Emily Benedetto
Missionary to Maui, Hawaii
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Maui, Hawaii
| Emily has always had a huge heart for global missions, helping people, and surfing! Since she was born in Maui, Hawaii, and grew up in the iconic surf town of San Clemente, the beach culture and lifestyle were constantly surrounding her. Her heart for the Lord also started at a young age from the influence of her family, but during a mission trip to the Dominican Republic at age 18, the Lord revealed His power and love to her personally. She recognized the pull and calling on her life to be in ministry and it was at that time that she realized the heart of who God is and the importance of a relationship with the Lord versus having Christianity be just a religious decision. In 2019, she helped start a Christian Surfers chapter in San Clemente with the mission to make Jesus known to every surfer and every surfing community. Christian Surfers is an international organization that has chapters in over 33 nations and there are 26 local chapters currently in the United States. She has helped plan outreach events for her local community, mentored several surfers and young girls, and just started doing ministry in any way she felt called. Sometimes this was picking up food for the chapter meetings, speaking at events, taking photos, mentoring individuals, or leading worship. In 2022, her heart for the surfing community was growing deeper and there was no longer time in her day to keep working her full-time career and set out to accomplish everything she felt God calling her into with her ministry. It was at that time that Emily said “yes” to a position as a full-time missionary with Christian Surfers United States as the Outreach Coordinator. Along with saying yes to full-time ministry, Emily and her husband Daniel now followed God’s call to relocate to Maui, Hawaii where they are currently living. Emily’s main role in the United States is planning outreach events for the beach communities of the United States, and to create and strengthen bonds with the international Christian Surfers chapters. There are many new ministry paths being pioneered as surfing advances as one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and it is an honor to be used by God through the surfing Olympics, the creation of wave pools, making a Surfer’s Bible, churches planted that are dedicated to surfers, and much more! If the surfing or beach community has a special place in your heart, please reach out! I would love to share more about the heart of Christian Surfers and see if there’s a local chapter near you that you can check out! We also host many short-term mission trips that include surfing and serving that are open to any age. Looking forward to partnering with you and A Jesus Mission! |