GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—
A dramatic story of terror and triumph is being told
in North Texas this weekend. Bethany Hamilton is talking about losing
her arm in a vicious shark attack at 13, and then, turning into a "Soul
Surfer." She spoke about her journey back into the water."Surfing was my life. We went to the beach every single moment that we had, " says Hamilton.
Carving the waves at a young age, Hamilton was a surfing prodigy, but on Halloween of 2003, everything changed. A shark ripped her arm off at the shoulder. "When I lost my arm, my life sort of came to a halt, we really didn't know what God was up to, but we just trusted in him." With her faith, family and a focus on her passion, Bethany got back into the water almost immediately. "I guess my passion for surfing outweighs my fear of what's out in the ocean. I'm more scared to not surf than to go back into the ocean." About two years later, she won a surfing competition and ranks as one of the top ten female surfers in the world. "I don't know what my life would be like if I didn't surf. It's part of who I am," said Hamilton.
Hamilton is sharing her awe-inspiring story with thousands of people at Grapevine Church this weekend, and Pastor Ed Young says the soul of this surfer, and her story is changing lives. "I think that her story is that of inspiration. People look to that and are inspired in their own lives. I think that's why it's sweeping around the world," says Fellowship Church Pastor, Ed Young.
Now with her Hollywood movie "Soul Surfer," her worldwide surfing competitions and her inspirational speaking appearances, Bethany Hamilton is riding one of the biggest waves of her life. "It's really impacting people's lives," Hamilton says.
