Ministries

Angel's Unaware No 8 - Bill Hellier and John Williams

Every one in Christian ministry has had specific people from their early years of life right the way through into ministry who have somehow come into their lives who after reflection have been, what I refer to as: 'Angels Unawares'.

Chairman of Well-Being Australia Mark Tronson says it has been his privilege to have been a receiptent of many 'Angels Unawares' leading up to and during his 18 years of founding the Sports and Leisure Ministry, 17 years as the Australian cricket team chaplain, and now 29 years of faith financial living.

Two of these Angels Unawares were Bill Hellier and John Williams.

Mark Tronson picks up the story: Our family moved from Mackay Queensland to Canberra in 1960 and as we were foundation members of the Mackay Baptist Church, our family began worshipping at Canberra Baptist. Us three children were baby boomers.

Mum played lots of hockey in pre WWII days and when she found that Canberra Baptist Church had a sports ministry as an outreach with hockey teams for boys, Kim my brother and I, were slotted in.

John Williams was the Canberra Baptist Hockey Club guru and Bill Hellier was the Under 12 hockey coach. This was my team.

Bill had an Austin A30 and every Saturday morning during the hockey season, he would collect us boys, and the only place for the hockey sticks was out the window. Bike push riders took a chance when we drove past!

Each year the hockey club’s annual celebration was the “Pie Night” and us boys could eat as many pies as we could muster. It was great fun!!

Those men took me under their wing and showed me by their lives what was ‘Christian-manhood’. When I left home at 16 they both carefully followed my comings and goings and prayed for me.

When I entered Theological College they noted my direction and encouraged me. As I developed my ministry to the Australian cricket team chaplaincy they mentored my commitment to Christ as a priority in ministry.

As my Tourism Ministry developed, Australia’s Bush Orchestra, John and (late) Nancy Williams visited us and John brought to Australia’s Bush Orchestra a Hughes Baptist Church 'oldies outing' coach load.

I regularly see Bill and Sirphim Hellier on visits to our home church and I was able to interview Bill Hellier in 2009 on the Australian Missionary News IPTV which can be viewed at www.safeworlds.net

As I reflect upon my life journey, as a “ten year old” hockey player in the Canberra Baptist Hockey Club, through to adolescence and adulthood and then onto Christian ministry, here were two remarkable Christian men, who were indeed Angels’ Unawares.

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Will Graham's Sydney breakfast: “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi, Oi, Oi"

The call rang out into the chilly Sydney morning as a group of congenial Australians taught a visiting American their..