CANARY ISLANDS — When you first meet him, there’s nothing impressive about Dalmacio. He’s your typical surfer — skin sunburned and chapped, eyes red from the ocean’s glare and hair frayed from the salt water. He’s in his mid-30s and a Christian, but he’s made about as many bad decisions after coming to Christ as before.

While Dalmacio may seem unimpressive, there’s one thing that makes him stand out: God is at work in his life, teaching him to live and love like Jesus.

When Crossworld international staff Mike first met him, Dalmacio believed in Jesus but struggled to follow Him and had no vision for investing in others’ lives. Then a leader from the church that both guys attended pulled Mike aside and said, “Dalmacio has a lot of potential. He just needs somebody in his life to give him consistency and direction.”

So Mike began meeting consistently with Dalmacio to study the Bible and talk through Dalmacio’s life issues, then go surfing and invite Dalmacio’s non-believing friends to come along.

Through hanging out with Mike, Dalmacio’s faith grew. His desire for his friends to know Jesus also grew. Because of Mike’s example, Dalmacio now meets regularly with two of his surfer friends to do the same thing Mike did with him: pray, read the Bible, talk about life, and surf.

Dalmacio has also taken on Mike’s outreach strategies. When Mike and Dalmacio go to the beach, they bring extra boards for surfers to borrow. This uncommon generosity sparks conversations with surfers, whom Mike and Dalmacio then invite to upcoming events. Through these contacts, the two build relationships that eventually lead to sharing the gospel.

Mike is a disciple who made a disciple in Dalmacio, who is now making more disciples. Their method? God’s truth, authentic relationships and life wherever it happens. That’s a model anyone can follow to make disciples right where they are, including you.

Italicized names were changed to protect identities.