There was a deliberate policy when initiating this young emerging writer program to follow Jesus' in his selection of disciples, that is, the young writers were selected to ensure they represented a wide cross section of the community.
These young emerging writers as a group illustrate a cross section of youth in:
Relationships
Young married with children
Young married
Singles in serious relationships
Singles in developing relationships
Singles looking for a relationships
Singles busy developing a career
Socio-economic
Young writers from well-heeled backgrounds
Young writers as middle class professionals
Young writers working in the trades
Young writers as poor students
Young writers as trainees / the trades
Education
Young writers in post graduate studies
Young writers with university degrees
Young writers as under-graduates
Young writers in traineeships
Young writers left school working
Employment experiences
Tutors
School teachers
Professionals / Law / Sciences
Banking
Trades
Shire Councils
White and Blue collar
Christian service
Pastors & Youth Ministry
Church Elders / Deacons
Youth Group Leaders
Children's Ministry
Evangelists (Schools, Youth)
Women's Ministry
Christian Schools
Christian laity
Experienced Short Term Missions
Middle East
Sub-Continent
SE / North Asia
North / South America
South Pacific / Australasia
North / Southern Africa
Eastern Europe / Russia
These young writers regularly attend youth camps and conventions, missions to rural and regional Australia and New Zealand, they are part of outreaches, they are engaged in highly specialised ministries and give of their time and expertise.
These young writers are a cross section of the Australian / New Zealand Christian scene. We did not go out with the intention of somehow selecting the most brilliant academics or the most outstanding philosophers or the most remarkable orators.
Rather the Lord has led to us this broad cross section of young people who represented the plethora of Christian youth insights – and it's as joy to behold. We now have 72 young people in the program covering Australia, New Zealand and a sprinkling of young people from overseas – US, Canada, Africa, England, West Indies, China, Korea and Asia.
In my 37 years in Christian ministry this is one of the most far reaching mission activities where I'm privileged to mentor such inspiring young people.
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 mentors young writers and 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