E-BLAST - 26 JULY 2015

2015 Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize winner was announced on Saturday 25 July with Margaret Pearce as the winner with her art work titled "Trial Bay Gaol". The entries were deemed the best artistic endeavours to date since the inception of the art prize in 2013.  Mark was invited to be the MC once again. It was a very special day.
Photo - Neil Brooks The Point Tavern, Margaret Pearce and Mark T.  

WILL AND MARGARET PEARCE

Will and Margaret Pearce who did the hand rails for the front and rear steps and painted the yellow lines on the concrete patio edges after our bbq. It was wonderful in our eyes that the Proserpine art judge selected Margaret's art work as the Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize 2015 winner.   

WINNING ART WORK - MARGARET PEARCE

"Trial Bay Gaol" was the title of Margaret Pearce winning art entry in the Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize. The reflections of the glass made it very difficult to photograph. The fine stroke work depicting each stone brick (South West Rocks NSW) was something to behold. 

MARGARET PEARCE - SECOND ART ENTRY

Margaret Pearce with her second entry into the Basil Sellers Midge Point At Prize - each artist was permitted two entries. This art work was titled 'Sunbird at home'. It was judged in 7th place.

THREE WINNERS - 2013, 2014, 2015

2013, 2014 and 2015 Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize winners

2013 - Jill Leipertz
2015 - Margaret Pearce (centre)
2014 - Gina Passfield 

MARK AT THE BARBEQUE - LQ

Mark at the barbeque at Laguna Quays Respite when Will and Margaret Pearce came for a barbeque lunch in the car port entertainment area - to thank them for the great job they did on the hand rails - for the front and rear steps and yellow painted lines on the concrete pads.

E-BLAST - 19 JULY 2015

Sam Manchester is a young writer and attending the 1 August conference in Sydney. Sam is studying theology at Moore College having already gained a sociology degree from Sydney Uni. He put himself through both uni and seminary by becoming a master coffee shop exponent. Sam's dad Rev Simon Manchester St Thomas North Sydney a good friend over many years and way back the Sydney Bears Rugby League chaplain. For 12 years Simon wrote the bible teaching in our monthly newsletter and interviewed by Mark for the Australian Missionary News IPTV.   

CHRISTOPHER ARCHIBALD - YOUNG WRITER

Christopher Archibald is a foundation young writer and will be at the young writers conference on 1 August in Sydney. Chris' late grand mother Peg Rothwell was one of Mark and Delma's very first "praying ladies" from the very inception of their faith ministry. Christopher's mum and dad, Lindsay and Jan Archibald took over where Peg left off. Friends over 38 years.    

TIM ROBERTSON - YOUNG WRITER

Tim Robertson is a young writer attending the young writers conference in Sydney on 1 August. Tim's grand dad Henry Robertson secretary Croydon Park Baptist Church - Mark's first pastorate as a seminary student, 1979-80 when many of the families' young people were of age and came to Christ under Mark's ministry including Tim's dad, David Robertson, a good friend. Tim is a First Class Hon Student at Uin NSW in engineering.

MEENAL CHANDRA - YOUNG WRITER

Meenal Chandra is a young writer from Sydney attending the young writers conference on 1 August. Meenal is at bible college in Sydney and came to us three years ago through Grace Mathew one of our foundation young writers. I am often heard to say to Meenal that she has a killer smile. Meenal says it's the smile of the joy of the Lord. 

SAM JAMES - YOUNG WRITER

Sam James is one of the young writers attending the 1 August young writers conference in Sydney. Sam James is a musician, he and his brother Adrian play professionally and they played at Sam and Salley's wedding in March 2013. Sam from Wollongong has a degree in media and communication. 

E-BLAST - 12 JULY 2015

Delma and her friend Lorraine of 47 years - grew up together in their high school years in Maclean and the Baptist CE youth group. Ed and Lorraine from Cessnock have attended our children's weddings and Delma thoroughly enjoys Lorraine's visits. Ed was called away so Lorraine took this time to visit friends and family. When they both visit, Ed climbs on the roof and cleans out the gutters - a very welcome friend.

DELMA IS BIG ON HIGH TEAS

Delma attends quite a number of high teas with various groups in the Tweed Heads area. Even our local Banora Point Baptist church has held high teas - the church runs a week-day cafe so the facilities are there. This was one of the plates for the Auslan (deaf sign language) High Tea - enjoyed by all. I think Delma and her high tea friends might all be high tea junkies! 

