We Fired it Up

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..."

—1 Peter 3:15-16

JSAW kicked off the summer with an incredible weekend of skateboarding and ministry at Help Boardshop. Friday night, we hosted The Session featuring Olympian and professional skateboarder Cordano Russell, where the skatepark was packed with riders for worship, his testimony, and a gospel message. Three riders responded by giving their lives to Jesus, setting the tone for an amazing weekend.

The momentum continued Saturday with Fire It Up 2026, where more than 150 people gathered to watch 38 riders compete throughout the afternoon. Amazing food was provided by Atomic Wings and Doc E's BBQ, the community was incredible, and there were countless opportunities to build relationships and share the hope of Christ.

One of the highlights of the weekend was having Cordano connect with riders, share his story at The Session, serve as a guest judge for the contest, and openly talk about his passion for King Jesus.

The night before the competition, I had the opportunity to interview Cordano during our leadership meeting about why he is so passionate about following Christ. We talked about his upbringing, becoming a professional skateboarder, and his desire to pursue the Lord wherever his travels take him. But one thing stood out above everything else: his willingness to remain in a constant state of readiness whenever the Holy Spirit prompts him.

I shared two moments where I had seen him boldly share his faith and was surprised to learn that neither had been planned. Instead, he simply sensed the Holy Spirit urging him to "be bold" in those moments and trusted God with the results.

That challenge fired up our staff and volunteers (pun intended) to be intentional and available for whatever opportunities God might provide throughout the competition.

To help us stay focused on disciple-making, we tracked four types of interactions throughout the day: inviting someone to an event, praying with someone, handing out a pocket Gospel of John, and sharing the gospel. As we gathered that evening to reflect on what God had done, we were encouraged by the results:

• 9 riders were personally invited to future events or Bible study.

• 14 riders were prayed for.

• 7 riders received a pocket Gospel of John.

• 2 riders heard a clear presentation of the gospel.

Beyond the numbers were real stories of God at work.

One of our leaders struck up a conversation with a rider who, although not local, had been part of the Minneapolis skate scene for years. As they waited for food, the leader shared about JSAW's mission and asked if he wanted to know more. The rider explained that he had once attended church but had fallen away from his faith. The conversation naturally led to an invitation to our Skate Bible Study, and he gladly accepted a Gospel of John to take home.

That interaction happened simply because a skateboarding competition created an opportunity for a meaningful conversation.

Looking back on the weekend, it was amazing to see how God moved as our team surrendered to His leading. Even with more than 150 people attending, every detail—from the food to the families to the riders—came together while our volunteers remained focused on what mattered most: loving people and pointing them to Jesus.

Like Cordano encouraged us, we simply sought to listen when the Holy Spirit spoke and respond with boldness.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this weekend possible. Your support enables JSAW to continue reaching the local skateboarding community with the hope of the gospel through outreach events, Bible studies, and discipleship all summer long.

If you'd like to help support more outreach events, Bible studies, and discipleship opportunities this summer, click here to give.