E-BLAST - 3 JUNE 2012

Networking is such an important part of our ministry. Darwin Baptist Church contacted Mark, that they had a young man in their congregation, a NT cricketer who was keen to support other Christian athletes, of whom he knew a number.

Richard Arbon was that young man. Mark networked with Richard Pengelley in Perth, former Olympian and Australian Waterplo Captain and WA University Lecturer. He wrote the article: 10 Common Questions for Christian Athletes.

Richard Pengelley is visiting Darwin (photo) next month to meet with these young Christian athletes and encourage them.

Meanwhile Richard Arbon has become one of the PSI young writers with his first article published last Tuesday.

http://au.christiantoday.com/article/reality-check-on-the-expectations-in-professional-cricket/13401.htm

PSI "CHRISTIAN NEWS"

Grace Mathew (photo) one of our young Culture / Comment writers has now established herself as a PSI Sydney "Christian News" writer, one of our new developments with Christian Today.

Grace covered for Christian Today the Will Graham Sydney Breakfast in May and wrote a terrific Christian News article, and on Friday morning attended the Sydney Prayer Breakfast at Darling Harbour so as to write an article.

Belinda Coft this weekend covered for "Christian News" the Christian Management Conference in Melbourne.

Josh Hinds is covering the huge Scripture Union "School Chaplains" walkathon fund raiser on the Gold Coast.

PSI (young writers) - http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/

E-BLAST - 27 MAY 2012

Natalie Van Egmond is one of the fresh faces of the 'young writers'. Natalie is from Brisbane and has recently graduated from university with a journalsim degree. Natalie writes a monthly Culture/Comment column for Christan Today Australia.

We are encouraging the young writers to seriosuly consider attending the annual conference of the Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) in Wellington New Zealand 7-9 September. Already we have two young writers keen to attend.

Gospel Recording Mission couple enjoyed all last week at the Laguna Quays Respite with the next mission couple arriving in a few days.

WBA TASMANIA

Well-Being Australia Tasmania co-ordinator Steve and Debbie Suba (Launceston) who have been stalwarts in WBA ministry for many years are developing a Tasmania Respite facility for missionaries. A result of our Country Town Tour (CTT) in January.

They are in the provident position that Steve was a Launceston WEC Bible College graduate in the 1980's, then they went on the Mission field for some years. They are in contact with many missionaries and with WEC nearby they have ready access to provide respite. Steve is a VirginAustralia engineer for Launceston and frequently covers Hobart airport as well.

E-BLAST - 20 MAY 2012

The photo - boring, boring , boring - but not to the Footplate Padre and this story. 11-14 May Country Town Tour the Grafton Station Master (30 years) gave Mark a tour of the old locomotive depot. Mark told Len the story how as a teenager he with his family travelled to Brisbane a number of occasions on the overnight express arriving in Grafton 5.30am.

Upon arrival, Mark explained it was fascinating watching the 44 Class diesel be detached and then ran towards the locomotive depot (the line in this photo) and the fresh 44 Class diesel in the adjacent line, was then attached onto the train for the Grafton to Brisbane run.

The Station Master exclaimed, that for many years this was his daily duty, hand signalling this movement and attaching the fresh diesel. It bought a delightful link in Footplate Padre ministry.

EARTHLY FAREWELL TO IAN CARLSON

Tweed community celebrated the life of Ian Carlson  and service to the Lord. Mark spoke of their travels to the AIS Sport units in SE Qld and Ian being on the camera videoing Australian Missionary News IPTV interviews. Mark's text came from their many times together and Ian's wisdom - Proverbs 24 v 32:  "Then I saw, and considered it well, I looked upon it, and received wisdom".

Photo  -  Mark, Ian Carlson, Rev Dr David Smethurst  (missionary) at an Around the Tables in 2010.

SES BOAT - IAN'S ASHES INTO TWEED RIVER

Ian Carlson's ashes flowing into the Tweed River off the SES boat with Tracey his wife and children Jessica and Tim looking on (right end of boat).

Meanwhile our PSI young writers new development came to fruition last week with our first Christian News article on the Will Graham Sydney Breakfast written by Grace Mathew. Next Christian news article is by Belinda Croft in Melbourne covering the Christian Management Conference.

Country Town Tour

1960 Vanguard 6 was part of a vintage car display at the Cathedral Fair on Grafton on our 11-14 May Country Town Tour. This was the same model and year Vanguard Mark owned as a young man in the early 1970's. It had an overdrive on both 2nd and 3rd gear with the overdrive lever on the steering column.

Like many Vanguard owners of the era, he expects that even today it may still be running and they were tough old machines - the engine was the same as the Ferguson Tractor but geared differently. It was a very good car.

E-BLAST - 13 May 2012

CMS missionary Ans Van Der Zwaag serving in southern Africa and daughter Suzanne and husband Grant thoroughly enjoyed their eight days at the Laguna Quays Respite house. Grant, a landscaper, having visited a nursery, planted shrubs (between the palm trees along the front) and flowers (along the back fence). The photographs they sent illustrate their professional and delightful selection.

A Pastor is now enjoying rest at Laguna Quays Respite until 20 May followed by a Gospel Recording mission couple from 21 May. This is such a joy to our hearts as our network of support make it all possible, thank you.

Photo:  Grant and Suzanne on Midge Point Beach.

MATT AND LEONIE BOYES

Mark and Delma (pic) hosted Well-Being Australia national board member Matt Boyes and his wife Leonie visited Timeout in the Tweed this past week. From Moruya, Matt runs and engineering business and a stalwart in our Basil Sellers Moruya AIS athlete respite ministry.

Since we relocated to Tweed Heads in December 2005, Matt has regularly given the talk to the young athletes.

They visited their eldest son Tom, his wife and grand children in Ipswich (RAAF Amberley). They have four adult children and three adopted children aged 13, 10 and 6.

E-BLAST - 6 MAY 2012

Mark was in Queensland Railway heaven when a friend in Melbourne found this 1969 QR magazine booklet in a second hand book shop and posted it to him. It was full of colour prints of the QR diesels in their original blue and white livery.

What is more, the front cover print was taken between Proserpine and Mackay, directly adjacent by about 10ks to the coast (Repulse Bay) to the Laguna Quays Respite cottage.

We've had two additional "missionary" July bookings - this makes both May and July fully occupied - each with three different mission visitor bookings. Our respite ministry co-ordinators Sean and Sue Spencer are delighted in the joy of the Lord!  

NEW YOUNG WRITER

Bridget Brenton and her Canadian husband Steve returned to Australia this year after seven years in China teaching English. Bridget is one of our new young writers and has her May article being published this Tuesday.

PSI - (Press Service International) - in league with Christian Today - our young writers attending major Christian conferences in each capital city to write news articles and interview articles with key note speakers.

Read our young writers published in Christian Today Australia on our PSI site

http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/