History is replete with literature that has recorded 'special religious occasions' and in some sense the entire Old and New Testaments are examples of such encounters.
However, there is a genre that can be read which records individual person's own personal experiences on the one hand, or as a scribe, chronicling such 'special religious occasions'.
The Church Fathers detailed numerous such 'special religious occasions' as did those in the Middle and Dark Ages, indeed the Benedictine Order engaged in such assignments with their teams of scribes who were dedicated to hand writing.
With the advent of printing (Gutenberg) at the time of Martin Luther gave rise to thousands upon thousands of such stories of 'special religious occasions' for the people to read and enjoy.
Recording 'special religious occasions' still retains its appeal and I for one chronicle these in my monthly mission newsletter which is sent to the financial and prayer supporters of Well-Being Australia.
In my 1994 book 'No Orchestra, No Trumpet' published by IFH Publishing Co., detailing the pioneering of the Sports and Leisure Ministry (now Sports Chaplaincy Australia), there was a chapter I titled 'Miracles' which recorded numerous 'special religious occasions'.
In engaging in that activity, I noted that it so easy to neglect minor incidents that had significant outcomes in this genre of 'special religious occasions'.
I was recently reminded of the story of George Muller and his numerous recounting of miracles for sustenance for his orphanages in the 19th century. I too have lost count of how our family were on their last cent when someone gave them funding. These should have been recorded he stated with reflection.
But being a natural chronicler can be a protection mechanism also. I benefited from this in my debilitating stress in 1999, as I was able to assemble evidence to illustrate that my veracity was beyond reproach. Now, for a more jubilant purpose, I still engage in painstakingly recording every detail of ministry that includes many instances of 'special religious occasions'.
Since 2000 I am able to recount numerous ministry situations involving the International Olympic Committee, Tourism Ministry, the Art Ministry including the Basil Sellers Art Centre opening in 2003 in Moruya, Life After Cricket engagements, the relocation of our family from Moruya to Tweed Heads and the Basil Sellers Tweed respite facility, and a whole host more.
Young writer ministry
The young writer ministry has oodles of ‘special religious occasions’ –
Christian Today inviting our young writers for publishing
Releasing young people with their own published voice
So many young people through the program
Australia, New Zealand and Internationals
Expanding to the Over 31s ‘emerging’ writers
Mr Basil Sellers AM financial support for this ministry
Developing Week coordinators and editors
More recently the two monthly young writer ‘news videos’
One Day in Melbourne
2016 saw the very first One Day in Melbourne held at the Salvation Army headquarters whereby speakers specialising in IT presentations gave mission personnel a first rate overview
Social media
Platforms
Design
Editing
Marketing
Blogging
2019 will be the fourth One Day in Melbourne. These have all been ‘special religious occasions’.
Laguna Quays Respite
This is another whole scenario where the ‘special religious occasions’ are so numerous the pen ran out of ink and the key-board did a fizzer. This is a beach house on the Whitsundays mainland where mission people are welcome to visit at no cost so as to recuperate or spend time in reflection, study or prayer.
Opened in 2011 it has an astonishing visitor rate and in 2013 when Mr Basil Sellers AM visited he sought to fund another such facility and the Aldinga Beach Retreat was opened in 2016 coordinated by MissionLink. The ‘special religious occasions’ are like the trees in a forest – refreshing, rejuvenating, relaxing ….
Reading ‘special religious occasion’ victories provides a great high, whether it is a victorious outcome from reading a book or a chain of small but poignant victories from the pages of history. It is the stuff from which a person can turn their life around by following the great victory of Jesus over death.
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