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

06/17/23 • 49 min

1 Listener

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 YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H.

Previous Episode

From Leading as a Youth to Leading as a YSA | A How I Lead Interview with Meagan Patterson

Meagan Patterson is studying fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in Los Angeles. She is currently serving in her ward Young Women presidency in California. She has previously served as a ward Relief Society president and stake Relief Society president as a young single adult in Utah. She also served in the Zambia Lusaka mission. Highlights 2:40 Meagan’s background 4:30 Meagan shares her experience going from being in a Young Single Adult ward in Utah and moving as a mid-single adult to a geographical ward in California. 6:00 Previous leadership experience and mission in Zambia Lusaka 9:30 Story behind getting called to be the stake Relief Society president 12:50 Getting started as a Relief Society president and choosing counselors. Setting a foundation with the handbook. 16:20 Advice from Meagan’s dad before her mission. Let the elders serve you. It’s the same in our wards. Relief Society and elders quorum should serve one another and work hand in hand. 20:00 Coming together to work with the elders quorum. Things that Meagan did did to help the men in the ward to feel loved. 22:45 Love fuels leadership. We are leaders because we love. People recognize leadership when they feel loved. 24:40 Meagan’s experience working with young women. The unique challenges of an inner city ward. 28:20 Meagan shares her final thoughts and testimony on leadership and how it has brought her closer to the Savior. Links Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 600 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Next Episode

Inviting the Youth Into the Battle | A How I Lead Interview with Brooke Petersen and Thomas Sitterud

Brooke Petersen lives in Cleveland, Utah, a rural town south of Price. Her husband, Hans, commutes to West Valley City, Utah, where he practices pediatric dentistry. Brooke and Hans have five children, and Brooke enjoys working in the yard. She currently serves in the Church as the stake Young Women president of the Huntington Utah Stake. Thomas Sitterud also lives in Cleveland with his wife and three children. He served a mission to Vladivostok, Russia, and then studied Russian at Brigham Young University. He graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and specializes in estate planning. Thomas currently serves as stake Young Men president and stake high councilor. His previous service includes bishopric counselor and elders quorum president. Highlights 03:10 Introduction to Brooke and Thomas and their stake callings 07:20 Stake activities for the youth that they are preparing for 08:20 Stake young women president is Brooke’s first leadership calling. Even though she was intimidated she has been able to have lots of support and shares a fresh perspective. 12:10 Brooke shares the dynamic between her and the ward young women presidencies and how she works with them. 15:20 Thomas shares his perspective on working with the wards as stake young men president. 17:50 Focus on the what. Trying to get to know each girl better by attending youth sporting events and things they are involved with and sending out birthday cards to every girl in the stake. 24:00 Thomas shares what they do as stake leaders to help connect with the one. 27:20 Feeling supported by local leaders. Don’t tell people how important they are to you but show them how important they are to you by your actions and giving them your time. 29:40 Let the youth lead. Let them be a support to the ward just like the youth in Helaman’s army. 32:20 Brooke shares ways that they invite the youth to participate and lead. Giving the youth opportunities to speak with the high council on the third Sunday. 36:30 Getting youth involved at younger ages. Sometimes they have more enthusiasm for leadership roles. 39:30 Final thoughts on leadership. Links Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Watch on YouTube Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 600 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.