Dave Groenenboom is one of the pastors at Gateway Community Church, a growing CRCA church south of Perth in WA. He describes his work as ‘the best job ever’. Before moving to Gateway in 2011, Dave served congregations in Queensland (Redlands), Victoria (Cobden, Doveton) and Tasmania (Hobart). Dave is passionate about effective Gospel ministry which sees churches become contexts where followers are well nourished, equipped and empowered for God’s mission. The words of Paul are profound and inspirational “we put up with anything rather than hinder the Gospel of Christ” (1 Cor 9.12).
Murray Capill has lectured in the pastoral ministry subjects (preaching, pastoral care, worship and leadership) at the Reformed Theological College in Geelong since 2001. From 2001 to 2005 he was also part-time pastor of the Christian Reformed Church of South Barwon, and prior to that he was pastor of a Reformed Church in Auckland, New Zealand for 10 years. From the beginning of 2008 he has been Principal of the RTC. Murray is a graduate of the College, and also has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in California.
His work at the College allows him to invest in the lives of people training for various areas of ministry. In particular, it gives him the opportunity to help the next generation of pastors, preachers, church leaders, church planters and evangelists to know God’s Word well and minister it with accuracy and urgency. It is God’s Word that changes lives. And when it is ministered faithfully it never returns void. Our vision for the advance of the gospel in Australia and beyond must be a vision for God’s Word to be spread – unleashed! We need a multiplication of Word-centered ministries and a great army of men and women who are mighty in the Word and effective in ministering it to others. We particularly need a new generation of Spirit-empowered preachers who know the Word and know the times in which we live, and can speak the former into the latter
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, Jack took on the role 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 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)