Photo - Meenal Sim a young writer from Sydney
The Press Service International young writer program in conjunction with Christian Today has each Week's editor or coordinator write a review of their week the week after publication.
This is published in the weekly young writer memo and on the young writers private closed Facebook page.
As this is a new venture recommended by the young writer brain's trust chair Sam Gillespie from Sydney and it has been functioning very well.
Cycle 4
Week 2 review - Rebecca Moore
Once again, I come away from my editing feeling so blessed. You are a special group of young people. I don’t say this just to week two but to all the young writers. Thank you for sharing your walk with Jesus and his revelations month in month out with the online community and wider, who will read and be blessed by what God is saying through you. Your honesty shines through and gives the read a greater impact because of it. I love the pondering, I love the examples, I love the relevance.
This month’s theme resonated with a focus on lasting through the long haul with persistence and endurance even when we can’t see what’s up ahead.
Beginning the week, Cartia Moore shared her love of all things Marvel while encouraging trust in God and being expectant. Ben Kruzins spoke from the heart about the spirit of mate-ship in regards to ANZAC Day, while Meenal Chandra compared the ‘grit’ of different generations encouraging perseverance through the tough times.
Sarah Urmston wrote humorously about judging others, especially in the parenting circle and Anna Waite discussed the labels we put on ourselves—are they healthy and who does God say we are?
Liana Monaghan shared beautifully how trials and testing are good for us, and Michael Dahlenburg discussed the selflessness of nurses comparing them to the serving attitude of Jesus.
Miranda Menelaws spoke of working through the hard yards just like Jesus did. Joseph Kolapudi took us on a path we cannot see while Jesse Moore taught us about the most important workout required for spiritual stamina.
As I said earlier, you’re articles bring blessings to many people you may not even know, people who may need to hear the words you have to say right in that very moment. Keep doing what you’re doing and may God bless you greatly!
Photo - Tom Anderson a young writer from Ipswich
Internationals week - Cycle 4
The international young writers of Week 1 are from
England
West Indies
Canada
USA
South Africa
China
Mozambique
New Zealand
It should not be surprising that a bunch of young people who believe whole heartedly in the Lord Jesus Christ there would be some kind of a theme. It reminds me of how we might greet each other in the heavenlies where our eternal focus is symmetrical, on Christ.
As I edited these pieces from across the globe, titles such as highlighting those specific people who changed the direction of our lives, set a common pattern - whereby others came to the fore who influenced us.
Charis Jackson, Rosie Robinson and Jason LaLone on the Monday where this idea had this thread, and it continued on through the week right to the end where Ashley Mullins spoke of her and her hushand’s final stages of their mission in Malawi. It was about others.
Well done the internationals.
Last year’s ARPA conference in Auckland in a panel session - one of the speaker’s ‘statement’ - gave rise for this question - it didn’t matter from whence our international young writers came (if the by-line was a number and not a name), their message were homogeneous. The ARPA delegates recognised this in common agreement.
Photo - Haydn Lea a young writer from Adelaide
Week 3 – Australians - Tom Anderson
I was inspired and encouraged reading the articles from the latest round of Week 3 Comment Pieces. Maybe this was because of the way they touched on the human weaknesses we all experience.
There’s something powerful about acknowledging our failings- bringing them out into the open rather than trying to act like we’ve got it together.
Whether it’s our past, our fears, temptation, our lack of spiritual passion, or not living up to who we’re called to be, we all have times when we feel like we fall short.
The honesty of the writings from this week reminded me that we’re not alone, and directed my focus once again to the One who loves us as we are and calls us to a life of faith in His ability.
So rather than letting our faults and fears pull us down, we listen to His voice, and find His grace made strong in our weakness. As Peter Brookshaw reminds us in his article, we are who God says we are!
Photo - Peter Brookshaw a young writer from Melbourne
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
Dr Mark Tronson - a 4 min video
Chairman – Well-Being Australia
Baptist Minister 45 years
- 1984 - Australian cricket team chaplain 17 years (Ret)
- 2001 - Life After Cricket (18 years Ret)
- 2009 - Olympic Ministry Medal – presented by Carl Lewis
- 2019 - The Gutenberg - (ARPA Christian Media premier award)
Gutenberg video - 2min 14sec
Married to Delma for 45 years with 4 children and 6 grand children