"Best ever... balance between great talks and free time was really good. Lovely, special activities. I feel privileged to have been here, 'refreshed,' 'renewed,' and thankful." These comments made by one of the persons attending Recharge 2014 reflect what just about everybody said about the recent CRCA Ministry Conference held in Collaroy Conference Centre, Collaroy, NSW.
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)
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For churches to be healthy they require regular feeding. But too much manure can do more harm than good.
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Most plants you find in the local nursery have tags. It doesn't matter if it is an indoor or an outdoor plant. The tags will not only tell you the name of the plant; it will tell you where to plant it or where to place it. See not all plants thrive in every spot. Some indoor plants thrive in a western exposure, where they will get lots of afternoon sun. Put...
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Healthy churches require good seed and deep roots. That is the point I made in my previous blog. In this blog we will discover more wisdom from the garden. As I learned from my dad, when you plant a garden you must avoid overcrowding, but don't force plants to stand alone. It is like this, when you plant a garden, you first must make sure the young seedlings are not overcrowded. If you...
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How central is mission to the message of the Bible and the identity of the church? Over the past number of years, as CRC churches here in Australia, we have been exploring these questions as we seek to be churches that are reforming to reach the lost for Christ. In the last Recharge Conference held in Sydney (May 2013) Mike Goheen, Mark Glanville, and Erin Goheen-Glanville clearly showed how central mission is to our core...
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