As I breakfasted this morning an exciting email message came through. A person confirmed that he was willing to advise and assist on the business side of Challenge. That he would meet later in the day to confirm the basis on which he would be available to help. What a huge relief. This means that Challenge can commit to another issue in a fortnight’s time which allows time to review the whole situation and prepare a plan for the next era of Challenge.

Board member, Ken Stout has reported a very positive response from readers. The same has been true in the office with comments like: “too good a paper to let go”. “Challenge has a unique place in New Zealand. It gives us hope”. “Challenge continues to be a trumpet, declaring to our nation with certain sound that Jesus reigns supreme.” We have been encouraged by the significant donations we have received.

This morning an evangelist visiting from South Africa joined us for morning tea. He expressed the importance of a paper like Challenge recognising the spiritual battle we face. His prayer for us was very special.

Alongside this I appreciated the lead story (page 1) reporting that prisoners were being given work opportunities. It was while working in a prison environment that Joseph’s abilities shone. Similarly Kim Workman’s response to this was so different to the editorial in The New Zealand Herald on February 1 that slammed in one breath, both the idea of prisoners being required to work and the unemployed having to work for the dole, listing all the possible downsides you could think of to such a proposal.

Instead of theorising on the rights of the prisoner and the unemployed we should reinforce a work ethic by giving prisoners the opportunity to work and refusing to pay the dole to the unemployed, who decline to accept work that is available. Of course the debate is confused by an understanding that work is something we get paid for. Many, like a mother in the home, know this is just not true. But whether it is true or not, the concept that we can afford to pay people to do nothing and not afford to pay them to work is surreal.

How many of our social problems and attitudes would evaporate if we based our attitude to work on the biblical injunction, “He who does not work, shall not eat”?. Implementing this would bring a change overnight.