The Origin Story of Camp Arnold Skate Church

While living in California, Noah Arnold was a full-time public school teacher, known to his students simply as “Mr. Arnold.” In 2019, he was honored as Teacher of the Year, but in 2020 he was unexpectedly laid off. During that season, Noah began to sense that God was calling him to something more.

As a lifelong skateboarder, Noah felt a deep burden to share the Gospel of Jesus with the skateboard community, a culture he knew and loved. God placed a calling on his life to meet skateboarders where they already gather: the skatepark.

Stepping outside of his comfort zone, Noah moved to Texas, leaving behind the stability of teaching to pursue the vision of Camp Arnold Skate Church.

Growing up, Noah didn’t have a church or youth group that shaped his faith, but he did have summer camp. It was at summer camp where he encountered Jesus in a real and life-changing way. That experience stayed with him.

As Noah stepped into this new calling, he realized he was uniquely equipped to bring together two worlds that shaped his life: the life-changing impact of summer camp and the mentorship and leadership he practiced daily as “Mr. Arnold” in the public schools. Camp Arnold Skate Church was born out of that vision, creating a place where young people could build relationships, grow in faith, and encounter Jesus in an authentic way.

Tired of seeing faith talked about but rarely lived out, Noah decided it was time to put faith into action. He began showing up at skateparks, building relationships, sharing the Gospel, praying with kids, and opening the Bible right there in the skate community.

What started as simple gatherings at the skatepark has grown into something incredible.

Just three years later, Camp Arnold Skate Church is reaching over 100 kids every week, with lives being transformed through mentorship, discipleship, and the message of Jesus.

Today, Noah travels and speaks across the country, sharing the story and vision of Skate Church while continuing to expand the ministry throughout Texas and beyond, raising up leaders from within the skateboard culture to share their faith and impact the next generation.