Jack De Vries was hired on by the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia and began his work as Ministry Training Coordinator in January 2008. In 2012 this role shifted to that of Ministry Development Coach.
Jack came from Canada where he pastored three Christian Reformed churches: Alliston CRC, Alliston, Ontario(1983-87), a church plant:...
Jack De Vries was hired on by the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia and began his work as Ministry Training Coordinator in January 2008. In 2012 this role shifted to that of Ministry Development Coach.
Jack came from Canada where he pastored three Christian Reformed churches: Alliston CRC, Alliston, Ontario(1983-87), a church plant: New Life Community Church, Pickering, Ontario(1987-95), and Bethel CRC, Listowel, Ontario (1995-2007). Jack is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity - 1983) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry - 2003) Jack and his wife Jeannie currently live in Petrie, a northern suburb of Brisbane in Queensland. They attend and are members of Bray Park Community Church. They have four adult children and seven grandchildren living in the USA and Canada.
In Isaiah 58:11 we read: "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Australia has seen times of drought and floods. There is another type of drought in Australia; there is a spiritual drought. But God promises to provide refreshing rain, a never ending supply of refreshing water. The water he provides will satisfy the needs of all Australians. As we take up the missional vision God has given us we extend the life changing invitation of Jesus: "Come! Whoever is thirsty, come, and take the free gift of the water of life!" (Revelation 22:17)
The power of an example cannot be understated. All of us have been influenced in life by others. If I were ask you to think about those people who have influenced your life, undoubtedly some names would crop up in your mind. As a believer it might be the powerful life of some pastor, a youth worker, a friend, or some other Christian in the formative years of your life. As a business person it could...
Today we live in a global village. Because of the internet, mobile phones, (pre-COVID) international travel, and the speed of how fast news spreads around the world, the distances between nations is shrinking. With the increasing ease of doing business internationally, Western countries are becoming multi-cultural. At the turn of the 20th century, cross-cultural ministry meant going overseas. Today cross-cultural ministry is as easy as crossing one's street. The nations have moved into our neighbourhoods. The...
Growth is an essential part of what it means to be human, to be created in the image of God. The Bible records the blessing that God pronounced on humanity at creation. God said, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth...." (Genesis 1:28) As a parent and grandparent I can testify to this blessing in life -- seeing children grow up, mature, and increase in number as one's own children have children. We...
How healthy is your church? Do you know? What would you look at to determine church health? Well let me tell you. It is like going to your local GP. Let's say that you want to know about your own physical health. You see your doctor who most likely will do a battery of tests. She checks your blood pressure. Puts a stethoscope to your chest and listens to your heart. To your back and listens...
It has been said that the road to anywhere is a road to nowhere. This is another way of saying that one should be certain about the path they take in life. Think about going on a holiday. Now I know there are those who simply hop in their car and head down the road seeing where the road might lead. The problem is that they are unsure of where they are heading. At the end...
