|PIC1|Delegates came from Papua New Guinea, the Solomons, Samoa, Fiji, Papua Indonesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, other smaller Island nations, New Zealand including Maori Baptist delegates, central Australian indigenous and urban indigenous representatives, and Australian Baptists.
Leading this network group was Mark Tronson, a Baptist minister of 32 years and his wife, Delma, who together pioneered the Sports and Leisure Ministry 27 years ago. Since 2000, they have coordinated the Well-Being Australia ministry, which largely concentrates on Athlete Respite.
The other two speakers at this network group were Brian Codrington from Dural Baptist Church in Sydney, who spoke on 'Church Sports'; and Ken Clendinning the Canterbury Bankstown Rugby League chaplain and last year's head chaplain for the Rugby League World Cup.
M V Tronson initiated the workshop with an introduction on the nature of a sub-culture's influence upon the society, and Sport has numerous functions in our societies. These include: bringing a sense of identity (within personal networks, clubs, states, and the nation); a relaxing tonic for many as either participants or as spectators; a release from the pressures of life, and as a means to measure personal achievement.
Delma Tronson spoke on 'Athlete Respite' in their Well-Being Australia ministry and how 'Respite' as a nationally recognised health provision has been well received at their two respite facilities, Basil Sellers Moruya and Basil Sellers Tweed (where they reside).
One delegate, Pastor Joshua Avia from Samoa, who has planted numerous 'multi-cultural' churches in New Zealand, Los Angeles and Australia was excited by the benefits of 'respite' and has planned to meet with Mark and Delma Tronson.
"Billy Williams, an indigenous Baptist pastor from Brisbane, Queensland, who engages in ministry to indigenous athletes summed up the presentations as giving 'validity to sports' as a mission vehicle," Mark Tronson noted.
Attending the seminar was Neville Paulson an Aboriginal Baptist Church leader from Yuendumu in central Australia, in whose own community, the young people are sports mad. "This is very good information," he noted.
Pastor Sakisua Dreunimolea (known as Pastor Drew) from Fiji, whose extended family members are significant land owners, is very keen to explore the possibilities of a sports ministry centre. In his own words, "Fijians are extremely enthusiastic about their sport, especially rugby."
Moreover, Mark and Delma Tronson now have specific invitations throughout the South Pacific to lead 'seminars' on 'Linking Sports to the Christian community' for church and youth leaders.