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)
All you need is a good hook. It needs to be sharp. And clean. And shiny. The same is true if you are using a lure with their fancy three-pronged hooks. If you want to catch a fish, you need a good hook. You might have some tasty bait or a bright new lure, but if the hook is no good, you won't be catching many fish. Sharing the gospel and making disciples is...
Most discipling in churches today is done with Christians who are already committed or desire to be more committed. This is where we begin when we think about making disciples. But when I read the gospels I find Jesus beginning with those who desperately need saving. The lost. The outcast. The misfits. Jesus was not the only one. I am intrigued by the story of David in the Old Testament. ...
Have you ever been desperate? Really desperate? So desperate that it drove you to your knees in prayer? I have been there. Often. Really desperate for God to hear and answer my prayers. One time of desperation I remember so vividly. My wife Jeannie and I moved to a new city to plant a church. We knew we had to rely on the Lord! We had no people,...
I might get into trouble for saying this, but I am not a fan of the usual 'meet and greet' times in so many of our churches. Oh, it might work well for people who are regulars at church. They do this every Sunday as they sit in the same pews or seats, and they usually shake the hands of the same people. Week in, week out. But this could be the worst...
I always found catching fish easier than cleaning fish. Not that I am that good at catching fish, but cleaning fish is not easy. It smells. Your hands become filthy. The fish is so slippery that it moves all over the place. And what do you do with all the guts? Years ago I would bury the guts in the ground, but we had this dog that loved to dig them...
