Appearing over the western mountain ranges, that is the Gold Coast hinterland which extends from Mt Tambourine in the north to Mt Warning in the south and beyond, was this remarkably beautiful and enormously wide rainbow. Everyone else who saw it probably would have said: "What a beautiful rainbow" and thought nothing more of it, as one does.
For Delma and himself however, it appeared as we were both independently in prayer for 2012, and they took it as a wonderful expression of the Glory of the Lord in an assurance that His hand would be with them during all their ministry journies in the year to come regardless of what might befall them.
January
Traditionally in Australia, January is a quiet month. It is the summer holidays when students are on their long vacation, Christmas and New Year family commitments are over, many businesses take a break of one to three weeks (or at least reduce their operations) and the nation seems to sigh with one long breath, trying to rejuvenate for the coming year. It is also often hot in many parts of the country, and wet and humid in the tropical coastal areas, resulting in some lassitude among the population.
But this is not the case for our Well-Being Australia Mission. January was always scheduled to be busy, but the outcomes have far exceeded the expectations.
Apart from the official duties detailed below, there were some special personal joys, the first being that Mark Tronson turned sixty on November 5th. One blessing about these 'milestone years' is that it is a good excuse for a party. One of my associates said that my 60th was the longest party he'd ever witnessed; it started with a private family multi-purpose party in Sydney on September 2nd, followed by a luncheon later in September on the Sunshine Coast. Then came a party with friends and supporters on November 4th in the Tweed where we currently live; then a dinner at Laguna Quays (our north Queensland Respite Facility for missionaries) on November 11th which was attended by eleven local volunteers. The finale was when I was a guest of Cricket New South Wales on Friday 6th January 2010 for the fourth day's play of the Australia-India Test match, in order to celebrate his 28 years in Cricket Ministry.
Laguna Quays Respite one of several mission tasks
The Laguna Quays facility is accommodation provided to missionaries at no charge, and include the use of a dual cab motor vehicle. During January, bookings were secured from missionaries attached to seven different organisations or churches, right up to the second week in April. Delma and he also use this facility for their own respite as they supervise the improvements to the property. It has magnificent views of both the mountains and the sea, on the coast of North Queensland right near the Great Barrier Reef.
Christian weddings are particularly pleasing in the joy of the Lord, they were delighted to be invited to one that was part-personal and part-business. One of the young writers for Well-Being Australia's Press Service International happens to be the daughter of very long-term friends. These young writer's articles are published in Christian Today Australia. Two of her bridesmaids are also young writers, so it was a doubly special (or make that triply special) occasion.
Talking of the young writers, another of his tasks during January was to plan their program for 2012. There are inevitably changes of young writer personnel at the end of one year and the start of a new year. January's publications consisted a "BEST of 2011" series which has been remarkably well received. The young writers cover Christianity within the areas of Sport, Comment, Fashion, Movie Reviews, Philosophy and Ministry.
In addition, apart from the one who got married, another of the young writers is in Oxford on scholarship for a year; one is a missionary on the ship LOGOS; a third has relocated to Canada for Mission, and a fourth undertook a short term mission in the Philippines during January.
The fun never ceases
The fun never ceases, and planning for 2012 has been quite a task, as one might imagine. But it is a task he is privileged to do, as these are the Christian commentators of the future; not just part of his own succession planning in my ministry, but philosophers and theologians and ordinary observers of society who will still be influencing people long after my time has come and gone.
Well-Being Australia's Country Town Tours are always a big deal, involving much planning and organising. The philosophy behind them is to introduce mentors (such as sports people) to country youth, and while we are visiting their town, to arrange talks at local churches, or men's breakfasts, or visits to local schools to help lift the confidence and morale of rural children.
During the period January 9-13, we were as busy as always on these tours, with meetings in Hobart and Launceston. They even caught up with one of their five elderly praying ladies who have committed to one hour of prayer every day for their family and ministry over these past 30 years. Gladys Dobson 93 lives in Hobart, a former missionary is one of these five and they had a lovely morning with her. They were also able to link Peter Yaxley the Hobart School Chaplaincy Co-ordinator to Cricket Tasmania. Launceston with Well-Being Australia co-ordinators Steve and Debbie Suba was particularly enjoyable.
A month of "all-go"
Mark Tronson said they seemed to have been on the 'go' all month. They travelled from Tweed Heads to Sydney, back to Tweed Heads, drove to the Sunshine Coast for the wedding, next day back to Tweed Heads, then flew to Tasmania for five days and then back to Tweed Heads. The Gold Coast airport is a five minute drive so that is a blessing with so much mission travel.
The year is still new, and already they have encountered a personal issue for which our pastoral ministry's 35 years experience will be required, with all the wisdom we have acquired when handling the problems of others with care and confidence, with the knowledge that the Lord is walking with us through it all.
It is a reminder that no family is immune from a wide range of issues; as is also brought home to us whenever we visit families in a children's ward of any hospital.
As Steve Brown of Key Life Ministries says, just because you are a Christian, or become a Christian later in life, does not mean that life will be all roses and petals. It is how the Lord can show you the way to heal the wounds made by the thorns that is the stalwart of our Faith.
Mark Tronson says that Delma and he wish the very best for 2012 from Well-Being Australia, and hope each person see many rainbows and realise the Glory of the Lord in all the beauty of the world.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html