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)
If there ever was a key emphasis in the life of Jesus, other than the glory of God, it was the kingdom of God! We see these priorities in the prayer Jesus modelled for us. He begins with the glory of God (hallowed be your name) and follows this up with the petition: "Your kingdom come." (Matthew 6:9) And if there is ever a key emphasis among Reformed churches, other than the glory of God, it...
This next core biblical value of the CRCA should not come as a surprise to you. We are Word-based. We are committed to biblical preaching, teaching, training, and equipping. In this series of blogs we are looking at the Biblical values that shape the culture of the CRCA, a contemporary, Reformed, gospel-focused denomination. We have already looked at the first value: Contemporary Reformed. As churches we are both confessional and contextual. This blog will consider the value...
Your ministry's context gives shape to your church's ministry. In this blog I want to share with you why this statement is true and essential for effective gospel work. And I am not just referring to reaching the lost for Christ. This statement is just as true and essential for nurturing and growing your church members. I have been writing about our values as churches, those Biblical values that shape the culture of a contemporary, Reformed,...
So who are we? I have had that question asked of me many times throughout my life. From birth to the present I have always been a member of a Christian Reformed Church (CRC). I have lived in three countries and on two continents, but I have always been a part of the CRC. In my youth the school I attended was across the road from a Reformatory. When I told other children that I went...
What do you value? Why do you do whatever you do? If you have lived for any length of years you have noticed that not every person is the same. No family is completely alike. No community is identical. The same is true of churches. There are differences, and these differences are based on what people or organizations value. Values have to do with one's identity, the core DNA or the specific culture of a group...
