Many people wonder, how do we reach the lost for Christ? Where do we begin? What is our first task? As churches we have agreed that our missional task begins with prayer. We are "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."
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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O God, you are the fountain of all truth; we ask you to protect your church from all false teaching.
Protect the Church
From all teaching and preaching which would destroy people's faith;
From all that removes the old foundations without putting anything in their place;
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A friend of mine, Chris Schievink, moved several years ago to a second pastorate. This church has experienced significant growth. So I asked him, "What contributed to this growth?" I found his reply inspiring. This is what he wrote:"When I arrived 3 years ago, I remember making rediculous claims that the "church would grow." It was ridiculous because Calvary church {Chatham, Ontario, Canada] had not enfolded one new person in years. But I really felt like it would happen...
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"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald. Now, this might disqualify 50% of humans beings, as my wife keeps reminding me:
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"Church has changed since you were a kid." This was the slogan of a church plant a mate of mine, Darrell Bierman, planted in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada( www.rivercitychurch.org ). And this church was different. Church has changed! Not the gospel, but the way churches do ministry.
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