Offering Transformation Through Jesus to Those You Lead | An Interview with Pastor Derwin L. Gray

Dr. Derwin L. Gray and his wife Vicki Gray are the co-founders of
Transformation Church, just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina,
where he serves as Lead Pastor. They met at Brigham Young
University where he played football and she threw the javelin on
the track team. They have two adult children. After graduating from
BYU, Pastor Derwin played professional football in the NFL—five
years with the Indianapolis Colts and one year with the Carolina
Panthers. During that time, he and Vicki began their journey with
Christ. Pastor Derwin went on to graduate magna cum laude from
Southern Evangelical Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree with
a concentration in Apologetics, and was mentored by renowned
theologian and philosopher, Dr. Norman Geisler. He was later
awarded an honorary doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary,
and he received his Doctor of Ministry in the New Testament in
Context at Northern Seminary under Dr. Scot McKnight. Pastor Derwin
speaks at conferences nationwide and is the author of several
books, including How to Heal Our Racial Divide: What the Bible
Says, and What the First Century Christians Knew about Racial
Reconciliation. Highlights 02:00 Kurt introduces Pastor Derwin
Gray. 03:30 What do you do as a pastor? It’s not a job. It’s a
calling. 06:00 How he came to play with BYU football and in the
NFL. The spiritual awakening that led Derwin to become a pastor.
13:00 Taking religious courses at BYU without much of a religious
background. Derwin shares some of the experiences that he had in
his classes. 16:30 Being at BYU taught Derwin to learn the story of
other people that you love. It taught him a moral framework and
what it means to take care of your own. 19:10 Leadership from Coach
Edwards He surrounded himself with good coaches He delegated to
them He empowered his staff He built strong relationships 22:30
Delegation means finding and equipping the right people to
implement the vision and championing them to do it. 23:30 Tips for
delegation You are clear on what you are asking them to do You are
prepared to prepare them to do what you are asking them to do
Celebrate them for what they do 26:45 Motivating the volunteers and
people that are serving. Lovingly pushing people towards action.
32:15 The dynamic between the congregation and a pastor. They have
a big staff to care for and shepherd their people. The pastor can’t
do it alone. 34:40 The biggest things that Derwin sees that his
congregation is struggling with: anxiety, depression, fatigue,
comparison, trauma. 37:15 I can’t carry people’s hurts; I have to
carry them to Jesus. Learning to have compassion without getting
compassion fatigue. 39:40 Crash course on giving a sermon on Jesus.
It’s not about information, it’s about transformation. 45:00 Derwin
shares his insights on sharing a testimony. Many in our church
testify that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Church is true
but don’t talk about how Jesus has changed their lives. 46:00 The
role of Derwin’s wife, Vicki, in the ministry. Women have a vital
ministry role. 48:00 To be a bishop or pastor doesn’t mean telling
people what to do. Their job is to serve the staff and
congregation. 49:30 A lot of times we get our leadership style from
culture and not from Christ. 52:40 Pastor Derwin shares his final
thoughts and testimony on leadership. Links derwinlgray.com Books
by Pastor Derwin Gray Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on
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