Reverend Roger Reid, the inaugural sports ministry chairman, explained that Heads of Churches recognised Mark Tronson's sporting links at the highest level. He mentioned that Mark and Delma exhibited three 'unquantifiable' factors - also see previous article published in Christian Today Australia: au.christiantoday.com/article/roger-reid-reveals-the-due-diligence/3891.htm
Firstly, Mark and Delma convey a spirit of expectancy that others eagerly want to embrace;
Secondly, Reverend Roger Reid observed they had a remarkable family stability. He commented, "As you observe the way they have overcome Mark's speech impediment and Delma's hearing impairment, you find any encounter with them and their children memorable and delightful";
Thirdly, there was an intuitive feeling that 'only God' brings about such a thing as this. Heads of Churches believed that the Spirit of the Lord was initiating a new paradigm of ministry across the nation. There was confidence and excitement that this new venture would 'open up' vision for 'ministry outside the church walls' in many other people across the Christian landscape.
Observing these things coming together gave Heads of Churches an opportunity to house such a 'high profile ministry' under its own wing. There was a sense in which there was a need to ensure that in no way political gamesmanship was going to derail such a venture from which so many other things might spring forth, and therefore a sharp vigilance was maintained.
This was a unique situation in so far as Top Sport plays such a dominant place in Australian history and culture.
This was one of the invaluable insights that came from Mark Tronson's mentor, the late Reverend F P McMaster of Canberra Baptist Church, who was part of his foundation group and had been an experienced Army chaplain.
Another of F P McMaster's insights was the clear advantage for such a structure in that the Denominations provided fully accredited and highly skilled personnel (the sports chaplains). Moreover there was a clear line of denominational authority where lay ministry was likewise accredited.
In this way, the Sports Ministry did not need to spend countless hours and money re-training personnel, which has often been a bane for many ministries and missions.
Another aspect that proved critical in the exponential development of the Sports and Leisure Ministry was that Mark Tronson determined that a uniquely Australian model was necessary. His experiences from studying the various USA and UK sports ministries made him realise we could not just export another culture of ministry into our situation.
Over several years Mark Tronson undertook overseas study tours to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Pro Athletes Outreach, World Sports, Christians in Sport and others and each was either too highly specialised or would not easily fit into an Australian ministry context.
The home grown 'Australian chaplain' welcomed a good long look at his or her ministry by those to whom they served. This is a habit that Australians have developed over their history, where they abhor 'putting on airs and graces'. Being seen as 'ordinary' yet performing 'extra-ordinarily' is a key to Australian ministry integrity.
Reverend Russell Hinds' ministry as the inaugural Queensland cricket chaplain was an example of this, Mark Tronson has noted. Russell's late father taught him the finer points of playing pool and, in relaxed mode, the cricketers found Russell hard to beat. "There is a great deal of camaraderie established around a pool table," M V Tronson mused.
The miracle of the philosophical foundations of the Australian sports ministry is that Mark Tronson determined a sound theological and practical process in order for the sports ministry to be based on a solid footing. In this he was fully supported by his partners, the Heads of Churches and his own Baptist denomination.
In other words, Mark Tronson had comfort in knowing that his 18 months of foundational theological and philosophical work would not be undermined by short cuts for any immediate but unsatisfactory long term outcomes.
