Dan Wooding's pedigree in journalism is without blemish. Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 47 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC.
Dan Wooding hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries.
He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel "Red Dagger".
In Brisbane Australia, early June, Dan Wooding was interviewing a wide range of people at the International Christian Medical Conference. Some of these came into Brisbane for an interview with Dan Wooding for his syndicated Christian radio program, and one of these was Mark Tronson, a Christian writer and journalist, evangelist, former Australian cricket team chaplain of 17 years, a retired Baptist Minister.
In that interview with Mark Tronson, Dan Wooding as editor, selected the heading's title, "More than Gold – an interview with Mark Tronson".
After the "complaint" by David Willson CEO More than Gold, the heading was later changed to "Australia's 'Footplate Padre' may have a stutter, but he can still eloquently speak out about cricket, the 2012 Olympics and 'The King's Speech'"
Ramon Williams who circulates much of Australia's Religious Media sent out the following: ATTENTION Website managers. A request has been made to change the title of Dan Wooding's article:
David Willson CEO More than Gold complained: "I am really concerned to read this article under the banner of More Than Gold. As you know Mark (Tronson) has nothing to do with MTG (More Than Gold) or the ISC (International Sports Coalition). More Than Gold is a trademarked name and should only be used when referring to activities that refer to what we (the ISC and our partners) are doing. I am more than happy to talk to (anyone) if (they) want further information about what More Than Gold are doing. Blessings! Dave.
The Dan Wooding interview of Mark Tronson centered on his Footplate Padre (railways) ministry, his athlete and missionary respite ministries (Chaplain to the Australian cricket team for 17 years, Ret.) and his Olympic role where since 2000 he presents Olympic host cities an Olympic Village Religious Services Protocol of Ideas document. (see web site interview at end of article).
In the interview by Dan Wooding, Mark Tronson described ministries inside the Olympic Village as opposed to what happens evangelistically in and around the host city. He is very familiar with these as he's been involved at Olympic ministry level since 1984 and was awarded an Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 by Olympian of the Century, Carl Lewis.
Mark Tronson's comment in the interview relating to More than Gold was: "But outside the Olympic village then you've got a citywide outreach campaign. That's called More Than Gold." Then he gave a couple of illustrations of "city wide outreach campaigns". One was YWAM (Youth With a Mission) and another was "Lay Witnesses for Christ International (LWFCI)".
Dr Sam Mings the founder of Lay Witnesses for Christ International based in Dallas Texas whose ministry has served in the past eight Olympiads and who is highly esteemed in Olympic circles received the "Correction Notice on the Title" (not sent by either Dan Wooding or Mark Tronson).
Dr Mings subsequently wrote to Mark Tronson: "You have my permission to write about any of our 78 More the Gold outreaches we have completed! You can even show pictures of the More than Gold press conferences LWFCI did as we kicked off our partnership with 4 of Atlanta's largest churches in 1996... Or you certainly have our permission to write about our outreach in '1984' when Dutch Television's (Jan van den Bosch) sent our Evening with the Olympians held at First Baptist Church, Van Nuys - throughout Europe and it was called and widely known as 'More than Gold'.
Mings went on - "But we didn't trade mark it... ! I'm surprised by someone who take ownership knowingly that others have utilised it for years. But we have been so focused on what God had called us to - that we've not bothered with who owns what? I'm amazed at someone speaking out. This is not Christ honouring! I have been made aware no CEO can tell you, that you can't do what you've been doing for 33 years at Olympic outreaches." (also see LWFCI web site below)
Mings' sentiments have been echoed elsewhere and many are grieved by what has happened over a "title" for an article on Christian evangelism. Since the 'drama' Dan Wooding has not only changed his original article title, he has since written an article on the up coming More than Gold London 2012 ministry. That's Grace!
Mark Tronson, a retired Baptist minister says that, yes, there is something even greater than an Olympic Gold Medal, that is Salvation in Jesus Christ. This idea of something greater than gold is found in Acts 3 verse 6 where Peter said to the lame man that what he offered in Jesus Christ was much greater than gold: "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
'More than Gold'
www.morethangold.org.uk
Lay Witnesses for Christ International
www.lwfci.com
Dan Wooding's article – an interview with Mark Tronson
www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2011/s11070002.htm
Dan Wooding's article on the More than Gold 2012 London Olympics ministry
www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11070026.htm