Mark and Delma Tronson, founders of Well-Being Australia, are good friends.

Here’s an interesting recent press release about them.

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher

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> The Religious Media Agency – Ramon A.Williams PO Box 494 – Padstow NSW 2211 – AUSTRALIA phone: +61-2-9792-2393 – fax: +61-2-9792-2881 – 21 July 2004 http://au.photos.yahoo.com/rlgmediaau http://community.webshots.com/user/ramon_williams ——————————————————————- Telling others, what others are doing for the Lord. __________ NOD32 1.818 (20040720) Information __________

Photo Available – Mark and Delma Tronson ()

AIS Chaplain acknowledges the 20 year Miracle

Australian Institute of Sport chaplain the Reverend Peter Nelson having celebrated the 20 year anniversary of the Sports and Leisure Ministry (SLM)

last week says the miracles of the ministry’s founders Dr Mark and Delma Tronson is one of Australia’s most recent astonishing stories of Christian outreach.

“Mark and Delma Tronson were released from SLM by Heads of Churches in 2000 after ill health and their remarkable story over the years must never fall into deconstruction,” Reverend Nelson explained who has served at the AIS for 14 years.

In July 1982 Mark Tronson, a Baptist Minister was endorsed by NSW Baptist Churches to attend an International Sports-Mission Congress in Hong Kong and upon his return through his Inter-Church contacts initiated a Christian Ministry to Australia’s professional sports.

Over the next 18 months Mark gathered a small team of senior clergy to encourage his endeavours, he formulated a philosophy for his ideas and met with the Heads of Churches.

As a consequence a new national ministry, the “Sports and Leisure Ministry” was initiated by Mark and Delma Tronson in February 1984. Heads of Churches appointed representatives to a national board for Mark and Delma and the fledgling Ministry. One requirement was that Mark was to “raise his own funding” for his family support and the new Ministry.

“Mark and Delma became home missionaries moving from a secure parish ministry with the accompanying benefits of a regular income, a manse, a car allowance and all the other financial benefits

and sought finances through a monthly newsletter”, Peter Nelson explained.

The Australian Cricket Board appointed Mark Tronson as the Australian Cricket Team chaplain in 1984 and in the years following Mark met and successfully negotiated with Australia’s sports administrators appointing 150 chaplains – in

Cricket, NRL, AFL, NBL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Yachting, Motor Racing. Rugby, Baseball, Water Sports, Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and State campus’, State Institutes of Sports ….

Mark undertook sports ministry study tours in the USA and UK, preaching the glorious message of Jesus every where he went, and speaking at International Sports Ministry Congress’ in Seoul 1988, Miami 1989, Vanuatu 1989, Auckland 1990, Miami 1991, Port Moresby 1991, Atlanta 1992, London 1992, Atlanta 1996. Mark ran Sports Ministry National Conferences 1989-99, he evangelized nationally and had Christian elite athletes speak as role models at schools, breakfasts, dinners, churches and youth rallies.

“To better equip himself for this leadership task, Mark undertook two successful doctoral dissertations through US Baptist Universities on Sports Ministry. These were supervised by the Rt. Rev Dr Brian King, Bishop of Parramatta (now Retired). Dr King was the Anglican appointment on the National Board of the Sports and Leisure Ministry 1984-2000”, Peter Nelson stated.

Mark and Delma in 1992 moved home from Sydney to the small NSW south coast town of Moruya establishing what is now known as “Timeout in Moruya”, a retreat facility (Basil Sellers House) for Australian Institute of Sport athletes.

“The athletes at the AIS continue to thoroughly enjoy their relaxation visits to Moruya. During their stay Mark presents sports New Testaments from the Bible Society and ministers to each group. Mark continues in this ministry and a video has now been produced for the AIS”, Reverend Nelson said.

Meanwhile in those heady years Mark continued writing (author of 23 books)

and also wrote the hockey articles for “The Australian” over many years. In March 1998 Mark Tronson undertook a successful ATO Review and Audit on the Sports and Leisure Ministry which contributed to post traumatic stress and later a stint in the intensive care heart ward.

“Mark has been involved in Olympic Chaplaincy since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics he drafted the Religious Services protocols for the International Olympic Committee and was then invited to the IOC in Lausanne Switzerland in February 2000 to finalize the document. He continues to update it after each Olympics”, Peter Nelson explained.

Mark Tronson is possibly best publicly known for his ministry with the Australian Cricket Team from which his Executive Ministries to corporate leaders was developed.

“In November 2000 Mark moved from the Australian Cricket Team chaplaincy after 17 years to initiate Life After Cricket with the formation of the Retired Australian Cricketers Bi-Annual Newsletter with an editorial team of Allan Border, Greg Chappell, David Boon, Kim Hughes, Phil Emery, Jason Bakker. This has gained national attention”, Peter Nelson said.

After his release from SLM Mark took up painting as a means of recuperation and in May 2003 The Basil Sellers Art Centre was opened in Moruya at Australia’s Bush Orchestra, which is their birdsong bush walk for tourists and they continue to engage in Country Town Tours preaching in rural Australia.

“A key ingredient of their ministry since 1982 has been the faithful prayer support of those who pray every day for Mark and Delma, their family members and their ministry.

“They have had special prayer support from five elderly ladies who have committed themselves to daily prayer for over 20 years.

“They continue rejoicing in the Lord, with their daily living and ministry needs financed through their monthly newsletter and faithful supporters. They have raised four great children who are all following the Lord Jesus”, Peter Nelson extolled.

To contact Mark and Delma Tronson

Email bushorchestra[at]acr.net.au

Reverend Peter Nelson