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)
You might have heard it said, where there's life there is hope. This deep truth has been said beside many a sick bed, many a tragedy. As humans we are always hoping as the great English poet Alexander Pope put it: "Hope springs eternal in the human breast." We live in anticipation of better things into the future. This is what we constantly look forward to. If there was any time when hope is...
The idea of resilience is as simple as the metaphor of a rubber band. Rubber bands, like people, come in different sizes and are subjected to different challenges. They also have different thickness and abilities to stretch–shorter or longer. With normal use, a typical band will not break. If you stretch a rubber band to its maximum, it usually springs back. But it can easily be stretched beyond its limits. When a rubber band is exposed...
There is a huge need for preachers of the Word! Every week I am reminded of that need as I serve the churches here in Australia. Currently we have 13 vacant positions in our churches. These are ministry positions that need to be filled by preachers. In a decade this number will double if nothing is done to meet this need. So what do we need to do? How do we raise preachers? Immediately we might...
In highschool I had two friends who had a passion for motorcycles. While I was focused on my studies and preparing for university, they inspired me with their stories of adventures riding their bikes on the weekends. Many years later I took up that passion and to this day create my own stories of motorcycle adventures. In my first congregation I met this master craftsman who could turn rough lumber into heirloom furniture. It was...
How well do you know God? I think I know my wife Jeannie. I know she likes drinking Chai tea. I know she loves going for hikes. I know she enjoys her work in aged care. I know she likes sleeping on cool sheets. I know the relationships she keeps: her friends, the ones she regularly writes to, and her love for Jesus and her desire to follow God. But...