JEREMY DOVER - SPORT WRITER CO-ORD.

Jeremy Dover is the young writer Sport writer coordinator working with the sports writers to ensure their articles get published on time. Jeremy has attended all three 'award' conferences - Melbourne 2013, Tweed Heads 2014 and on 1 Aug in Sydney. Jeremy lives in Geelong - wife Ruth and two children. Jeremy recently competed in a major triathlon in Cairns and was a former marathon runner. He is a sport scientist and theologian and ministers in the community. Jeremy spoke at last year's conference on ministry in the community.

BRIDGET BRENTON - ALL 3 CONF'S.

Bridget Brenton is one of several who have attended all three 'award' conferences - Melbourne 2013, Tweed Heads 2014 and 1 Aug in Sydney. Bridget has also written a number of 'mission' articles for Christian Today along with a Christian News article published on Thursday about an outback mission 12 seater van crash. Steve and Bridget spent 7 years teaching English in China and I have both Bridget and Ocar Duan from China to open the 2015 conference praying God's blessing in Chinese.   

LAURA VELOSO - WEEKLY CONF. UPDATE

Laura Veloso is one of the young writers who has attended all three 'award' conferences - Melbourne 2013, Tweed Heads 2014 and now Sydney on 1 August. Laura in 2013 won the 'Tronson' - the Consistency Award (2nd place) determined by the Panellists. Each Thursday Laura writes a note on the conference in the weekly 'memo' to the young writers. 

PSI EDITOR ON HOLIDAY

PSI young writer program editor Sophia Sinclair with husband Andrew and toddler Guy last week were on holiday in Kiama. Andrew is at bible college (SBMC) and last week was the college winter break so where does a family from Christchurch NZ go for their week holiday - the beautiful NSW south Coast. This photo is at Minammurra Falls. 

E-BLAST - 5 JULY 2015

Mark's Footplate Padre ministry is one of his 'specialities' with his 16 books on train driver's anecdotes, his monthly article as the Footplate Padre and his meetings with current and former train drivers. Mark worked as a locomotive engineman for 10 years prior to seminary (Morling). Mark still speaks and thinks like a train driver which is one of his disarming attributes. With his stammer he was voted the worst speaker at Morling but the best communicator by a country mile.
Photo - Mark's 4th of 16 railway books, Train Driver's Stories      

FRED SCHAEFFER - MISSIONARY

Fred Schaeffer (and wife Carol) from the US have been in missionary service with Australia's indigenous peoples for nearly 20 years and lives not far from Mark. Fred and Mark get together for a cuppa from time to time. Fred was on such a mission at Easter when the 12 seater he was in crashed and ended upside down. We have a Christian News story on this specific mission this week.  

TIM WILSON - WRITER RETURNING

Tim Wilson has returned as a young writer after an 18 month break. Tim was with YWAM in Brisbane and invited Mark to speak on sports ministry at a DTS (Discipleship Training School). Tim then become one of the AIS Brisbane Unit chaplains and after his marriage to Genevieve (a Canadian), she too became a young writer. After 2 children the family relocated to Canada (now a family of 3) Tim dropped out so as to secure work but became a Sport Panellist. He has now returned as a young writer. His first article back was published last week.  

KANDIMA AWENDILA - 1 AUF CONG

Kandima Awendila Mozambique will be at the 1 August young writer conference. Kandi was in Mozambique unable to be at the Melbourne 2013 conference, was able to get to the Tweed Heads conference last year and will be in Sydney for 1 August conf. Kandi celebrates with everyone! A great sport, loads of fun and we rejoice with Kandi.  

ZACH RADLOFF - 1 AUG CONF.

Zach Radloff Gold Coast is the young writer's IT columnist. 1 Aug Sydney will be Zach's third conference, Melbourne 2013, Tweed Heads 2014 and now Sydney 2015. Zach is being billeted by fellow young writer Christopher Archibald who he met at the Melbourne conference two years ago.

CLAIRE DEBROIS NZ - 1 AUG CONF.

Claire Debrois Wellington NZ works with the NZ Bible Society and to keep herself busy and away a lot as a NZ Reservist Military Officer. Claire says of her American husband 'he's used to it'. Claire will be at the 1 Aug young writer conf in Sydney. Fantastic!