“Jesus is the reason for the season,’’ St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church minister Ian Hyslop says, as Wanaka begins counting down to Christmas.

Three years ago Ian, 60, was called to “grow the church younger’’.

When answering the call to Wanaka three years ago, Ian and his wife Jacinta also set themselves some fun outdoor challenges.

Ian, a former Southlander and keen Highlanders supporter, is delighted all their missions are on track and that more families and young people have joined the church community.

“There’s a lot of youth, almost 1000 kids at Mount Aspiring College. My motivation when I came here was to grow the church younger and that has actually happened,’’ he said.

Ian is proud that St Andrew’s intern, Aaron Johnstone, a former engineer in his 30s, graduated this month from the Knox Centre for Leadership and Ministry.

Aaron looks after St Andrew’s young adults, children, and music groups and is preparing to lead the St Ninian community at Hawea Flat from March 2019.

Ian, a former primary school teacher, has previously had ministries in Geraldine (20 years) and Edendale (eight years).

Like many others, he holidayed in Wanaka from childhood.

“I love the area but for me, the main thing was God’s calling. The church has a desire to reconnect with the younger generation,’’ he said.

St Andrew’s growth strategy focuses on building capacity, positive relationships, the community and outreach projects, such as raising funds for Orphans Aid projects in Bangladesh and Northern India.

Presbyterian Minister Ian Hyslop with the St Andrew’s Church nativity display referencing the parish’s Christmas appeal to help Orphans Aid establish an orphanage in northern India.

Ian is also a member of Wanaka Combined Churches, which meets regularly to share ideas.

Developing social media strategies, using technology and modernising music were “no brainers’’ that helped connect with the Millennial generation, he said.

The church also hosts Mainly Music programmes for young children and Ski Worker Dinners in the winter.

Its alternative Halloween event, Angels and Heroes, saw more than 300 people enjoy free family activities, bouncy castles and a disco at the church.

However, there is no longer a Wanaka community Christmas dinner. The annual Combined Churches event ended several years ago for logistical reasons, Ian said.

Ian knows although Wanaka is a great place to live, people are busy and under pressure from high living costs. At Christmas, families received guests, farewelled those going away and continued to juggle work and personal issues.

“When I first came here, someone said if you scratch below the surface, you will find the same issues sitting there: mental health, affordability, growth issues that impact on schools and businesses. I see it up close and I see people who work very long hard hours and I’m pretty concerned about that,’’ he said.

Ian is impressed by the volunteering ethic he has witnessed in Wanaka and within the church.

“I am about to join the Coastguard but there’s the Food Bank, Wheels to Dunstan, Community Networks, a whole lot of things to support . . . [There are a lot of] people who are dislocated. They have come here from all over New Zealand and the world. When they face difficulties, oftentimes they feel no support. Their families are a long, long, way away. But I think Wanaka is a very caring community. It is a mark of this church, I think, that we have a very caring community. I count it a privilege to be minister of this church,’’ Ian said.

Over the next few Sundays Ian is creating a still space at church for people to reflect and reconnect with the Christmas message – celebrating Jesus’s birth.

Ian expects at least 400 people, including holiday makers, at church on Christmas Day and they in turn should expect a “surprise’’.

“I know for us, Jesus is the reason for the season. What will we be doing? We are having an intergenerational Christmas service with 14 different families involved in leading that service. And on Sunday the 23rd we are having our annual remembrance service for people who have had funerals in the church in recent years. Everyone brings along a long stemmed flower. While the service is on, the floral arrangers will work away behind the scenes. At a particular stage, they bring them in. The flowers will be there for the rest of the service and also for our big service on Christmas Day.’’

On a personal challenge front, Ian has taken up mountain biking – he’s just signed up for his third Motatapu event - and put his hand up to join the Coastguard.

He and Jacinta have also committed to a daily dip in the lake for the entire summer. They swim regardless whether they are busy or it’s blowing a gale or raining. 

They even squeezed in a quick swim on December 4, a busy day when parishioners marked International Volunteers Day, celebrated Aaron Johnstone’s graduation and farewelled popular St Andrew’s parishioner, the late Michael Hyndman.

Ian said his favourite quote (from the late Gospel writer Eugene Peterson) sums up his attitude.

“The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood.’’

PHOTOS: Marjorie Cook