E-BLAST - 1 MARCH 2015

Melbourne visit to the young writers: 26-28 Feb. Photo - sisters Belinda Croft and Laura Veloso. Both young mum's with three children each, Belinda also producers the young writer videos and Laura often does the voice overs.
These seven photos illustrate the young writers we met - on the Friday Sophia Sinclair our new young writer editor flew to Melbourne from Sydney for these meetings. A very rewarding time to talk face to face with our Melbourne team of young writers - a wide range of issues were covered.  

SZELENG CHAN - MELBOURNE

Photo: Szeleng Chan and Delma on Sat. Szeleng in 2008 the then editor of Christian Today who rang Mark to initiate his daily column - the seed for the young writer program 18 months later. Now, Szeleng is coordinating the young writer's Week 5 taking over from Sophia Sinclair in order for Sophia to solely concentrate on editing. Mark and Szeleng have retained a close friendship all these years.  

FRIDAY NIGHT - MELBOURNE

Photo:  David Goodwin and Mark. David writes a monthly sports column and editor of the Salvation Army's On-Fire fortnightly magazine. David explained 'WarCry' magazine for the unchurched, 'On-Fire' the church and 'Red' youth. David is on the ARPA executive who at their last meeting approved a $1500 youth scholarship and half price at the annual ARPA conference for member publications 'youth delegates' at the conference. 

LUNCH - MELBOURNE

Photo:  Sophia Sinclair our new young writer editor and Benjamin James. Sophia flew in from Sydney for the day to meet the Melbourne young writers. Benjamin is at bible college and wait, stands 6'3". Benjamin is part of the mammoth Crossways Baptist Church in Melbourne. 

FRIDAY MORNING TEA - MELBOURNE

Photo:  Young writers: Jeremy Dover, Sophia Sinclair, Sarah and Stephen Urmston. Stephen is on staff at St Judes Anglican where he ministers with his puppets across Melbourne and Sarah ministers at Melbourne University to students. Jeremy Dover a sport scientist writes both a Comment and Sport column each month and coordinates the 5 sport writers. Sophia our new young writer editor flew in from Sydney for the day. 

FRIDAY BREAKFAST - MELBOURNE

Photo: Sophia Sinclair and Sarah Young. Sophia our new young writer editor. Sarah came alone as Jimmy found that his Ridley College class was bought forward to 9.00am. Sarah was awarded the Consistency Award last year and is six months away from completing her Masters degree in Psychology.  

THURSDAY EVENING - MELBOURNE

Photo: Sport Panellist Simon and Mary-Jane Farrer, with young writers Charley Goiris, Michael Enderby (Mark and Delma). Charley is a youth minister at Crossways and Michael is an intern with Scripture Union.  

E-BLAST - 22 FEBRUARY 2015

Delma continues to be diligent in her hand crafted card creations. These three were created as Valentine Day cards for our three girls, Anthea, Hayley and Salley. Delma has a monthly postage bill for the many cards that are sent to various ones in need or for encouragement, support, celebrations. ... whatever. So many say how much Delma's hand crafted cards mean to them. ,      

BIBLE READING DURANBAH BEACH

Saturday mornings (when available) Mark and Delma sit at Tweed Head's Duranbah Beach (or Point Danger) and read a chapter of the bible. Duranbah Beach is a professional surfers competition beach and is directly below Point Danger hill. One of our new young writers from South Australia Justin Monaghan is a national surfing judge while Australian young writer panellist John Skinner is a national rodeo judge.

JOHN GROCOTT

John Grocott is the statistician for our young writers Basil Sellers Awards. After each 5 week Cycle the Panellists points come in and John collates them. John is also our photographer -  NZ young writer conf. last year along with the annual awards conf. We are pleased to report John came through his prostate operation this past week. He came home Friday and back to hospital today with an infection. John and Mark get together each Wed morning.

JAPANESE SINGERS

Our local church (Banora Point Baptist led by Rev Ian Aylward) has several members of the congregation who host Japanese senior school students on a regular basis who visit Australia on exchange - here for 3-4 weeks. This last group, by their third week, were part of the worship singers out the front. The minister's dad joke (having got the Japenese girl's names right) - which was enjoyed by all - was his name was pronounced "Ian" (Ean) not "Iron' (as in ironing the clothes) ....  

STACY-ANN SMITH

Stacy-Ann Smith is one our new West Indies young writers being published for the first time in our 'international young writer' week. CV:

" .... is a third grade teacher and a psychotherapist. She is involved with youth and children’s ministry and has a heart to work with young women ...."

When advising Tues deadline is her Mon night,  Stacy-Ann replied she wasn't aware that her tomorrow is our today or her today is my tomorrow. My dad joke of the week in my response: "That's why the West Indies are such great cricketers, our batsman find that the ball was bowled yesterday."  Stacy-Anne sent me 6 ha's ....

