|PIC1|While he was there, the men's cricket program director, Brian McFadgen, made the following introduction:
"Richard, I'd like to introduce you to Mark Tronson. Mark, Richard McInnes is our new Women's Coach. Prior to this appointment, he was one of the performance coaches with the Australian cricket team for the three years up to 2007."
As he rose from his swivel-chair, Richard McInnes stretched out his arm to shake hands and exclaimed warmly that he was quite familiar with Mark Tronson's ministry although he had never met Mark Tronson previously. It is nothing unusual in cricket circles, with so much travel associated with cricket contractual employment, that similarly-minded people's paths do not cross. In this case, the Lord's timing through these mechanisms of ministry, a silent relationship has developed.
"What a delightful surprise from the Lord," M V Tronson mused, "It's very special when someone you have never met, responds so positively to the ministry the Lord has entrusted to you."
Richard was pleased to have received Mark Tronson's annual 'snail-mail' cricketers pastoral letter and the Retired Australian Cricketers Bi-Annaul Newsletter electronic mailing which is the hallmark of his 'Life After Cricket' mission.
"This is not the first time this has occurred in cricket," M V Tronson said. "On numerous occasions, retired cricketers and other support staff who have not known me personally, have recognised my ministry with warm responses when meeting me somewhere along the line."
These are the 'surprises from the Lord' that occur regularly within Christian ministry circles.
Ministers are likewise 'surprised by the Lord' when years down the track they meet one of their youth group who under their spiritual charge from long ago to discover that it was something they said that sparked a light within that young person's soul.
Christian people of all generations and of all ages have experienced similar joys in Christ. Those to whom they have had such a little contact, has resulted in a world view change from such import.
"Horace Rose, a Lutheran minister teaching school scripture in the early 1960s in Canberra, had such an impact on me," M V Tronson explained.
M V Tronson recalls only a few of his wise words, but those were decisive in touching his life. He was quoting the octogenarian English philosopher Malcolm Muggeridge, who said that nothing surpasses the power, inner strength and impact upon a life or a condition than that of 'Christian love'.
"That sentence I've reflected upon all these years," said M V Tronson, "that all the missiles, bombs, guns, brute physical force, harassing and mind control techniques have not the where-with-all to contend with Christian love. Astonishing!"
Ministry is 'living' as it speaks of the 'living Christ' and the results are inevitably surprises from the Lord.