We holidayed in Rotorua, where Christmas was reported to be the wettest in 65 years. Yet the seeming continuous rain did not dampen our spirits. Being with family and involved with others in a camp programme set among God’s breathtaking creation was inspiring.

Now with summer in sight it is back to work, the routine of family and the possibilities of a New Year spread before us. For us at Challenge it starts off on a high note with the Parachute Music Festival, which is a unique opportunity for thousands to gather to celebrate their Christian faith.

From small beginnings, the vision that Mark de Jong had to foster Christian musicians has 22 years later become a showcase event. We must never forget that Parachute, among the 22 Summer festivals that have appeared in recent years, stands out head and shoulders above them all, for the holistic values that it seeks to uphold.

Like every vision, maintaining its direction and integrity is never easy, particularly when it becomes successful and everybody wants to hop on the band wagon. This year Parachute has faced additional challenges with a downturn in the number of families planning to attend. The bold ‘pay what you can afford’ offer that Parachute has made is evidence of the importance it places on families and its desire to make it possible for them to attend.

In any Christian ministry, while costs have to be met, it is not all about money. Rather the goal is to spread the message as widely as possible and God honours that.

While we can point to a recession and the effects of events like the Canterbury earthquakes to explain a drop in sales we must also recognise the effect of the Rugby World Cup, which last year was the festival of all festivals, one that enveloped communities right through the country.

Now it is back to business as usual, whatever that means. I remember a mentor telling me years ago that he had been in business for 36 years and he had not had a “normal” year yet. Nothing has changed. As we look ahead we see clouds of uncertainty and as usual the prophets of doom are banging their drums. But as Christians we are assured that God’s plans for us are for good and not for evil. That he is still building his church and when he is lifted up he will draw people unto him. The assurance is that behind the dark clouds, the desperate times we all face, the sun is always shining. God is still there for us and has our good at heart.