Irenie How, Christchurch
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.
New Zealand young writers - Cycle 1 - Irenie How
22 January – 16 February
The Kiwis are a mixed bunch. From mums to graduates to business owners to office staff, we're all in a variety of roles and stages in our lives. Every cycle always produces surprise articles because none of us are the same. Yet, often, if you look closely enough and read, you see threads running through — little lessons to learn.
In this cycle the thread seems to be the demystifying of a range of subjects. Not everything in life is as it seems. It's okay. Many times what we think hard is in fact much simpler than we imagined.
Do you think talking to ladies difficult? Check out Jared's YouTube video. Does ‘loving others’ seem too abstract to be practical? Sabrina gives a breakdown of what she thinks it means to love — there's plenty of application. Emma, Amy and Mel all share wisdom on how difficulty is more short-lived than we think.
Jesus is our comfort. Amos offers a succinct bite on flaws he sees in Marxism and our conception of equality, and Jessica shows us why we love the things that are bad for us
Break the big into smaller bits and understanding is so much easier.
Leigh Clough, Gold Coast
Week 4 - Reviewer - Aira Chilcott
5 – 9 February
I found the overwhelming theme of this week to be – honesty! There was a huge variety in the topics chosen: milkshake ducks, Pharisees, politics, limitations, courage, satisfaction, trust, being a new mum, being a Pharisee, being a good passenger, being renewed.
I hope this has whetted your appetite to read the articles for yourself – the writers have used very refreshing ways to discuss their topics and again, each writer has a unique approach.
But the one thread that bound them all together was the honesty of the writers as they grappled with the dilemmas posed within their topics.
Many allowed themselves to be vulnerable by sharing what they hoped or desired, even to the extent of taking risks and trusting God for the outcome.
There was also the ability to share about different viewpoints without judgment allowing the reader to weigh up their responses.
Bonnie Dowie, Adelaide
Week 5 review
12 – 16 February
If there is one word to express the overview of Week 5 it would be personal responsibility.
From Leigh Clough’s faith Spirit reflections to Amy Manners, to Janna Mills on the P word, to Laurinda Rapp, Liam Denny and Stephen Urmston’s children engaged in the church service, to Christopher Harris and Laura Mills – personal responsibility was centre stage. It was clarifying.
If anything this represents a move away from a devotional twist to one of accountability and moreover, to one of a self-perpetual care on the line we take in our lives.
In my view, Week 5 illustrated a direction of seeking the Lord and its outworking with Gospel outcomes. Well done Week 5.
Amy Manners, Adelaide
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