Press Service International and Christian Today function a young writers ministry, now for 10 years. In 2015 there were enough “internationals” to establish their own week which fitted in the 5 week Cycles as Week 1.
This year the international young writers have grown significantly and there are now two separate groups, the first is Week 1 – 18-30 year olds, and the second group are the Over 31s in Week 5.
Group 1 - 18-30s
Jason Lalone - USA
Cindy Cheng - China
Aaron Sabio - USA
Anna Waite - Camdodia
Crytelda Naidoo - South Africa
Rume Kpadamrophe - Nigeria
Francesca Tavares - West Indies
Darren Salmon - West Indies
Dr Daniel Thomas - West Indies
Rebecca Triplett - USA
Tamika Smith - West Indies
Kacy Garvey - West Indies
Liliana Ferrao - Mozambique
Dat Nguyen - Vietnam
Kimberley Morgan - West Indies
Jhonelle Grant - West Indies
Behind the scenes
Group 1 which is Week 1 in the young writer program, has 14 young writers from across the globe.
The people who make this work effectively is Crystelda Naidoo from South Africa who sends the reminders for their due dates. The editor for this Week 1 is Emma Bamfield from Melbourne and the photo selector for the articles in Josh Robbie also from South Africa.
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Group 2 - Over 31s
Sharma Taylor - West Indies
Kandima Awendila - Mozambique
Rosie Robinson - England
Kali Hendrickson - USA
Josh Robbie - South Africa
Paul Lewis - West Indies
Stacy-ASnn Smith - West Indies
Jennifer Khan - West Indies
These Over 31s young writers are in Week 5 and have their own behind the scenes team. Mussita Ng from Wellington New Zealand is the coordinator. Joseph Kolapudi from Brisbane is the editor. The photo selector is Jackson Laninga from Auckland New Zealand.
But there is more
Each of these two international young writer groups have their own set of Panellists who mark their articles for the annual Basil Sellers Awards – 18-30 years olds and the Over 31s.
Panellists - 18-30 years olds
Vic Matthews, Darren Lawson, Sean Spencer, Tony de Kevitt, Tim Everton.
Vic Matthews is a theologian, Darren a former missionary and now a headmaster and a ’92 Road Cyclist Barcelona Olympian. Sean is a businessman, Tony a retired RAAF VIP pilot and Tim a former Basil Sellers Winner (2016).
Panellists Over 31s
Rex Dale, Ian Aylward, John Yates, Wayne Walters, Christina Tyson
Rex is a Christian author, a retired professional; Ian a Baptist minister in Gladstone Qld, John an Anglican minister from Perth, Wayne an Anglican minister in Melbourne and Christina Salvation Army Wellington, the regional area Head.
This is quite a mammoth undertaking - with so many young writers in both groups, the behind the scenes people along with the panelists.
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