OVER 30,000+
Individuals reached with the Gospel in 2024
Dear Friends and Family,
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” As the Lord continues to grow and entrust us with more, we recognize that growing pains are inevitable. Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of continuing to serve locally and globally, and we’ve felt the weight of the needs within the global action sports community more deeply than ever before. While missions are often romanticized, reaching those still in darkness and lost in sin requires an ongoing surrender of self and an ever-deepening dependence on God.
More than ever before, we are desperate for the Lord’s guidance, favor, and provision. In light of this reality, every team member across California, Florida, and Nicaragua has committed one day each month to pray and fast faithfully on behalf of the ministry. In total, because we desire to align with God’s will and increase our dependence on Him, we now have a team member praying and fasting every day of the year! We share this not to boast of our “good deeds” but to extend the invitation. We’d love to invite you to choose a day of the month and join us as we collectively pray to align with the will of our Father in Heaven more intimately. As we share in His death and suffering and receive the fullness of grace and truth that flows from it, we find ourselves strengthened and more passionate than ever to go and share the Good News of this Gospel to the ends of the earth!
The theme for this past year has been “turning the world upside down”. The vision for this comes from Acts 17:6-7 when the religious leaders were trying to stop Paul and Silas from sharing the Gospel and when they couldn’t be found, the leaders instead drug Jason and other believers out of their homes and said these words....“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, preaching that there is another king, Jesus.” Oh we pray earnestly that people even today are saying these same words about Ride Nature; that there are crazy skaters and surfers, traveling around the world, sharing the Good News, preaching that there is a King and His name is Jesus, and as a result... the world is being turned upside down!
We are incredibly grateful to all who have joined us in prayer, service, and financial support over the past 12 months. If it wasn’t for you, the global impact and the stats listed below in our 2024 annual report wouldn’t have been possible. As we press on in faith into 2025, it is BY ALL MEANS that we are continuing to strive to see the world impacted through action sports for His glory alone! Thank you for partnering with us to see this prayer answered!
To the ENDS...until EVERY ear hears!
Mark Koch
Global Executive Director
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
- 1 CORINTHIANS 9:22
1,019
BIBLE STUDIES LED
610
BOARDS GIVEN AWAY
243
OUTREACH EVENTS HOSTED
23
STUDENTS FINISHED THE DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM
23
COUNTRIES VISITED
29
NEW MINISTRY LEADERS TRAINED
A CALL TO ACTION CONFERENCE
We hosted the first nationwide action sports ministry conference with over 300 individuals from across the US.
LA CASA DE RIDE NATURE
We launched our 2nd Business as Mission model, a surf, skate, coffee shop in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
2024 FINANCIAL RECAP
Many people have heard of the famous missionary, translator, and christian pioneer, William Carey, but few have heard of his good friend Andrew Fuller. Before leaving for India, Carey famously told fuller, “I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the ropes.” Not many have the opportunity to serve in full-time ministry or to “go” to the ends of the earth personally. We count it an immense joy and blessing that the lord has called us to do so but we also firmly believe that like Fuller, many have been called to “hold the ropes” and send us and others who go.
In 2024, we raised a little over $2,000,000. It’s humbling to even type this. These finances came from numerous generous supporters like yourself. In total we had a little over 1,000 individuals who gave to our ministry last year alone. We are beyond grateful for each and every person who sacrificially invested into the work we are leading. Our hope and desire for financial self sustainability continues to drive the work we are leading through our business as mission endeavors. The House of Ride Nature - Fort Myers last year did a little over $200,000 in sales which made up for 10% of our total operating budget and we are excited to share that in October of 2024 we launched “la casa de ride nature” - a surf/skate/coffee shop based out of our Nicaragua HQ. Already the sales from this space are covering the rent and staff expenses and it is sustainable and netting a small return.
Personnel made up the largest piece of the pie within our 2024 budget. This is solely due to the fact that the majority of our work is centered around the efforts of our team investing time and energy to equip and empower a movement of discipleship. Out of the $800,000 in payroll expenses, a little over $600,000 were raised by our staff team to offset our ministry costs. These funds fully supported a team of 27 full-time staff between 3 locations. The remaining funds were used to produce numerous new ministry resources, send teams to 27 different countries, lead over 1,000+ bible studies, cover the expenses of multiple properties, vehicles, allowed us to host a conference, and so much more!
As we continue to invest our lives into the goal of bringing the truth and hope of Jesus to the ends of the earth, we would love to invite you to join us in praying for the Lord’s provision, His strength, and His leadership in everything we do. As our local and global reach continues to increase, as you can imagine, the costs rise as well. Below we have listed several specific fundraising goals and some unique opportunities to partner alongside our efforts. We ask that you pray about how God would have you more tightly hold this rope for us. The work we are leading is getting heavier, deeper, and further and we need strong ministry partners more than ever. We can’t thank you enough for holding the rope for us while we serve, share, and encourage leaders all around the world. Thank you for faithfully praying, giving, and supporting these efforts to see the world turned upside down with the message of the gospel!
To the ends!
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In April of 2024 we hosted the first ever “Call to Action” Conference. We had over 300 individuals gather together from all over the world for a three day action sports gathering featuring keynote speakers, live music, worship, and numerous workshops to equip and empower a movement of disciple making to the ends of the earth.
