Surf, sand and the gospel: Pepperdine’s Surf Chapel

A Bible lies on the sand at Surf Chapel on Zuma Beach. First, students listen to Bible passages and break up into small groups to share emotional highs and lows. Then many of them don wetsuits, grab boards from a Pepperdine recreation department truck and hit the waves.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Students break up into smaller groups before hitting the waves.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Pepperdine students Matt Jones, left, and Ray McLagan sing a spiritual song.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Students pray on Zuma Beach. Pepperdine provides funds to pay for beach permits and to hire a lifeguard.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Bibles rest on a beach wall during Surf Chapel. On a recent Wednesday, students began showing up at 7 a.m.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Antonia Buban reads a Bible after the worship portion of Surf Chapel.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Students hit the surf after the worship portion of Surf Chapel.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)