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)
We looking for leaders. Future leaders. And we are not alone. For years people across the globe have been saying that the world is facing a leadership crisis. Many are saying that we need more and better leaders to tackle the pressing issues of our times. This is particularly true with all the economic and political uncertainty in the world coupled with the increasing erosion of moral certitude. We are looking for leaders. This is true...
How are you at making disciples? What about your church? Perhaps you have not given this much thought as of late, But it is a very important question to consider. That is, if you are a follower of Jesus. If you are a Christian church. For Jesus himself told us that this is what we as Christians and churches are to be all about. Before he ascended into heaven Jesus commanded us to "go and make...
How do you train people and churches to become strategic and effective in evangelism? As a denomination, evangelism is one of key core Biblical values. Our mission is to be a church reforming to reach the lost for Christ. How do help one another achieve this outcome? What is our strategy in the CRCA? In this current series of blogs I am unpacking the nine specific strategies of how we will accomplish what God has called us...
Effective ministry begins when you as a church, or when you as a church leader, can give definition to the "how" of ministry. You need to have some strategies. It is one thing to understand who you are as a church and the God-given purposes that He has called to do live out in and through your church. When you as a church know your mission, vision, and core-biblical-values you can answer the 'who' and 'what'...
On our lounge table there sits a chess board. But I seldom take out the chess pieces out of their drawers. Why? Because I have not yet mastered strategy in chess. I am told that great chess players can glance at a position and quickly assess which side is winning. Not only that, but they can also determine the best moves and ideas for each side. Chess strategy is the purposeful attempt to gain an advantage...