Aug 21-23 we will be hosting this same gathering but on the West Coast!
These funds will be used to put on this 2-1/2 day event, cover the cost of a location for the conference, honorariums for keynote speakers, and the countless unforeseen expenses that we ran into with hosting this gathering in 2024.
To learn more about this conference or to register to attend click HERE.
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We have raised approx. $10,000 out of a $50,000 matching grant goal for the launch of a Brazil HQ in the coming years. We have until April 1st, 2025 to raise the remaining funds and receive the $50,000 matching grant.
These funds will be used to help cover the first 12 months of operational expenses as well as set up the team with basic needs to begin local and regional outreach in South America.
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Raising up leaders and sending them back into their communities to replicate the ministry they have seen and been a part of first hand through our discipleship program is hands down one of the areas where we have seen the most fruit within the ministry.
The cost of running (6) homes, staffing programs, maintaining properties with repairs and maintenance, and cultivating discipleship communities between 3 locations is a costly operation but one that we believe is so worth it!
These funds will not only help cover the discipleship programming expenses/facilities/and other expenses involved, but for the first time ever it will create a scholarship fund for us to be able to offer these opportunities for individuals globally. We have been blessed to serve and work in over 40+ countries since 2009 but the financial barrier for young leaders to travel to the States and participate in this program has always prevented us from offering this opportunity to many in developing countries. We pray that 2025 will be the year where this all changes.
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We believe media is a powerful tool that can reach far further, far faster than we can physically. Over the past 14 years we have produced multiple media resources that have reached hundreds of thousands of individuals globally. Our goal in 2025 is to continue creating content that will help us accomplish our mission.
These funds will allow us to capture media through photography and video on each of our international trips as well as produce (3) new episodes of the To the ENDS series.
Financial Breakdown
New Camera/Lens/Mic - $4,000
To the Ends Film Series // Baja Episode - $3,500
To the Ends Film Series // Guatemala Episode - $3,500
To the Ends Film Series // El Salvador Episode - $3,500
Pursuit Collective // Vol VI - $10,000
Through the Lens Book // Vol III - $5,000
Skate Church Movement - French Translation + 250 Books - $2,500
12 International Trips // Media Travel Expenses - $18,000
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These funds will allow us to travel to 20 different countries and lead 26+ trips in 2025 as we continue to share the Gospel and raise up new leaders using action sports as a tool for evangelism and discipleship.
FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN
26 international Mission trips // $52,000
($2,000 in travel expenses per trip)52 Gospel centered outreach events // $26,000
(Estimated $500 per event)International Work Projects // $5,000
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There are several expenses that we would love to invite you to partner in supporting our efforts. These are listed below.
FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN
General Liability Insurance // $8,500
Storage/Warehouse Space // $24,000
($2,000 Per Month X2 for FL and CA) -
We pride ourselves as a ministry on trying to be as frugal as possible. We truly strive to stretch every dollar to the fullness of it’s potential.
With the goal of creating replicable ministry models that can lessen the barrier for entry for anyone interested in leading local ministry, we have strived to lead as many local outreach efforts on as minimal of a budget as possible. These funds include the following outreach efforts between Florida, California, and Nicaragua.
FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN
Skate Church // $24,000
($200 per month x10)Surf Church // $7,200
($200 per month x3)Wake Church // $2,400
($200 per month)Dirt Church // $3,600
($100 per month x3)Shred Sisters // $7,200
($200 per month X3)(16) Gospel Centered Outreach Events // $16,000
(16 events at $1,000 per event) -
Between California and Florida headquarters we have been nursing along two old 15 passenger vans that are both beginning to become very costly with ongoing mechanical bills. We use both of these vans all the time for local outreach.
These funds, alongside the money we are able to add with the sell of our current vehicles will allow us to upgrade both of these vehicles for vans much newer and more reliable.
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Between our men’s and women’s discipleship homes in Florida and the Florida headquarters property, we currently hold mortgages combined for a total just shy of $1,000,000. While this might seem like a large number, the combined appraisal value on these properties is nearly 2X this amount! We feel so honored and blessed the Lord has allowed us to purchased these properties but we are working toward raising the funds to pay off this debt.
Our goal is over the next 5 years to raise $200,000 per year toward this building fund to move toward being completely debt free. Not only will this financial burden be lifted but the savings on our monthly mortgage payments will be close to $7,500 per month!
2025 ONE-TIME FUNDS NEEDED
$594,900
*This one-time funding goal amount reflects the funds needed to reach our 2025 annual operating budget (2.2B) as we have a deficit monthly of our incoming vs outgoing expenses.
For additional financial information or for deeper transparency into our budget and 2024 finances please email us at info@ridenature.com and we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS
IN 2025
For non cash donations or other opportunities to support our efforts
please email us at info@ridenature.com.
check donations can be made payable to “ride Nature” and mailed to our florida headquarters located at THE house of RIDE NATURE
2464 2nd Street - Fort Myers, FL 33901
AS a 501(c)3, ALL DONATIONS GIVEN to ride nature ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW WITH I.R.S. and A STATEMENT OF GIVING FOR YOUR TOTAL YEARLY CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE SENT OUT AT THE END OF THE fiscal YEAR.
