Gold Medals also celebrate Jesus and His Salvation says Mark and Delma Tronson (Well-Being Australia chairman)! In 2009 Olympian of the Century Carl Lewis presented them Gold Medals to acknowledge their then 27 years Sports and Olympic Ministry (now 30 years).
Since that 2009 event Mark and Delma Tronson have reflected on three significant events that have influenced their philosophy of ministry.
First – Looking Ahead
While in the US they came upon a ministry situation that had become debilitated by events that had occurred some years previously. They noticed how this so affected them that their personal lives were constrained, their family circumstances were deplorably compromised and their ministries were forever being forfeited to what had been.
Looking forward has always been a feature of Mark and Delma Tronson's ministries. It was the Reverend John Edmondstone, then President of the Baptist Union of Churches of Australia, who counselled them to always look ahead.
Mark Tronson had fallen ill with stress in 1999 and Heads of Churches, of whom Reverend Edmondstone was a part, released them from the Sports and Leisure Ministry which they had pioneered from 1982.
They were encouraged to proceed forward, rather than dwelling on past events, and initiated the ministry 'Well-Being Australia' so as to retain the Cricket and Olympic ministries and specialise in athlete/coach respite ministry." Looking ahead is the first philosophical point.
Second, a South Pacific Congress
Organisers of the Baptist World Congress 'Living Waters Conference' for Australasia and the South Pacific held in Cairns in May 2010 sought Mark and Delma Tronson lead a workshop. The subject of the workshop was on linking sports to the Christian community. This illustrated a whole new world for ministry to South Pacific leaders.
This has continued since with numerous other such teaching and lecturing in seminars and workshops in sports ministry. For example, YWAM's International Discipleship Training School invited them to speak on 'Sports Ministry Module' in Brisbane. Many others have since been presented. The second therefore is focus on your area of speciality as an objective as from the Lord.
The third, the Australian Missionary News IPTV
While in Los Angeles last year Mark Tronson was interviewed by Dan Wooding on the SafeWorlds 'Faith, Hope and Charity' IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) station, a technology developed by Alan Metcalfe. As a result of that interview and connections Mark Tronson was invited to establish a similar IPTV channel in Australia.
The outcome of all this was the establishment of the Australian Missionary News IPTV with both a web site and the SafeWorlds IPTV functioning.
http://tv.bushorchestra.com and www.safeworlds.net
It has since been duplicated on their own YouTube IPTV channel www.youtube.com/user/marktronson
Since 2009 they have travelled extensively in Australia and internationally recording short video interviews with Christian 'movers and shakers' and these interviews are housed in four areas: Mission, Sports, Professionals, Media. The third philosophical area therefore is to be open to new visions and ventures.
Mentors
Mark and Delma Tronson are keen historians and point out that the early Church Fathers and Christian leaders down to our present age have enjoyed wonderful mentors.
In Olympic ministry his mentor is Dr Sam Mings the founder and President of Lay Witnesses for Christ International. It was he who hosted the Sport and Olympic Gold Medal Award. Dr Mings continues to be a well spring of the Lord's blessing into their Olympic ministries.
Mark and Delma Tronson can testify to these four philosophical ingredients:
1. 'Looking forward'
2. Focus
3. Be open to new directions
4. The value of Mentors
These four are exemplified and heightened in Olympic ministry as it is so focused. The Australian Missionary News IPTV will certainly seize this opportunity, the classic example of being open to new directions.
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