Press Service International (PSI) is a ministry of developing young writers in conjunction with Christian Today, where each young person in the program writes one article every five weeks, 10 'Comment' articles a year.
PSI is one of the ministries of Well-Being Australia which developed the philosopohy of providing young people a literary outlet. Christian Today Australia is in turn part of CMCi the largest Christian News provide with its numerous mast heads (Christian Post and Christian Today) – the Americas, USA, Canada, across Europe, England, India, Germany, Czech, Australia and possibly New Zealand.
Each year we see a number of the young writer team move on, and at the same time, numbers of others join this band of young people. This year is no different. Next week I will list the "new voices", but today we thank God and celebrate those who have moved on.
Belinda Croft
As one of the foundation "Comment" writer group from 2010 Belinda's contribution to the team has been remarkable and singularly helpful. Over these years Belinda based in Melborune, sent me many encouraging messages suggesting courses of action along with ideas and alerting me to possible issues. Belinda's video production has been a singular highlight to the young writer project.
This past six years has been, as Belinda wrote - "... fun, joy and learning. It has been a great journey". I concur with those sentiments. I for one wish her to look on that period of Belinda's life ministry with much affirmation for I placed much wisdom in her. Fellow young writer Jason LaLone wrote at that time, an article on 'seasons' and this was an astonishing 'season' for Belinda, culminating with her 2015 Basil Sellers Award.
Laura Veloso
Indeed as a foundation young writer Laura also besed in Melbourne helped pave the way to forge a team of young people who have gathered a vision for themselves and run with it. This was a highlight of her era of a touch more mature young writers in the program. Laura's leadership coordination in Week 3 was an inspiration and inevitably an example to follow.
As Laura forges ahead in her many ministries – Laura will indeed look back with a conviction that these foundation years belonged to Laura and her service in the Lord and a wonderful illustration of dedication, commitment and remarkable grace as Laura managed a husband, family, home, friends, networks and community. Laura won the 2013 Consistency Award.
Sam Manchester
This time last year at Auckland's Gemma Taylor was relocating to London now Sydney's Sam Manchester too is heading to London and hanging up his pen. He graduated from Moore College last year. Sam started in 2011 - one of our foundation group of young writers. Sam won the 2015 Australian Basil Sellers Theological Award.
I for one enjoyed reading Sam Manchester's theological and philosophical articles. Sam had lucid enterprisers with the pen, delineating the thought processors to home in on a central focus. I found his writing engaging, brilliant, challenging and heralding.
Blaine Packer commenced writing in 2012 as a student at the (WEC) Worldview Bible College in Launceston, undertook several mission trips, later graduated, is now working in IT and this applying himself back to university for a full degree. Some of Blaine's most memorable articles related to his mission to Greece. New Life editor Bob Thomas always spoke very highly of Blaine's articles.
Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young has been with the young writer team two years while a student at Ridley College in Melbourne and now a youth minister in Melbourne. Jimmy has bought to bear his passion for youth in his writings and forged many articles that reached into the hearts of readers and parents alike.
Sam Rillstone and Bex Silver
Sam Rillstone from Auckland travelled for a year to the third world and witnessed many of the worst and unkindest parts of the world and came home last year to a very comfortable Christianity that rocked his socks off (as it were). But Sam came through it, and wrote passionately. Sam was revetting and compassionate. Bex Silver served on the Thai-Burma border and returned home last year and married Sam Rillstone in late December.
Others too have moved on some who have only been writing for a shorter time such as Sam James, Liana Monaghan, Benjamin James and Russell Croft who returned as a young writer.
2014-15
The year before (2014) we a similar number of young writers move on from New Zealand.
Auckland
Gemma Taylor moved to London, Sam Burrows turned to professional music; Casey Murray (2014 NZ Basil Sellers winner and Australasian Religious Press Association article winner) changed careers; Elesha Edmunds became a professional journalist; Peter Rope is now a Panellist for the young writer awards; Chloe Ogilvie married and initiated a dance business.
Wellington
Helen McIntosh moved to England, Cody Knox focused on his career.
Christchurch
Mercy Cornish in Christchurch scored a children's television show of her own with Canterbury Television; Dale Wang an Ancient History scholar went on to post graduate studies.
In 2015 we picked up from New Zealand quite a number of young people filling those gaps.
The nature of a young writer program is that young people will inevitably move on and so they do. Next week are the new young writers for the 2016 young writer program.
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 http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html