The Kiwi young writers have determined to go alone after being part of Australia’s Press Service International for 7 years at the 2018 young writer conference on Saturday held at the Christchurch Salvation Army Centre.
Young writers came together in Christchurch from Australia, New Zealand, and around the world for the annual awards conference with the Kiwi young writers becoming part of the program in 2012.
Press Service International in conjunction with Christian Today established the young writer ministry in 2009 whereby each young writer is published in their own column 10 times a year, once every 5 weeks.
Kiwi young writers met Saturday afternoon
The afternoon session of Saturday’s conference the Kiwi young writers met together to discuss and work through what it might mean to develop their own ministry separate from Australia.
Tim Newman a plenary speaker and a former young writer, the chair of the Kiwi young writer gathering explained that this required ownership by the New Zealanders for the New Zealanders.
Previous attempts fell over as there was no one available to run and develop it and Dr Mark Tronson explained, later this year he will be 67 and he would need to let go of the Kiwi component at the end of the year.
The outcome of the discussion was that Wellington young writer Esther Koh an English tertiary lecturer was willing to be the editor, Jessica McPherson the one to send out the reminders, and Tim was willing to oversee at the beginning until they got on their feet.
Others were prepared to help and use their communications skills with a weekly note and such like.
David Chang of Christian Today had indicated he was willing to work with the Kiwi young writers in developing a banner on the Christian Today site linking NZ Christian Today.
Bishop Brian Carrell
In Bishop Carrell’s address to the young writers’ conference including the Australians and the Internationals, a founding panellist for the Basil Sellers Awards, he explained a number of salient points – first he’d noticed a change over these past 8 years in the young writer’s pieces - from personalised stories to that of more mature reflections.
Bishop Carrell also made the point that in his many years of ministry, with a keen interest with CMS – Church Missionary Society – this young writer engagement was one of the best understandings as it pointed to the future – young people today are the leaders of tomorrow.
Bishop Carrell came into the Kiwi young writers’ meeting for the final 30 minutes of discussion and greatly encouraged them towards 2019 as a new fresh encounter in ministry and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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