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)
PrayerPoints2015.pdf LettertoSessions2015.pdf
As churches we have committed ourselves to pray for the lost. This is our first task: "To call upon God for such an outpouring of his Spirit that his people will be assured of his love through his Word, seek to please the Saviour in all things, manifest the godly life and be filled with prayerful and sacrificial compassion for the lost in all the world."
The power of the gospel! This is what the apostle Paul reminded the church in Colossae. He wrote to them: "All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth." (Colossians 1:6) Bearing fruit and growing! As churches of the CRCA we believe this to be our God given mission here in Australia:...
One of my favourite spots in Brisbane is the Botanic Gardens near Mt Coot-tha. There you can wander through moist bamboo groves and arid areas that look a whole lot like sub-Sahara Africa. There are waterfalls, a tropical greenhouse, and the largest collection of Australian native rainforest trees in the world. But the best parts of the gardens are the resting spots. I love gardens like the Brisbane Botanic Gardens where you can...
As another calendar year draws to a close a chorus of Christmas carols fill the airwaves, city centres, and churches all over Australia. We hear of “Joy to the World” and this could not be more timely! We hear of over 130 children slaughtered in a Pakistani school. A lone gunman in the Sydney Lindt café with twisted religious and political beliefs holds people hostage; Tori Johnson is found dead and Katrina Dawson is fatally wounded. A...
I long for revival! I long for the day when revival comes to Australia and to other western nations. I long for the day when the presence of God is realized in the midst of our nation, when God is seen in industry, commerce, politics, in national and international affairs! I long for revival! "God our Saviour, ... will you not revive us again?" (Psalm 85:4,6) This prayer of the sons of Korah is the cry of...