DANIELLE JONES

Danielle Jones is one our new West Indies young writers who will be published for the first time this 'international young writer' week. Danielle has written for her CV: 

.....  undertaking a Bachelor of Arts in Drama as a part of a joint programme between the University of the West Indies, Mona and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica. She hopes to speak fluent Spanish someday, do global missionary work .... " 

E-BLAST - 15 FEBRUARY 2015

Mark and Delma's 38th wedding anniversary last Thursday - went out for dinner - the mandatory photograph which was put on Facebook. Mark's sister-in-law sent a reply that she loved Delma's top. As President John F Kennedy, after the First Lady was applauded, said, "No one comments on what Lyndon and I wear".  

WHAT'S GONE BEFORE

Mark's article on Tuesday is titled "Thanking God for what's gone before" and it is the story of how Mark founded and established the Sports Ministry in 1982 (in 2005 renamed Sports Chaplaincy Australia) - BUT - in the words of the initial chairman the Reverend Roger Reid (photo of Roger and Delma in 2007 when Roger and Marion visited us).  

'OPTIONS'

Each month's Tweed Heads Chamber of Commerce I offer a small art work as one of the "business card' draws. This one was titled 'Options' which I explained to my grand-son as having the option of three good things to choose - playing on his scooter, eating morning tea or watching cartoons.  

TIM NEWMAN

Tim Newman is one of our 2015 New Zealand young writers and his initial article last week raced to No1 Most Popular (most read) on the Christian Today home page. It was titled "What about the Spanish Inquisition" giving a very helpful dichotomy between the Kingdom's on this world and the Kingdom of God. From his article bio: Tim Newman lives in Christchurch, New Zealand. He holds an MA in History and is currently working as a ministry intern at Cornerstone Church.

LIANA MONAGHAN

Liana Monaghan is another of our 2015 new young writers and this is from her article bio:  Liana Monaghan lives in Goolwa, South Australia (near Victor Harbour) and currently is writing songs and prophetic psalms for the Lord before returning to part time teaching. Liana and her husband who is a prophetic artist run a creative home fellowship.

JENNY MIN KIM

Jenny Min Kim is another of our 2015 new young writers and comes from Sydney recommended by Anton Zhang who wrote for 2 years and now training as a pilot. Extract from her article bio: Jenny is studying Media and Communications at the University of New South Wales, comes from a dynamic family of four, and has an exciting hobby of reading hotel descriptions and has an interest in food, fashion and fitness.

E-BLAST - 8 FEBRUARY 2015

38th marriage anniversary this Thursday 12 February. Mark and Delma have four adult children and are grand-parents. Jewish theology teaches there are three in a marriage, the husband, the wife and the Spirit of the Lord. We warmed to this. Moreover in our 38 years of ministry we've also been blessed with five praying ladies who have prayed for us, our family and ministry every day!  

BUSINESS LUNCHEON MIDGE POINT

Planning ahead - 3 months time - Thursday 7 May - for the 2015 Midge Point - Bloomsbury Business Luncheon at The Point Tavern. The inaugural business luncheon was initiated as part of our wider WBA ministry for the local community and held last year. This year the Airlie Beach Chamber of Commerce leadership is coming to Midge Point to speak about local business and their experiences. 

MARK'S ARTICLE FOR MONDAY

Mark's article for Monday (tomorrow - 9 Feb) is on how a friend came to follow Jesus (become a Christian) from reading the Bible and learning of Biblical prophecy, Israel and Jesus' Second Coming. This photo is of our 2000 Holy Land Tour and the 800 metre tunnel under the Western Wall in Jerusalem.    

MARK'S TUESDAY ARTICLE

Mark's article for this Tuesday (10 Feb) is on how Australian Jewry went into lockdown on 15 December last year (the day of the Sydney terrorist attack). This photo is from our Turkey Early Churches of Acts of the Apostles Tour in 1999 and shows the Appollos Temple and Gymnasium which was once a synagogue.

MICHAEL ENDERBY

Michael Enderby is a new young writer and had his first article published in Christan Today last week (Tuesday) titled "Whose script are you reading from?" Michael is an intern with Scripture Union Victoria in their schools program while studying a Diploma in Youth Work with Praxis in Melbourne. Michael is one of our 18 new young writers from across the world in the 2015 program.

KELLY BINGHAM

Kelly Bingham from Brisbane had her first 'young writer' article published in Christian Today last week (Thursday) titled "Why Jesus is the ultimate super food". Kelly is at university studying veterinary science and one of the 18 new young writers from around the world introduced to the program in 2015.