Press Service International in conjunction with Christian Today runs its young writer conference every year. The 2020 date is September 12. This is three months away.
It is ‘on hold’ - waiting on Covid 19 restrictions to be lifted for air travel. The 2020 annual young writer conference looks likely to be a YouTube Awards video.
Nonetheless, consider the following when running a young writers conference with volunteers.
Volunteers need to want to come. Over these past many years the young writer ministry has done everything in our power to make their annual conference such a beauty they will want to come again.
This is a difficult thing as many of those who come enjoy it immensely but then their circumstances change and they move on to something else. Every year we have similar numbers but for much of the case, different faces.
We have in the past offered air-fare scholarships. Time and time again young writers have welcomed help in air fares to the conference - for example, 2015-2016 in Sydney, 2017 Sunshine Coast, 2018 Christchurch, 2019 Melbourne …. then for some of the young writers, 2-3 months later they’re gone from the program.
I’m unable to do much about any of these things above, it’s the nature of volunteerism and running a young person’s ministry where stability may not be on an agenda that meets ours.
We do it again and again as the value is to prepare these young people for Christian ministry into the future. Therefore we accept this as part of our responsibility in this young writer ministry. It is a joy to the heart.
Our support network sends in the money to meet these costs as much as we’re able, and they too understand these matters. They had children themselves and were able to see such things first hand, It is okay.
2020
The 2020 conference is at the Living Temple Christian Church (adjacent to the Gold Coast Airport) on Saturday 12 September from 9.30am to 5.00pm. This is the normal run down program.
Morning sessions
2 plenary’s
Afternoon sessions
Input and discussions
4.00p
Annual Awards
Plus morning and afternoon tea and lunch - there are eateries opposite and across the road. Plaques and certificates for the awards are donated. Morning and afternoon tea donated. Venue donated.
We are always looking for new young writers 18-30 years of age - enquiries - timeout@bushorchestra.com 0419 917 713 speak to the very congenial Dr Mark Tronson
The monies raised bare directed to finding mechanisms to get the young writers to the conference.
Any help in this direction is greatly appreciated – tax deductible
Well-Being Australia Operations Account
BSB 082 739 Account 75068 2952
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award, The Gutenberg. In September 2020 Summer Moore presented her commission portrait of Dr Mark Tronson holding the Gutenberg plaque. The above photo is the upper part from this portrait.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at: http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
