Delma Tronson has partnered her husband Mark during 28 years of faith financed ministry. They have raised a family of four children (who have now all flown from the nest).
Sue Miller initially asked Delma Tronson how she became a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Delma responded that she remembers a scripture lesson when she was in 6th Class at school, when the teacher asked whether anyone could say who a Christian was.
The young and shy Delma raised her hand uncharacteristically, and answered that it was someone who read the Bible and prayed.
"NO" came a thunderous roar. This shocked Delma; it made her wonder that if this did not describe what a Christian was, what is a Christian? She said that she always thought she was a Christian, as she was raised in a Christian family and discovered for the very first time, she wasn't.
Delma Tronson said that one needs to realise you are not a Christian to learn how to become one.
To be a Christian, you need to repent of and confesses your sin to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking Jesus to forgive your sin, and accept that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin and rose again the third day as the assurance of Salvation. Moreover, no one can ever be good enough to be accepted by Jesus, as Salvation is a Gift from God for what Jesus did on the Cross.
Delma found that was a very difficult concept, that even our very best endeavours and best behaviour is never accepted by God for Salvation. Rather Salvation is all from God; that Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died for us. This is a gift, and each person decides whether he or she accepts this Gift and becomes a follower of Jesus or; rejects this Gift and all the consequences that follow as described in the Bible.
Delma Tronson said it took some years to come to this decision, but it wasn't until the Holy Spirit revealed it to her was she able to invite the Lord Jesus into her life, repent accept what the Lord Jesus did her for. Delma was 15 years of age.
Delma Tronson said she married Mark in 1977. She accepted his proposal of marriage after four years of courting. She prayed for the Lord to guide her in choosing her marriage partner, and chose Mark because first, he a Christian; second he showed characteristics of kindness which she appreciated; and third, he was persistent.
Sue Miller suggested that Delma Tronson should give seminars to young Christian women on seeking God's guidance in choosing a man for their marriage.
In 1982, Delma and Mark Tronson left a secure income to initiate a ministry that depended entirely on financial gifts (donations) to fund their family living and ministry. Sue asked Delma how she had felt about this.
Delma Tronson replied that this was a matter for God to deal with. When she had married Mark, he was a theology student and she knew that faith-financing might be on the agenda. Their faith has been rewarded, as in all these years God has provided 'in the nick of time' on many occasions.
Then in 1992 they packed up from Sydney and relocated to Moruya on the NSW south coast to initiate the Respite ministry for the Australian Institute of Sport athletes and coaches. Delma Tronson said that for the first six months she found the move very difficult, partly because it rained non-stop and she had an 18 month old baby and three at school.
The children settled in much better than she did, and ultimately Delma Tronson fell before the Lord Jesus Christ and sought wisdom and began to get involved in the local church and the community. It became a wonderful period for the Tronson family in a country town with its schools and church fellowships including the triple G's (God's Gorgeous Girls) ladies fellowships.
Then in December 2005 they relocated to Tweed Heads. Delma Tronson said they thought their ministry in Moruya was drawing to a close, they sought the Lord again as she had wanted to move north for some time to be closer to her elderly widowed mother who lived in Maclean, between Grafton and Ballina.
For this move to occur a number of things needed to come together and in God's miraculous timing they found someone from Canberra who could take on the Moruya ministry and a host of other things.
They found a house in Tweed Heads that met their ministry and personal needs. It was near the airport for Mark's travel commitments; the house was located in NSW for their youngest child's continued schooling in that education system as well as the ongoing legal incorporation of Well-Being Australia; it was conveniently close to shopping and community facilities, and much more.
In the Tweed, Delma Tronson who has a hearing difficulty has linked in with two separate Auslan (Australian Sign Language) groups, two Know Your Bible groups, Pastoral Care for the Aged and a ministry craft group. Delma's hand-crafted cards are used in both her ministry and Mark's, and have become well renowned.
Along with these engagements, Delma regularly accompanies Mark to AIS sport units based in south east Queensland, and joins him in speaking on Respite, and Country Town Tour mission trips and Around the Tables missions.
Delma's strategy for coping with this busy schedule is to arise early and devote the first hour and a half of every day to the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer, Bible reading and devotions.
In February 2009 Delma Tronson accompanied Mark to meetings with the Vancouver (Canada) 2010 Winter Olympic Village personnel discussing Olympic Religious Services. They proceeded to Los Angeles for a week of ministry with 'Coaches of Influence' and then to Dallas, Texas, where they were was presented with a Gold medal each, from Olympian of the Century, Carl Lewis, for their 27 years of Olympic and Sport ministry.
Sue Miller congratulated Delma on her long service, and commented that the presentation was a fitting recognition of the Tronsons' ministry.
This interview can be found at tv.bushorchestra.com/videopages/delma_tronson.html or www.safeworlds.net