E-BLAST - 2 FEBRUARY 2014

Kandima Awendila from Mozambique, now on the Gold Coast, is one of our International young writers. Kandima's article published in Christian Today "More than just an illusion" has been No. 1 Most Popular for over a week. Christian Today has received a volume of correspondence on it, mainly from the UK and US.  

http://au.christiantoday.com/article/more-than-just-an-illusion/16751.htm

NZ JARED DIPROSE - CREATIVE

Jared Diprose NZ young writer (Auckland) spent three months last year engaged in short term mission in various parts of Asia and India. Now he has initiated his own home business using his hands in creating things. http://www.jareddiprose.co.nz/   Speak, Create, Inspire - Jared invites his customers to chat over a coffee and together they develop an idea.

E-BLAST - 26 JANUARY 2014

Australia Day  -  26 January 2014  -  photo is of Coolangatta Beach last week which many will frequent for Australia Day.

Mark's article on Australia Day was published on Friday in Christian Today.

http://au.christiantoday.com/article/australia-day-favourite-aussie-places/16752.htm

Monday (tomorrow) we've invited to our place for an Australia Day bbq lunch amongst others, Kandima Awendila one of our international young writers originally from Mozambique.    

SARAH URMSTON - NEW YOUNG WRITER

Sarah Urmston is one three new young emerging writers with their first articles this coming week - the other two are Alex Gillespie of Wollongong and Tim Robertson from Sydney.

Sarah is with RMIT Melbourne's Christian Union ministering to university students. Sarah and Anglican Minister husband Stephen spent 2 weeks at Laguna Quays Respite last June. 

E-BLAST - 19 JANUARY 2014

We are excited - our young emerging writer 2014 program starts tomorrow Monday 20 January. We have 3 sets of Panellists to mark articles for the Basil Sellers Young Writers Awards - 7 person Aust panel, a 7 person NZ panel and a 7 person Sport article panel.

photo  -  Christian Today's promotion of Mark's daily column - the photo appears on every inside on-line page. This photo was taken Christmas Day. 

http://au.christiantoday.com/

AIRA CHILCOTT - AUST PANELLIST

Aira Chilcott is one of the new Aust Panellists for the young writer awards. A teacher (front row), in early December Aira was with a group of Year's 10–12 students and 3 staff from Canberra's Trinity Christian School (December), in India under the auspices of OM (Operation Mobilisation) with an Aussie OM rep with us who paved the way and did all the liaising with OM. 
We spent nearly a week at an OM school in Solapur (Maharashtra state) where we taught the kids and played with them and encouraged the staff there. We also did some touristy stuff as a cultural experience, to give the students a sense of the need for God and the range of work that OM does in India.  Also hearing some stories of how God has touched lives and brought people out of bondage.

ERROL PIKE - NZ PANELLIST

Errol Pike is one of our new 2014 NZ Panellists for the young writer awards and a great bonus to the team. Errol (with a deep rich voice) spent 25 years in the secular media (radio) including 12 years in senior management (last 7 years as manager of National Radio, our equivalent of your Radio National). Then 15 years a fundraiser / communications head for the Bible Society in NZ. Errol says that fundraising is about excellence in communications and served 2011-13 as the President of ARPA - Australasian Religious Press Association.

E-BLAST - 12 JANUARY 2014

Mathew family from Sydney visited us. Pastor Walson and Marlene friends over many years, now their young people are Young Emerging Writers. Grace, Daniel, Cherisse. Grace and Daniel attended Melbourne's PSI conference while Cherisse is returning after a two year break. Grace and Cherisse work in promotions while Daniel (music guru) was home from the US - an Intern with Hillsong New York.  

MARK'S LATEST ART

Highlighting the Milestones - our lives are celebrated by milestones (large red blobs) in the midst of excitement (upper colours) and the mundane (lower colours). Everyone is welcome to Commisssion an art work from Mark as a fund raiser for their Well-Being Australia ministries.

E-BLAST - 5 JANUARY 2014

Daniel and Danielle (Lydia 3) are one of a number of married couple young writers who each write separately - allocated spots in separate weeks of the 5 week cycle. New Year's Day saw Daniel and Danielle visit us in Tweed Heads. Daniel is a primary school teacher in Queensland and Danielle is studying psychology. They are both Bible College (Melbourne) graduates. They are a precious couple. 

SUITABLE PHOTO

International 'young emerging writers' have young people writing - the nation's listed are Mozambique, China, Canada, South Africa, West Indies, USA, Korea and on mission in several countries. Late last year Sharma Taylor joined the team who studied for her PhD in Law in Wellington NZ and then returned home to the West Indies. Daniel Jang is away on Mission. We have YWAM (Youth With A Mission) who travel extensively. Alison Barkley is with an air organisation in the Philippines.

Now, a Christian young man from a closed Middle East country - his name we cannot use nor his photo, one option for his photo with his articles is one Mark took when in the Middle East in a bazaar.  For his name he suggested we use Mumin Faizy which in Arabic is 'believer by grace'.