story
ana barend
“We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.”
1 THESSALONIANS 2:8
Ana, could you share with me a bit about your story & how you came to know Jesus?
I was born and raised in Rio, Brazil, which explains my accent. Living close to the beach with not much else to do, I naturally took up surfing. Before that, I played tennis very seriously, but after quitting, I found myself with a lot of free time. My father, who sadly passed away not long after, had given me a bodyboard—a popular choice among Brazilians at the time.
I often took my step brothers surfing with me because my father preferred I didn’t surf alone. With all the extra time on my hands, I began competing in surfing tours in the early ’90s. They say practice makes perfect, and through the tours, I found my faith. My now-husband introduced me to Christianity by giving me a Bible in Portuguese and taking me to local Bible studies. During a competition in Hawaii, I injured my shoulder, which led me to spend more time reading the Bible. Although my English was limited, I started with an English version before requesting one in Portuguese. Reading it brought me a sense of peace and understanding that my worth wasn’t tied to my performance in surfing or anything else.
How did you become a chaplain on the Surfing World Tour?
It was a revelation that shifted my values. I stopped competing for a while, attended Bible college, got married, and had children—something I never thought I’d do while on tour. Later, I received an email from the chaplaincy coordinator of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), which later became the World Surfing League (WSL), inquiring if I was interested in becoming a chaplain. Despite my initial confusion about the role, my name had been suggested through Christian Surfers, and my husband believed it was meant for me.
After interviewing, Steve Bligh from Australia visited us in Rhode Island and offered me the position. I accepted, trusting God’s plan. For three years, I served as a chaplain, focusing on being true to myself and praying to show God’s love to the surfers. I wanted them to know they were loved by Jesus, regardless of their professional success. My approach was to serve and love them without the pressure of fulfilling a certain image.
Do you have a story that stands out to you from your time in that role?
In my final event, the surfers gathered, and many emotions were shared. I was moved to tears, overwhelmed by the love I felt and had prayed to convey. It was a powerful affirmation of God’s presence and love. My time as a chaplain was filled with many stories of connection and faith, but one that stands out is when I felt inspired to make pottery cups for the surfers. As a potter, I crafted each cup with intention, painting their faces and praying for them as I worked the clay. It was a way to combine my passion for pottery with my role as a chaplain, creating a tangible symbol of my prayers and care for each individual.
This journey has been incredible, a testament to God’s goodness and the profound impact of sharing His love. It’s been a privilege to witness the transformation and comfort that faith can bring, not just to the surfers I’ve ministered to but also to myself.
I prayed that as they held the cup, they would feel God’s love. At my first event, I introduced myself and explained that I had made each of them a pottery cup by hand to show my care. It was quite amusing; one of the girls thought it was the most charming gesture, and the guys jokingly asked where their cups were. I learned that in Aussie slang, a ‘hot choccy’ is a hot chocolate.
I had crafted each cup with so much intention, especially for one surfer who I felt shared a similar sense of worth to what I experienced growing up. When I gave her the cup, she held it, looked at me, and said she could feel the love emanating from it. That moment was profound for both of us.
How were you able to share your faith, & Jesus, in this environment?
Throughout the tour, I encountered many ups and downs, and I would share scriptures with the surfers, not directly quoting the Bible, but conveying its essence. I assured them that one thing in life remains constant and unchanging: God’s love for them. I told them that nothing could ever separate them from this love, as we know from the scripture, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:39
Sharing these words often brought comfort and sometimes tears, as the power of God’s Word touched their hearts, fulfilling a deep-seated longing. This experience was just one of many stories where the message of love and faith profoundly impacted someone’s life.
It’s like offering water to the thirsty—sharing God’s love is deeply fulfilling. I’ve had the honor of baptizing some individuals, which was incredibly special. I never imagined I would do such things, let alone officiate weddings. Despite my initial reluctance, I’ve found joy in these unexpected roles.
Ana you are so well respected & admired by many within the tour & have held relationship with many of the people you worked with…
I’m still in touch with many from my last event in 2016, and it’s now 2024. My prayer has always been for them to maintain a lasting relationship with God. It’s truly beautiful. Another story that comes to mind involves times when I had to step out in faith. While I was usually on the sidelines, cheerleading the surfers, there was an instance where someone from the administrative team didn’t recognize me. They wondered who the lady was who didn’t catch many waves but was always present. It turned out to be a humorous misunderstanding.
Sometimes, I felt compelled to reach out to specific individuals, even those who weren’t as receptive to faith as others. I would approach them, offer prayer, and often find that they were struggling with something, and were so open to receiving prayer!
It was a reminder that everyone has their battles, and it strengthened my faith to follow the promptings of my heart to pray for them. These experiences have been a testament to the power of faith and the impact of God’s love.
Initially, I was quite shy, but then they would sit next to me and ask how I was doing. It was very special, the Lord fully opened the way. I felt honoured to be with them, especially during the tough times, like conflicts with coaches and various losses, not just in competitions but also in relationships. These experiences inspired me to pursue my current profession as a licensed mental health counsellor.
Life on tour is pretty wild; how did you find being in the world but not of the world…?
Being there for everyone without getting too caught up in the culture was a challenge. I was familiar with the facade of the surfing world, how people’s attitudes towards athletes changed based on their performance. This realization made me reflect on the true value of individuals, regardless of their success. Everyone is special, has unique gifts, and bears God’s image. I prayed a lot for God’s heart and vision, which helped me stay grounded.
I noticed that I prayed more and was more intentional when traveling, which made me realize that being at home is also a mission field. This perspective has helped me grow as a Christian and as a person, deepening my relationship with the Lord. His gentle conviction reminds me that while I have my responsibilities, He is always guiding me.
It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and love everyone. It was truly a privilege and a gift.
Leaving home as a mother and wife was sometimes difficult, but I knew that God was taking care of my family. My children learned to cook, which was a blessing. When they were teenagers, they were 14, 15, and 16 years old; now they are 24.
Where are you now?
Currently, I am a licensed mental health counsellor in two states. I work at a nonprofit site where I see many clients, primarily treating trauma. I’m also studying to teach clinicians how to integrate Christianity and psychology ethically in psychotherapy. I am very excited about this.
Balancing full-time work and school is challenging—I joke that I don’t have a life, but it’s worth it. They say if you want something done, ask a busy person haha!
A verse of scripture that resonated with you during this time serving on tour?
A verse from the New Testament that resonated with me during that time is John 3:30, where John the Baptist says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” However, the verse that comes to mind now is 1 Thessalonians 2:8, which beautifully expresses our readiness to share not only the gospel of God but also our lives. It encapsulates the love and sacrifice involved in spreading the true gospel. “So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”