Ministry is connected to a place

Sometimes a particular phrase catches his eye, and which he ponders upon.

For example, in January he saw the heading "Where you are Matters" and the phrase "God's plan for your life is always connected to a place" seemed to jump out of the page at him.

This devotional teaching cites how Ruth had to relocate to Bethlehem where she met Boaz and married him. It speaks about Jesus and his visit to Samaria in John 4 and how that meeting with the woman at the well led to the whole city being reached with the Word.

It cites how Elijah was told to turn eastward and to hide in the Kerith ravine where he was later to from the brook in a time of famine and be fed by the ravens (1 Kings 17). It speaks of leaving your comfort zone and not being swayed by the opinions of others.

Mark Tronson said he's been pondering this devotional teaching for weeks and considered how the Lord has led him and his family to 'places' for ministry.

First, when he graduated from Morling College, (NSW Baptist Seminary) there was the 12 years in Sydney where he developed Sports Chaplaincy to Australia's professional sports. Many said it could not work; that you could not develop this type of mission on 'faith financed ministry', raise a family and be constantly travelling across the nation, negotiating with the nation's leading sports administrators and coaches.

Mark Tronson says he was led to the right place at the right time by the Lord.

Next was the 14 years with his family in Moruya near the beach where he developed Athlete Respite for Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athletes and coaches. It was a wonderful place to raise a family through their schooling years.

Many also said this could not work. Who could construct a two storey lodge on 'faith giving' and be debt free before it was opened, and the keys philosophically handed to the AIS? Well, Mark Tronson, guided there by the Lord, could – and did.

The third move to a new place came in December 2005, when Mark and his wife, Delma, with the one child who was still at home, relocated to Tweed Heads to replicate the Respite facility for AIS athletes and coaches based in south-east Queensland. At this location, the Well-Being Australia ministry has also develop a new generation of young Christian writers in Sport and Comment for the online publication, Christian Today Australia.

"We have been in the right place to see so many remarkable endeavours. We are close to the Gold Coast airport with its discount air flights," said M V Tronson.

The Australian Missionary News IPTV has been developed in Tweed Heads and the Country Town Tour ministry has expanded dramatically as has the ongoing relationship with various Olympic ministries around the world.

Now, in 2011, there is a new development. At Laguna Quays on the Whitsundays (north Queensland), Well-Being Australia is planning a different kind of respite facility. Mark and Delma Tronson, now empty-nesters, feel the need for rest and recuperation for themselves. When they are away on other missions, then they will open the house for some respite for other missionary personnel, as well as for athletes and artists.

Throughout their ministry, the association with 'a place' has been a critical component of the development of the ministry.