E-BLAST - 29 SEPTEMBER 2013

Salley and Sam's engagement party last Saturday in Sydney. Salley is our No.4 and Sam is the eldest in his family of 4. They met at Flo Harris Lodge (Petersham Baptist) the residential college for Christian young people moving to Sydney (Baptist's call it Marriage Central). Salley was doing accountancy and Sam from Wollongong, classical music and composing. Their marriage date is 1 March.

Salley works as an accountant for a plumbing company in Sydney, Sam is at Sydney University with 18 months remaining. Sam is also one of our Young Writers and was a volunteer all last week at a Crusaders Camp for school children.

MELISSA AND ALICIA AT PARTY

Salley and Sam's Engagement Party - Melissa (left) is Henry and Faye Robertson's grand daughter and friend of Salley. They were at Bedford Business College together in 2009. Henry has been Church Secretary at Croydon Park Baptist in Sydney 50 years, Mark's first parish church. A wonderful time 1979-80.

Alicia pregnant with No 3 and our Anthea knew each other when 13 yearas of age from Year 7, 1991 - who came to our home and for the first time heard "Grace" before a meal. This led to her to a personal search and became a Christian and is now married to a Pastor.

DELAYED FATHER'S DAY CARD AT PARTY

Mark and Delma are reading the delayed Father's Day card from Salley at her engagement party in Sydney last weekend.

All the family including the grand-children were at Salley and Sam's engagement party. We enjoyed meeting Sam's mum and dad and their other children - 4 like us. Sam is their eldest.

VIDEO - YOUNG WRITERS IN MELBOURNE

Video - 2 min 19 sec - has been released on the PSI Young Writers Mini-Conference in Melbourne (5-6 Sept). Produced by Belinda Croft of Melbourne, it covers the two day conference with young writers from Australia and New Zealand.This link also includes the most recent videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/marktronson/videos

E-BLAST - 22 SEPTEMBER 2013

ARPA  -  Australasian Religious Press Association annual conf was held in Melbourne immediately after our Young Writer Mini-Conference. This was Mark and Delma's 6th ARPA.

There were two major plenary's, a fellowship evening at Bishop's Court with Anglican Archbishop Stepehn Fryer, an AGM, three full sessions of community (all together) followed by the annual awards dinner.

RAMON WILLIAMS ARPA CITATION

Ramon Williams was awarded an ARPA Citation for meritious service of 50 years to Christian Media at the ARPA award's dinner. Ramon Williams has provided a media service to Australia's Christian media by circulating press releases and photographs. Mark has been greatly blessed by Ramon by send ing out his articles for over 30 years.

ARPA AWARD - ERROL PIKE

Errol Pike the immediate past ARPA President (for 2 years) and formerly NZ Bible Society was awarded ARPA Life Membership at this year's ARPA Dinner.

SOPHIA AND ANDREW SINCLAIR

Sophia Sinclair one of our NZ young writers and her husband Andrew at the ARPA awards dinner. Sophia is the Communications Officer for CMS NZ which publishes the CMS NZ magazine "Internmission".

Sophia attended the young writers mini-conference and then like Delma and Mark, then attended ARPA.

ARPA AWARD FOR SOPHIA SINCLAIR

Sophia Sinclair as Communications Officer for CMS NZ won the ARPA Bronze for their magazine "Intermission" - Best Publication Small Team. Well done Sophia.

E-BLAST - 15 SEPTEMBER 2013

Both these young writers plays in Bands - Sam Burrows in Auckland and Daniel Mathew in Sydney - both at the young writer mini-conference in Melbourne. It was a joy to my heart listening to their conversation on "bands and music" while walking to our venue.

Daniel Mathew on the Friday night after the young writer mini-conference sang at Melbourne Hillsong Youth. Daniel has a monthly Music column in Christian Today.

Sam Burrows' latest music video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OaHlkxEBTI&feature=youtu.be

ANNEMARIE DE VILLIERS

Annemarie de Villiers presented the Sports Writer Award 2013 by Russell Modlin Well-Being Australia board member representing the young writers.

Annemarie de Villiers was born in South Africa, her parents relocated to New Zealand and after high school Annemarie came to Melbourne for University (Sport Phsyio - Science). 

CASEY MURRAY

Auckland NZ's Casey Murray is one who challenges and thinks outside the square. Each young writer had 2 min to introduce themselves and as Jeremy Dover wrote: "refreshing to hear Casey (Murray) to talk about hearing people at church saying how great they feel yet she felt nothing. A honest and theologically rich comment."

