The young writer ministry, a 9 year development by Press Service International in conjunction with Christian Today, provides young people an international column so as to exercise their “voice” into the market place of ideas.
The very nature of the young writer program sees young people 18-30 take up their ‘pencil’ (as it were) and some remain in the program for several years, some longer. Depending at what age they started, some reach 30 and they progress into what is referred to as “emerging writers” 31-39.
The idea behind this is two fold - first for the annual awards, it is not fair to have 35 year old’s being pitted again an 18 year old for the awards which Panellists determine. Second, the program does not want to lose good young writers who want to continue with their international column.
2019 will see an update in the week allocation to better meet the Panellists’ roles. At the current time the program is set out as follows:
Week 1 - International young writers
Weeks 2-5 - Australian young writers and sport
Kiwis - their own program
In 2019 these allocations will be updated and to meet the new requirements which means each week will have different young writers
Week 1 - International young writers
Week 2-4 - Australian young writers
Week 5 - Over 31s
Kiwis - their own program
As there are a growing number of Over 31s they require their own week which will in turn make it much more convenient for the Panellists who only need then to set aside one week for marking. This year the Over 31s were interspersed which made it quite difficult for the Over 31 panellists.
New 2018 young writers
Ashley Mullins - USA, missionary to Malawi
Paul Lewis - West Indies (returned)
Emma Bamford - Melbourne - (returned)
Clarissa Yates - Perth (returned)
David Lean - Brisbane
Anna Waite - Brisbane
Mayce Fischer - Brisbane
Steve Cole - Grafton
Josiah Gray - Brisbane
Nic Lee - Adelaide
Kalli Hendrickson - Brisbane (now USA)
Mary Iengo - Adelaide
Liz Josic - Sunshine Coast
Crytinda Nanidoo - South Africa
Fiona Mackenzie - Sydney
Matthew Thornton - Auckland NZ
Sunny Kang - Auckland NZ
Mel Cleary - Wellington NZ
Richard Kwon - Auckland NZ
Ethan Miller - Auckland NZ
Brendon Miller - Wellington NZ
Kevin Park - Auckland NZ
Linda Swarft - Christchurch NZ
Jackson Laninga - Auckland NZ
Margaret Chow - Auckland NZ
Rebecca Horverd - Auckland NZ
Manulel Taefilo - Auckland NZ
Megan Fermo - Wellington NZ
What does this tell you
The young writer program – whether internationals, Australians or Kiwis - there is a natural circular process where after a few years, the young people move-on and fresh group of young people move into the program.
This is the nature of the process, and is not only expected, it is also a strength of the young writer ministry with a new generation of fresh theological insight and a take on ministry which is inevitably a dynamic expression of youth ministry.
Take for example, the Kiwis. Since 2012 when the New Zealanders came into the Trans-Tasman young writer ministry, there have been anything up 18 young Kiwi writers. Now it their 7th year, there are 20 – so the numbers have remained stable – give or take.
There is always a plea for additional young writers. Perhaps the easiest way is to view the comings and goings of young people by the annual conference 1 min videos - seen here from 2018 back to 2013 when the videos were first initiated.
https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/awards.html
Young people 18-30 years interested in writing for Christian Today with your own column please connect with Dr Mark Tronson timeout@bushorchestra.com 0419 917 713
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. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html