Ride Nature is a 501(c)3 non-profit action sports mission organization

Committed to equipping, empowering, and mobilizing leaders globally to utilize 
action sports as a tool for outreach, evangelism, and Discipleship.

OUR CORE VALUES

OUTREACH

Generosity is at the heart of who we are as an organization. Through the gift of our time, talents, resources, and by placing boards in the hands of a kids in need, outreach and generosity guides how we live and serve.

EVANGELISM

Our desire is to leverage every available means to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are doing this through the boards we give away, surf or skate contests, film premiers, outreach events and more.

DISCIPLESHIP

We are committed to partnering with the local church, supporting indigenous leaders, and equipping and empowering them to be disciple-makers that multiply to the
ends of the earth.

THE LONGTERM

VISION

Until EVERY ear hears…

We will continue providing free skateboards and surfboards to children and leaders in need around the world, until every individual globally has access to the joy, the thrill, and the community that action sports bring.

We long to see every individual in the action sports industry reached with the good news of Jesus Christ and will continue leveraging every available means so that the action sports community has the chance to see, hear, and respond to the Gospel.

We are committed to equipping, empowering, and mobilizing leaders within action sports who are committed to carrying the Gospel and making disciples to the ends of the earth.

“I’M STOKED TO PARTNER WITH RIDE NATURE TO SHARE MY PASSIONS AND REACH THE ACTIONS SPORTS COMMUNITY WORLDWIDE!”

-Bethany Hamilton (Purpose Film Media Project)

THE HISTORY

The vision of Ride Nature was birthed in November 2009, shortly after Mark and Shannon Koch were married. At just 25 years old, Mark sensed God’s clear calling for their family to step into full-time ministry, though the shape of that calling was still unknown. In prayer one evening, the Lord put a vision on Mark’s heart that would soon become Ride Nature.

The concept was simple yet powerful; through the act of generosity, the goal was to get skateboards and surfboards into the hands of children who may otherwise never have the chance to surf or skate, and use that gift as a platform to share the greatest gift, hope and life through Jesus Christ.

Their heart for ministry was deeply influenced by organizations such as Voice of the Martyrs, Samaritan’s Purse, and Operation Christmas Child. While Ride Nature was birthed outside those umbrellas, it has carried the same DNA; meeting tangible needs while pointing people in some of the hardest-to-reach places toward the eternal hope of Jesus.

What began as a small seed has grown far beyond what was ever imagined. Through their obedience, God has ignited a global movement sustained by countless prayers and strengthened through faithful partners. Today, Ride Nature continues to carry the torch they lit, advancing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth!

WATCH THE STORY

“you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

AN Acts 1:8 Model

“To the ENDS” has been our tagline since 2009. But more than a tagline, this Acts 1:8 model defines how we operate. We start where we are, strengthen what surrounds us, and pursue opportunities far away.

1. Locally // “Jerusalem”

We believe ministry starts where we are planted. Locally, this means pursuing Gospel saturation and a commitment to discipling those in the communities we exist.

2. Regionally // “Judea and Samaria”

As leaders are equipped locally, we multiply regionally, linking arms with churches, ministries, and action-sports leaders across our surrounding regions.

3. Globally // “To the Ends of the Earth”

To the farthest corners of the world, we are called, compelled, and committed to carrying the Gospel and making disciples through action sports.

The 5 "Spokes" of Every Ride Nature Headquarters

As an organization, our heart has always been for the unreached. Those who are still waiting to even hear the name of Jesus and the hope that is found only in Him. Yet, simultaneously, we also know that God has called us to be a light to those right around us and we firmly believe in leading by example and. This starts with those in our backyard.
At each of our HQ’s we are leading consistent and regular local outreach programs through action sports in the communities in which we exist.
These include a variety of sports and/or strategies but every effort is centered around providing Gospel conversations so that every youth in our community has the chance to hear, see, and respond to the Gospel.
Through regular, consistent, and intentional action sports outreach, we are seeing lives changed not only in far away places, but in every community that Ride Nature is planted.
What started organically in 2011 after 3 young college graduates came to intern with the organization has since grown into a 6 month full-time program being offered at each of the Ride Nature headquarters.
The discipleship program is focused on developing character and Spiritual foundations, while also providing hands-on experience and opportunities to grow both in ability and confidence in ministry.
Through morning Bible studies and daily leadership development classes, hand-in-hand with local outreach in the community, we have seen hundreds of young leaders trained, equipped, empowered, and mobilized. Our prayer is to see discipleship training schools launched in every region of the world so that we can continue to raise up the next generation of leaders worldwide.
With the vision of further training and equipping leaders globally while also complimenting our local outreach efforts, we have established a “Business as Mission” at each of our HQ.
These spaces, known as “The House of Ride Nature” serve as a light within the community while also modeling sustainability and furthering our ability to train and equip others in sustainable mission strategies..
Each of our headquarters are committed to a specific region of the world with a focus on training, equipping, and serving leaders in those area.
Our goal is go deeper with leaders in each of these regions so that they are truly seen, empowered, and equipped to lead others.
This is the long-term vision of Ride Nature and our hope to see some of the hardest places to reach in the world, targeted with the Gospel.
Through a one year church planting residency program, we are training and equipping missionaries to use action sports as a tool for church planting with a focus primarily in closed countries.
It is our desire that each of these leaders that are sent would take the previous 4 strategies with them as tools to most effectively impact the part of the world they are sent. As bi-vocational missionaries, they establish a “reason” to. be in the country and legally are able to operate there longterm. As they introduce local outreach and discipleship through this space we believe the Word does not return void and churches will be birthed globally.