Chairman of Well-Being Australia Mark Tronson says it has been his privilege to have been a receiptent of many 'Angels Unawares' leading up to and during his 18 years of founding the Sports and Leisure Ministry, 17 years as the Australian cricket team chaplain, and now 29 years of faith financial living.
Three of these were three great encouragers. Mark Tronson takes up the story.
Reverend Roger Reid
Reverend Roger Reid pastored Delma and me when I served as Padre at Shell Refinery in Sydney with the InterChurch Trade and Industry Mission (ITIM). Roger and Marion encouraged us both with love, care and wisdom, particularly caring for Delma as we established our faith financed sports ministry.
Roger was my industrial chaplaincy supervisor and a Uniting Church Minister and took on the extra role, walking beside me as the sports ministry developed as from its embryonic form in 1982.
He served as inaugural chairman of our sports ministry to 1987. Marion a consultant became professionally associated to our local community centre in Warragamba.
Roger has an extra gift, the way he expresses vocabulary, the tones of his voice, as charm personified! To Delma and me, he was indeed an angel unawares!! His story can be read at:
au.christiantoday.com/article/top-christian-articles-of-the-past-10-years-no5/7424.htm
Reverend Dr Ross Clifford
Reverend Dr Ross Clifford in 1978 initiated his theological studies at Morling and was appointed to Manly Baptist Church as I had been in my first year in 1977. We became mates as Delma and I were able to pass on some good information for their Manly Baptist Church visits..
Ross was a barrister at law and when in 1982 I initiated sports ministry I invited Ross to join my advisory team. He ultimately replaced Roger Roger Reid as chairman and served in that role from 1988 to 1993.
Ross Clifford is one of the few peers I've endorsed as a wisdom consult [my custom is to seek those with the wisdom of years].
Ross wrote a great sermon for my 1988 book 'Bi-centennial Baptist Preacher's Sermons' and gave the book it's title, "Whose Leaf Shall Not Wither" (Psalm 1). Subsequently, Ross co-authored two sports books, "God's of Sport" and the "International God's of Sport". Ross served at Gymea Baptist Church for some years and was appointed Morling College Principal in 1997.
Ross and Beverley; Delma & I were Australian delegates at the 2005 and 2010 Baptist World Congress' (Birmingham and Hawaii). Ross served as the President of the Australian Baptist Union 2006-2009 and was elected the Vice President of the Baptist World Alliance in 2010.
For 17 years Ross Clifford's 2CH Sunday night radio was the top rating talk-back program when he handed it on in 2010. Ross and I chat regularly, and is a wonderful encourager. Ross Clifford is indeed an angel unawares.
His interview on the Australian Missionary News IPTV can be viewed at:
tv.bushorchestra.com/Professionals/videopages/ross_clifford.html
Dr Ang Ang
Dr Ang Ang is a medical doctor, he has been retired for some years. Ang played hockey in 1960's for Malaysia University which has given us a mutual interest. I met Ang at Newcastle Baptist Tabernacle on Mission in 1985.
Ang immediately recognised the value of my sports ministry. Since that time he has sent me by post (snail mail - stamp & envelope) a hand written short note of encouragement 'every month' upon receipt of the newsletter – 1985-2011 is 25 years.
Yes, an astonishing angel unawares!