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Heart and Soul: Portugal's Surf Church

In Porto, Portugal, a new church is combining people's passion for surfing and spirituality. Surf Church is making waves, but is it living up to its mission of worshipping Jesus?

In the coastal city of Porto, Portugal, a unique spiritual community is making waves, literally. The Surf Church, led by Brazilian-born pastor and avid surfer Samuel Cianelli dos Anjos, blends traditional Sunday worship with the sport of surfing. In a country with deep historical and cultural ties to the Catholic Church, Portugal has seen a steady decline in the number of young people engaging with their faith. Many feel disconnected from the Church and believe it no longer speaks to them in a way they understand. In response to this, the Surf Church movement was born. Every Sunday, young people gather on the beach to surf together before walking to a nearby church to worship. Their motto: “We love waves, and we love Jesus”. Reporter Colm Flynn travels to Porto to discover more about this innovative approach.

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