Today, I get to chat with Dr. Derwin Gray, pastor of Transformation Church and former NFL player, to talk about his brand-new book, Lit Up With Love: Becoming Good-News People to a Gospel-Starved World.
Dr. Gray’s story is powerful—going from a college football scholarship at BYU to an NFL career, then encountering the relentless love of Jesus through a teammate who shared the gospel with him for five years. He opens up about how that love transformed his life, healed his heart, and set him on a mission to bring the good news to a world desperate for hope.
We dive into:
• His journey from the NFL to pastoring a thriving, multiethnic church
• How sports taught him about leadership, discipline, and faith
• The way God’s love changes how we see ourselves, our families, and our purpose
• Why everyday believers are called to be everyday missionaries
• What it means to be “lit up with love” and how the gospel fuels our witness
Dr. Gray reminds us that the nations are no longer just “out there” they’re right here, and the church has a calling to welcome and love people from every background. He challenges us to see the mission field in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and everyday relationships.
This conversation is full of wisdom, encouragement, and a deep passion for Jesus. Don’t miss it!
📖 Grab your copy of Lit Up With Love—out today!
Bio:
Dr. Derwin Gray is the cofounder and lead pastor of Transformation Church (TC), a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a popular conference speaker and the author of Hero: Unleashing God’s Power in a Man’s Heart, Building a Multiethnic Church, The Good Life, Limitless Life, and God, Do You Hear Me?
Derwin earned a master of divinity degree with a concentration in apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary under the mentorship of the renowned theologian Dr. Norman Geisler and a doctor of ministry degree in the New Testament in context at Northern Seminary. Derwin is also a graduate of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism.
Derwin met his wife, Vicki, at Brigham Young University. They have been married since 1992 and have two adult children, Presley and Jeremiah.
Transformation Church:
Derwin L. Gray and Vicki Gray are the co-founders of Transformation Church (TC), in Indian Land, South Carolina (just outside of Charlotte, NC) where he serves as Lead Pastor and she serves as Executive Director of Spiritual Formation and Staff Health.
Anchor Verse:
Galatians 2:20
Connect with Derwin and Transformation Church:
Website: https://www.derwinlgray.com
FB:https://www.facebook.com/DerwinLGray
Transformation Church:https://transformationchurch.tc
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