Our Story
Our story, Surf Church MB, began as a Bible study in the fall of 2023 with eight surfers meeting in the back of Surf City Surf Shop. The local Christian Surfers chapter invited those interested to meet in the off months to go through the book of Romans. With great excitement and eagerness the small gathering huddled together each week to learn what it means to be part of the Father’s “Divine Expedition.” 1 These weekly gatherings were filled with Scripture, encouragement, prayer, fellowship in the Spirit, and of course, tales from the sea.
After the study ended, the original crew and a few others indicated interest in digging deeper; so, in the Spring of 2024, we gathered in homes and laid the foundation for who we are as a group of Jesus followers and who we sensed the Lord wanted us to become. Guided by the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Scriptures, our gathering grew and developed into a body of believers seeking to join God in His activity.
By the Summer of 2024, Suncoast Christian Church allowed us to use their building on Sunday afternoons and we held our first public gatherings. We taught through the book of Acts and centered messages around discipleship multiplication. We also sent teams to surf churches in France, the Netherlands, and Nicaragua to learn from others and to provide leadership training using Kingdom Discipleship training material. 2
In the fall of 2024, First Methodist graciously granted us access to the Brittain Center on 65th Ave. N. in Myrtle Beach, and we moved our service times to 10 AM on Sundays.
We continue to focus on being a community growing together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We seek to be a surf-friendly, low-key, beach-loving group of Jesus followers, who lean toward authenticity, transparency. We desire to love God and love others, and join God in His grand plan to lead people out of darkness and into the kingdom of His beloved Son. We are kingdom people growing up into Christ together.
Surf Church Myrtle Beach is a local body but we are not alone. We are a part of something much bigger than ourselves. Our community is affiliated with Surf Church Collective, a church planting initiative seeking to impact beach communities globally. We are also part of Vineyard USA, a movement of churches who are committed to proclaiming and demonstrating the kingdom locally and globally. Like two sides to a coin, Surf Church Collective and the Vineyard USA make up who we are as a local expression of Jesus’ Church. We would love for you to explore your faith and journey with us as we seek Jesus and his rule and reign.
We are not professionals but teammates; not a club but a family; not “good” people but “rescued” people; not glamorous
but real.
As a tribe, we love Jesus, people, and living out the beautiful adventure of new life in God’s kingdom.
We hope you’ll join us.
(To be continued) …
1 Linus Morris Sr. and Linus Morris Jr., The Divine Expedition
2 L. Douglas Dorman, Kingdom Discipleship: Being, Making,
and Multiplying Disciples
Joan and Doug Dorman
Joan and Doug serve as architects and mentors for Surf Church Myrtle Beach. Joan and Doug build people up through team design and life-on-life supervision. The Dormans’ ministry flows from a long history of teaching, church planting, and leadership going back to 1986. Currently, they lead pastoral and leadership training across the globe as missionaries with Global Training Network.
Joan completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in nursing, and a Certificate in Bible and Missions at Columbia International University. Doug completed an undergraduate degree from Asbury University, a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry Degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Biola University in Intercultural Studies. Doug also serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia International Seminary.
Joan loves hanging out with people and having tea. Doug loves surfing. The Dormans have 7 children and 10 grandchildren and counting. Together they enjoy walking, beach time, cycling, writing, teaching, discipling, mentoring, and coaching.
Meet
the Team
Nick and Connor Dresmich
Connor and Nick
serve as:
Nick serves as Associate and Outreach pastor for Surf Church Myrtle Beach. Nick is passionate about the outdoors and seeing people’s lives transformed by the power and grace of Jesus Christ. He holds an M.Div. and BA in Biblical Studies from Liberty University Theological Seminary. In addition to his role at Surf Church, Nick serves as a marketplace chaplain for several Myrtle Beach companies and is the chapter chaplain for Christian Surfers Myrtle Beach.
Connor serves as creative worship/arts design coordinator for Surf Church Myrtle Beach.
Connor completed her undergraduate degree in Songwriting/Worship Leadership at Belmont University in Tennessee and graduated from Liberty University Theological Seminary in May 2024 with an M.Div.