'Basil Sellers' Laguna Quays Respite facility for missionaries, missions and church professionals located on the Whitsundays mainland a little south of Proserpine on Repulse Bay, continues meeting the opportunity to serve those requesting recuperation and rest.
Yet, it is more than that, the volunteer supporters have initiated an annual business luncheon to bring the community groups together, the first was last year when ten local business people came along, this year, last Thursday in Midge Point, 14 came.
This year the topic was the mpbnews – (Midge Point – Bloomsbury – News and Mews) - the local on-line weekly news which one of our young writers, Josh Hinds established for the community in July 2012, after their hard copy monthly (stapled A4 sheets) closed.
The Point Tavern allowed us to use the big screen connected to my lap top whereby we showed how the mpbnews functions and how to upload photographs and the like. It was very well received.
Laguna Quays Respite
Opened in June 2011 after several months of refurbishing the cottage, missionaries from SIM, CMS, WEC, SU, TEAR, BCS, UCA, YM, Wycliffe, BCA, MAF, AFES, CM, Global Interaction and independent missions have already enjoyed taking 'timeout'.
Respite has a rich history from Jesus himself and to more modern Christian leaders such as the great London Victorian preacher of the later half of the 1800' C H Spurgeon. In his book "Lectures to my Students" C H Spurgeon spoke of how he suffered from prolonged attacks of depression, and escaped London to "a resting place in France".
The 'Basil Sellers' Laguna Quays Respite project was initiated as a project by Well-Being Australia. My wife Delma and I had already established Basil Sellers Moruya (1992) and Basil Sellers Tweed (2006) respite facilities for Australian Institute of Sport elite athletes and their coaches and families.
Fell into place
The process of establishing a respite place for missionaries therefore fell into place. I felt the Lord's touch to get the missionary respite house up and running, as much for ourselves, as for others, as we've been full on in ministry for 38 years.
Mr Basil Sellers AM who has supported our mission activities over many years was once again pleased to assist the project and by June 2011 the facility was ready for missionary and pastor visitors.
With a wide ministry network being the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (ret 2000) and with my Olympic ministry credentials since 1984 and AIS athlete respite ministries, the PR process to mission societies and missionaries fell into place with confidence and assurance.
New and Fresh
Knowing intimately about missionary finance, we were determined there would be no fee, but if anyone wished to make a gifting they could. A number of fresh and inviting creative things have occurred, such as those missionaries who fly into Proserpine or Mackay, we've developed a relationship with AVIS whereby the missionaries have a significantly discounted rental vehicle.
Mr Basil Sellers funded an 11 x 8 metre concrete section beside the cottage (when wet it was muddy and very sloshy). He also funded a car port in the back yard as a bbq entertainment area, with a bbq donated along with tables and chairs.
Many of the missionaries and pastors have taken the opportunity to take day tours or 2-3 day excursions to the Whitsunday Islands which has been a wonderful bonus to their respite. With the AVIS vehicle they can tour to Bowen to the north or Mackay to the south.
The Laguna Quays respite has three bedrooms with all the normal household items. When we're there, I wheel the small portable desk to the wide front covered veranda where I connect to the Internet with my 3G plug and enjoy the sweeping view of Repulse Bay's magnetic blue. Missionaries bring their own wifi plugs.
Bookings
Mission people wishing a visit please contact me at Well-Being Australia timeout@bushorchestra.com or 0487 245 207
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.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html