The 2019 young writers annual conference set for Saturday 10 August at the Craigieburn Salvation Army (75 Interlink Dr) is not too far off, 2 days over three weeks.
The young writers have an international column in Christian Today once every 5 weeks, a project jointly coordinated with Press Service International. Currently there are 105 young writers.
Writing once every 5 weeks – that is 10 articles a year. There are 5 weeks in each Cycle and there are 10 Cycles a year. That leaves 2 weeks left-over, these are filled in the summer break with the 2019 ‘Best Articles.’
The program runs smoothly with a wonderful team of ‘behind the scenes’ people who ensure young writers are advised when their article is due along with an editor and a photo selector. These are divided into 8 different groups. It all works to a plan.
This year we’re celebrating 10 years of this young writer ministry with Christian Today.
Annual MC – Russell Modlin
Annual young writer conference MC is Russell Modlin from the Sunshine Coast who woos the young people each year as is his custom with his side-kicks Rebecca Moore (Sunshine Coast) and Sam Gillespie (Sydney).
Russell Modlin is one of the very earliest writers in the program who we first met when he was teaching at North Mackay Christian School in 1991 when visiting on a Country Town Tour with world champion tri-athlete Bruce Thomas.
Some years later Russell Modlin his wife Belinda and his family of three boys went as missionaries to central Australia to teach physical education and English in a mission Aboriginal school. When the young writer was initiated in 2009 and the Comment writers came on line Russell Modlin was invited to be a columnist which he accepted.
In 2013 when the Basil Sellers Awards came on line at the annual conference Russell Modlin was invited to be the MC which he accepted and has continued.
Rebecca Moore his erstwhile sidekick with the paper work ready to roll is the mum of two of the young writers, Cartia and Jesse who also are engaged in the young writer bi-monthly short video with Press Service International news. Rebecca was a young writer, then became a senior writer in the program and the editor of Week 2 for the young writers. Rebecca is also the author of two books. Rebecca is married to Tony with four children, two are young adults and two are not far off voting age.
Sam Gillespie is engaged in a PhD at UNSW – what I clumsily refer to as classical composing. Sam has been a young writer for many years and shown much leadership and took over as chair of the young writer’s brain’s trust from Russell Modlin in 2017. The brain’s trust meet annually. Sam is married to Salley and lives in Sydney.
2019 Sessions in Melbourne
The two morning sessions –
Capt. Peter and Jo Brookshaw - illustrating literary and art evangelism (Opening Doors of Opportunity).
Second, Mark Rusic a top notch writer on the values of mentoring (Menroing the Genrations). Mark is designing his session with two lots of small groups
The afternoon session is as in previous years – Russell Modlin, Rebecca Moore and Sam Gillespie having pre-planned sessions then dividing into groups coordinated by these three. The Brain’s Trust plan these annual afternoon sessions with care.
There is morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided.
At 4.00pm are the annual young writer awards.
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