Ministry Formation 2022
At Synod 2022 that just met in Launceston (TAS), 1-6 May 2022, I gave my final report to Synod in my current role as Ministry Development Coach. I have been serving the CRCA in this role since 2007 as part of Ministry Formation. In my final report I not only summarized what Christ has been doing in and through the churches over the past decade and a half. I also looked forward and suggested three things that as churches we ought to hope for. Here are the three things I shared at this gathering.
- As we look ahead into the next triennium and beyond what do we hope to see. We hope to see a continued focus on discipleship rather than membership – to grow our churches deep, not just wide. There is a real danger, as we see in mainstream Christianity, to simply fill up our pews with people. To increase our membership. What we hope to see is a growing commitment as church leaders and churches to grow people as disciples of Jesus – teaching them to obey everything Jesus has taught us, and as disciples to make more disciples.
- In addition, we hope to see a compassion for the lost rather than complacency when it comes to evangelism and outreach – to see conversion growth, not just transfer growth. The fields around us are white for the harvest, and the opportunities to reach the lost with the good news of Jesus are many and various. There is a real danger for us as churches and a denomination to give lip service to evangelism rather than be driven by a passion for the lost. What we hope to see is hundreds, even thousands of our unsaved neighbours, be enfolded into our churches.
- We hope to see a surplus of gospel workers rather than a shortage of ministers to serve our churches – to seize opportunities to expand our ministries and plant new churches. Today we see a shortage – but can you imagine the day, perhaps 10 years from now, when we have a glut of gospel workers? Every vacant position filled, new ministry positions explored, and gospel workers equipped and ready to plant new churches.
This might seem like a pipedream, but is it? Is this not the vision given to us in Scripture – the vision of churches bearing fruit and growing? The testimony rings true: “The one who calls us faithful, and he will do it!” (1 Thessalonians 5:24) Jesus will build his church.
You can listen to my entire report to Synod 2022 here.
About the author
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)
