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)
Who has influenced your life? Helped you become who you are today? Achieve the goals you have reached? It might be a parent, a father or mother who were good role models in your formative years. Or a teacher at school. Her love for poetry and English composition inspired a passion in your life for reading and writing. As I think back over the six decades of my life I have...
What is the key to church renewal? Congregational health? Missional vitality in and through the local church? I am often asked these questions in my coaching role with pastors, church leaders, and churches. People are often looking for the 'silver bullet' that will be a fix all for churches. But while there is no 'silver bullet' there are some key things about church renewal that many people miss. One of the key...
I just travelled through the hill-country of South Gippsland in Victoria. You cannot be unimpressed with the grandeur of the rolling landscape. And you cannot miss seeing all the cows. They literally dot the hills. Cattle beyond number on countless hills. As I made my way on these winding roads I was reminded of Asaph's words in Psalm 50:10 "The cattle on a 1000 hills are mine." These are God's words, and...
Why do you do what you do? And how do you do it? The Bible calls us to do good to others. For example, we read: "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." (1 Tim. 6:18) As Christians we are to "abound in every good work." (2 Cor. 9:8) This is what God created us to do: good works...
Vision is important! We just installed room darkening shades on our bedroom windows. They are great for keeping our room dark, especially on those Queensland summer days when the sun is up soon after 4:00 am. But they are not great for improving vision. If I need to get up in the middle of the night I find myself fumbling and stumbling about in the dark. I just cannot see where...
