Exploring Future Ministries
It was very encouraging to gather with over 30 people from across Australia, New Zealand, and Solomon Islands to explore future ministries. This happened 22-24 October in Geelong, at the Reformed Theological College(RTC). The conference delivered what it promised. It was stimulating, interactive, and practical.
The Explore conference began with a wonderful sit down evening meal. One of the classrooms was tastefully decorated and everybody had a chance to meet each other over some very good table fellowship. It was a great way to begin this two-day event, especially after many had to travel significant distance simply to get to Geelong.
Murray Capill, the principal and a lecturer at the RTC, began the conference by given everyone a vision of what the future looks like. He asked people to think about where they will be at in 2050 -- and where the church and her leaders will be at in 2050. This is only 36 years away. The reality is that we need a whole generation of pastors and ministry leaders since in 2050 only 2 or 3 current pastors, D.V., will be still serving CRCA churches. Thirteen of our pastors are over 60 years of age. In the next five years we need to raise up many new pastors, church planters, missionaries, and ministry workers if we are going to fill the many potential church vacancies, new churches and multi-staff positions in existing churches.
Karl Deenick began the second day by pointing out that "Ministry Is Death." Karl graduated from RTC not that long ago, and is currently the pastor of The Branch in Launceston, Tasmania. His exposition of 2 Corinthians 4 was a helpful reminder that while ministry can be really tough and demands much sacrifice, God does supply strength in our weakness and much joy in our serving. Bill Berends, one of the faculty at RTC, reviewed what it means to be Reformed. We were all reminded that when it comes to our core Biblical beliefs and traditions as Reformed Christians there are some things that are essential, others things that are beneficial, and perhaps a few things that are non-essential.
I had the privilege to give a talk about "The Gospel and Social Concern." As Christians we believe strongly that God is sovereign over all of life and we are to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God." (Micah 6:8) As a denomination we have agreed together that our missional mandate includes "penetrating the structures of our society with the gospel." God's grace makes us just! This message can be downloaded here.
In the evening we travelled together by train to the heart of Melbourne and Jonathan Vandenberg, our denominational youth worker, gave us a "tour" of the inner city. He challenged us to think about the gospel and social justice, and what this means in the midst of all the beauty and ugliness of the inner city. Over the past number of decades there has been a growing population shift from the rural towns to the inner cities. What does this mean for us as Christians and how can we reach these growing inner city population with the gospel? Lots to contemplate on.
The gathering concluded on Friday with guest Anglican clergyman Mike Raiter giving a talk on "Ordination: What Is It and Does It Matter?" It was insightful to hear someone speak from another Christian tradition challenging us to think seriously about the call of God on our lives for fulltime gospel work.
I came away from this two-day conference deeply grateful to God. As churches we are committed to multiplying the number of well-trained people for gospel work. Meeting and interacting with so many of those attending this conference was a reminder that the Lord of the harvest is answering our prayers for workers in his harvest field (see Matthew 9:38).
One of the young men attending this conference admitted to me that these two days completely challenged the way he thought about what he ought to be doing with his life. He now has further study in mind and is considering the ordained ministry. Praise our faithful heavenly Father. Jesus is building his church. And the Holy Spirit is impressing God's call on the next generation. To God be all the glory.
Some photos of this event can be viewed here.
About the author
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)
