Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson was challenged several years ago to think about succession in his broad ministry, which takes in Life After Cricket, the Olympics, Athlete Respite, the Footplate Padre, Country Town Tours, Around the Tables (get-together for mission workers), writing (daily articles, online comment pieces and books), Art and Tourism ministries, evangelism ... and more.
Since then he has been grooming numerous young men and women in various ministry roles. For example, Clayton Hinds has taken over the editing of the Life After Cricket 'Retired Australian Cricketers Bi-Annual Newsletter', and Jeremy Dover has been taking a lead role as an anchor for the Australian Missionary News IPTV.
In addition, five young writers were initiated last year as Sport writers for his Press Service International (PSI) media ministry for Christian Today, each writer having one day a week: These young writers included a young journalism student from Melbourne, Rosie Timmins.
As that proved so successful, Mark Tronson introduced a new group of young writers, who were designated a monthly Comment article, and this too has been hugely rewarding.
"My wife, Delma, and I receive so many encouraging messages from these young Comment writers," he smiled. "They are delighted that not only are they ministering, but that they are having a voice and are being read internationally."
These young Comment writers come from all corners of the country: from Perth in the west to Newcastle in the east; from Darwin in the north via Alice Springs in the centre to Tasmania in the far south; along the main population centre from Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane via the Central Coast, Tweed Heads, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and from North Queensland, including Mackay, the Whitsundays and Cairns.
They will meet each other at 9.30am and will have various presentations and workshops through to 4 pm, when many will need to catch late afternoon flights from Coolangatta airport to connect to their home destinations.
"These mini conferences are invaluable," observes M V Tronson, "because they allow the isolated writers to meet each other and discuss their philosophies and any difficulties they have; and it allows WBA to bring experts along to talk to them about various tips, hints and developments - both in the old and new technologies."