Joseph Kolapudi led a plenary at the 2020 young writer conference - Joseph is a young writer who currently serves with the international mission agency, ReachAcross. He also serves on the board of ARMCare, an initiative of the World Economic Forum's Global Shaper Hub in Brisbane. Additionally, he also serves on the State Youth Council for Multicultural Youth Queensland (MyQ), and works as a PR and Content Manager for the Business as Mission Global Congress (BAM) as part of the Lausanne Movement for World Evangelisation. He was recently named as a Multicultural Ambassador for the Mental Health Foundation of Australia (MHFA). In his spare time, he also serves as a creative contributor for the SAARI Collective.
The unknown is always a daunting reality, until you reach your destination. For many writers, penning stories, illustrations or thoughts about the future is a difficult task, especially when describing something that is relatively unknown. When presenting this to people who know the ins and outs of the writing scene, however, it can be an opportunity that many recognise and relate to.
For the Young Writer’s Conference in 2020, this year will see the Gold Coast be the host for the young writers, particularly with a focus on those who will be attending from Queensland and South Australia.
As always, there will be a range of different talks, presentations and awards to be presented as part of this year’s conference, and a keynote talk from Joseph Kolapudi, who will be speaking on the theme of leadership and how this influences Christian ministry collaborations and connections, especially from a local young writer’s perspective.
Joseph has been a young writer since 2016, and has been writing about his experience in cross-cultural mission, travelling overseas, and Christian service. He also has had the opportunity to interview a range of leading Christian authors, writers, leaders and professionals in recent times. He has also been able to use these stories, conversations and experiences to inspire others through his writing.
Since becoming a writer, he has also been involved in work in different countries, including in India; where he recently got married late last year. He also has been able to serve locally through a mission agency, which is currently located at his local church. He has been able to use his time serving overseas as a way to connect with other young people who wish to do the same.
“Writing the unwritten story”
For the keynote presentation at this year’s Young Writers Conference, the theme of “writing the unwritten story” will be the focus of his talk; which will explore how young writers can also have an influence on their readers beyond the written word. He will also illustrate how his own personal experiences, both in mission and in the business world, have assisted in his understanding of Christian service, especially in his view of vocation.
For many young writers, this will be an opportunity for them to identify how writing can impact others, how they can identify leadership opportunities, and the way that youth can have a positive impact on the world around them, especially with those who may not be believers. There will also be a time set aside for Q&A after the keynote presentation at the conference.
The international young writers will be able to tune-in using the wonders of Zoom.
As young writers, there are always different ways to identify personal potential, and how this connects to a greater purpose; but it often comes back to how we view our own identity and how this relates to serving others.
For those who look to be leaders, writing a story yet unwritten is not just a challenge, but an open opportunity.