In Mark's devotional to the young writers speaking from 2 Samuel - David's Mighty Men - quoting from a Casey Murray article (May) how her 7 year old cousin William when at church saying the Lord's Prayer tugged at her and asked "Who are you talking to?" And she wrote that she too often asks that question. Mark went on to say that his 36 year ministry has been to men (Australian cricket and his industrial chaplaincy years) and this is where many men are - this is his philosophical starting point in ministry to men. 

Casey Murray 23, relcoated to Sydney University (Marketing) now back home in Auckland working for a nail gun company in marketing. Our Salley also 23 a very similar pathway, working as an accountant in a plumbing company. 

BRIDGET BRENTON

Bridget Brenton from the Gold Coast at the PSI young writers mini-conference in Melbourne.

Bridget is a fun maker - she and her husband Steve spent 7 years in China teaching English and church youth work - since returning to Australia they have had a baby. Steve is Canadian.

Lisa Goetze

Lisa Goetze was all smiles at the PSI young writers awards in Melbourne.

Lisa is from Canada and is with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) at their Brisbane base. It turns out that Lisa is from the same Canadian town that Bridget Brenton's husband Steve hails from - it's always a small world.

4 OF THE NZ YOUNG WRITERS

Four of the New Zealand young writers that attended the PSI young writers mini-conference.
Daniel Jang (Wellington), Sam Burrows, Casey Murray and Brad Mills (Auckland).

Out of the photo - Sophia Sincalir (Christchurch) and Julie Belding, the NZ young writers fellowship co-ordinator who is planning a Christmas party for the young writers in her Auckland home on Saturday 7 December. 

JEREMY DOVER

Jeremy Dover (right) with the "Theology and the Church" award at the PSI Young Writers awards in Melbourne.

Presenting the award is Russell Modlin the Well-Being Australia board member representing the young writers.

PSI YOUNG WRITER CONF VENUE

2Pocket Fair Trade Espresso Bar in Little Lonsdale St Melbourne was the venue for the PSI Young Writers mini-conf last weekend.30 of us fitted snugly with a long table and others around the back ledge and side cars.

It is run by Gregg Modlin the brother of Russell who was MC on the Thursday awards evening and the Well-Being Australia board meber representing the young writers.

E-BLAST - 8 SEPTEMBER 2013

2013 Young Writer Mini-Conference in Melbourne - 5-6 Sept. this past week, saw 30 young writers come together from Australia and New Zealand.

Thursday evening each young writer told their own story, Mark's devotional was that of likening them to David's Mighty Men, David Chang editor of Christian Today detailed their philosophy followed by the Awards.

Each of the 30 young writers received a certificate and an inscribed coffee mug (photo). The following photos show the major winners.

Friday morning were two plenary's, given by Tony Dunkerley followed by Sam Burrows.

ALISON BARKLEY - 1st PLACE AUST YOUNG WRITER

Alison Barkley  - 1st Australian Basil Sellers Young Writer Award -

Presented in Melbourne on Thursday night 5 Sept. by Russell Modlin the Well-Being Australia board member representing the Young Writers.

DANIEL JANG - 1st NZ YOUNG WRITERS AWARD

Daniel Jang  - 1st place - New Zealand Young Writer Award -

Presented in Melbourne on Thursday night 5 Sept. by Russell Modlin the Well-Being Australia board member representing the Young Writers.

SAM BURROWS - NZ THEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD

Sam Burrows - Theological Development Award  - New Zealand Young Writer Award -

Presented in Melbourne on Thursday night 5 Sept. by Russell Modlin the Well-Being Australia board member representing the Young Writers.

LAURA VELOSO - AUST 2nd YOUNG WRITER

Laura Veloso - 2nd Place - Australian Young Writer Award -

Presented in Melbourne on Thursday night 5 Sept. by Russell Modlin the Well-Being Australia board member representing the Young Writers.

CASEY MURRAY - EQUAL 2nd NZ

Casey Murray - 2nd Place - New Zealand Young Writer Award -

Presented in Melbourne on Thursday night 5 Sept. by Russell Modlin the Well-Being Australia board member representing the Young Writers.

SOPHIA SINCLAIR - NZ EQUAL 2ND

Sophia Sinclair - 2nd Place - New Zealand Young Writer Award -

Presented in Melbourne on Thursday night 5 Sept. by Russell Modlin the Well-Being Australia board member representing the Young Writers.