2019 One Day in Melbourne held at the Craigieburn Salvation Army, Melbourne, on Saturday 10 August was combined with the Christian Today young writers annual conference.
Both groups were together for the morning plenary sessions and after the luncheon, the two groups separated into different sections of the facility.
The day culminated with the young writer 2019 Basil Sellers Awards at 4.00pm.
First morning plenary’s
Capt. Peter Brookshaw and his partner in ministry and wife Jo addressed Opening Doors of Opportunity. Peter addressed the diverse ways of ministry illustrating some of the changes that had come to pass in our society.
His power presentation illustrated the Craigieburn Salvation Army’s ministry to the community through their school ‘toastie’ provision to students which now encapsulates three schools with over 1000 toasties each week.
Jo Brookshaw noted how her art has changed her mode of ministry and that the Salvation Army has itself adopted the model of ministry presented. Jo took us on a journey of her development in art through to her position now where policy and instruction is centre piece, Jo had several of her art works on display.
Second morning plenary
Artist and author Mark Rusic in the second plenary addressed ‘Mentoring the Generations’. He initiated the session by telling his story to the point where he decided to take life seriously. He is now one of Victoria’s leasing cultural artists and his icon books on Melbourne with his art can be seen on bookshelf shelves beside Ken Duncan’s books.
He tackled mentoring in much the same sharp punchy manner setting out agendas and questions in which the gathering met to discuss in small discussion groups. Mark Rusic gave no quarter as to imperative qualities of mentoring with a strong Biblical imprimatur leaving the delegates sold on the value of mentoring.
Sport writer and banker Wes Tronson who is on a ‘Mentoring NAB Working Group’ presented his experience with a superb mentor when in England. The points he made was to find a mentor outside your situation, mentoring provides a serious step up and its part of any person’s on-going development whether in commerce, industry, sport, the entertainment scene or in mission.
After lunch
The final 10 min of the luncheon saw Jeremy Dover introduce the winner of his Waverley Christian College literary prize as future young writers for Christian Today.
One Day in Melbourne delegates then met separately (to the young writers) and focused on speed networking and finding your voice. This included a devotional by Rev Bob Thomas Editor of New Life.
The One Day in Melbourne afternoon sessions were well received, with a broad cross section of missions represented.
Finding your Voice was central to the afternoon session.
Young writers
The young writers met discussing three spheres for their ministry
The first by Cartia Moore and Amy Manners on how the young writers might best use videos within their articles, which was well received. then David Goodwin on the value of their CV sites in the Press Service International web site. He illustrated he was an example f the value of the CV site. Finally a discussion on how best the young writers might communicate with each other and their articles along with what mutual respect means. There was good discussion in these areas with a well spring of support to the Brain’s Trust.
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
