Bible Society encourages future Christian influencers at Parachute

25,000 people, 2,500 new Christian packs, 500 kilometers, 30 degrees, 13 team members, four days, 1 mission: to encourage as many Parachuter’s as possible to get back into their Bibles.  Late in January, the Bible Society team travelled the more than 500 Km from Bible House in Wellington to Mystery Creek near Hamilton to mix and mingle with more than 25,000 kids, youth leaders, mums and dads, and even grandmas.  Parachute is the biggest annual event on the New Zealand Christian calendar, and the biggest gathering of Christian youth in New Zealand.

That’s why Bible Society had to be there.  With Bible engagement rates at an appallingly low rate, particularly among youth, Bible Society wanted to spread its passion for God’s Word on the dusty makeshift streets of the Parachute music festival.

But just how to effectively spread the message of the transformative power of the Gospel into a youth culture not so keen on hearing it was the question.  The solution was to get them to share the message with each other.  So Bible Society took a miniature film studio to Parachute where more than 120 people from 7 years old to 60 shared their hearts and thoughts on the Bible and what it meant to them.  The clips were then feed back onto the big screen in the Bible Society tent for others to see them.

God abundantly blessed our presence by making the film studio a huge success and the messages recorded greatly inspirational. Many shared how their journey with God had grown the more they devoured their Bible.  Some shared that they didn’t know much about the Bible at all.  Through rap, rhyme, drama and even sign language, when Parachuters got in front of the camera, all inhibitions seemed to fly out the canvas window.

The film concept, as well as the orange saturated lounge the team had created, birthed many fascinating discussions with people about their Bibles.  Specific resources designed to encourage and help people get back into their Bibles were given out and received with enthusiasm.  Many pointed out in the ‘Dusty Bible’ booklet (a resource aimed at encouraging people to dust of their Bibles and bring it back to the top of their list of daily priorities) their resonance with some of the main reasons why people have turned away from Bible reading.

Meanwhile, as hundreds came and enjoyed the new Bible Society experience, The Lounge, Parachute’s dedicated area for new Christians and those that just needed someone to talk to was in full swing.  Bible Society’s sponsorship of The Lounge meant that conversations between the trained counsellors and young people at risk could take place in a comfortable environment, on couches rather than the wooden planks and concrete blocks of previous years.  Bible Society donated 2,500 Bibles and resources for the many new Christians making commitments at the festival.  The Lounge is now an integral part of the festival for Parachute who want to do more than just fill ears with good sounds.  Their heart too is to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ, especially with the many thousands of non believers who attend the festival each year.

Parachute is fast becoming a key event for Bible Society.  With so many opportunities to share and encourage tomorrow’s Christian influencers, it’s paramount Bible Society brings the message of the transformative effects of Bible engagement into the heat and dust of Mystery Creek each year.

Click here to view some of the most encouraging clips recorded at Parachute ’09.