clean water efforts, and trained locals in trades and tools that could sustain their families.
That’s when S3 Ministry was born – a name that captured the heartbeat of everything we were doing:
Shelter. Salvation. Sustainability.
- Shelter, because everyone deserves a safe place to live — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Salvation, because everything we do points back to Jesus. He’s the reason we show up.
- Sustainability, because we don’t believe in short-term charity. We believe in long-term change.
Today, S3 Ministry stands on a firm foundation of relationships, faith, and action. We’re building a 10-home community complete with gardens, a water tower, and discipleship programs. We’ve launched a surf and skate camp that blends adventure with gospel truth. We’re raising up local leaders, walking with churches, and dreaming big about what’s next.
But it all started with a surf trip I didn’t plan.
God had something so much bigger in mind — and I’m just grateful we said yes.