Derwin Gray is the founding and lead pastor of Transformation Church in North Carolina. He is a passionate speaker and has authored a number of books including The High Definition Leader: Building Multiethnic Churches in a Multiethnic World. Derwin has served on the advisory council for Lifeway’s leadership development team so Todd Adkins and I have gotten to now him quite well and consider him a friend. We love the way he attacks growth, discipleship, and leadership just like he used to attack running backs as an NFL linebacker. Our conversation about leading multiethnic churches, learning humility, and leading a family was insightful and lively. You will appreciate his candor and passion in this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions Podcast.
Best Quotes
“People don’t stop being White, Black, Asian, or Latino. You become redeemed in your ethnicity. And together we reflect Jesus more.”
“The more a church grows the more complex it becomes, so systems and processes and communications are very important – but also the orientation and re-teaching of people we bring on our team.”
“If they’re believers they don’t go to church; they are the church.”
“It’s not about making the weekend fun, it’s about an identity that we come together to celebrate as God’s people then scatter to be His missionaries.”
“When I go to conferences I’m gonna learn pretty much how to do a suburban seeker-type church.”
“I define leadership as embodying what you want other people to become.”
“I’m not quite sure that the American evangelical model of leadership is Jesus’s model of leadership.”
“When I blow it the greatest thing I can do as a leader is go to them and say ‘I blew it. Will you forgive me?’”
“My wife is my most important ministry.”
“For church leaders, if you’re not willing to apologize when you screw up you’re teaching your kids that there’s no grace and that there’s no forgiveness.”
“Leadership often looks more like a CEO than a shepherd. God calls us in the church to be shepherds, not celebrity CEOs.”
“When our words don’t match what we’re actually living that’s when burnout happens, affairs, and just unhealthy leadership.”
“The world was ok before Derwin Gray was born. Jesus wasn’t biting his nails.”
“Slow down and marinate in the deep, deep love of Jesus and let that minister to the hurts and wounds you don’t even know you have yet.”
“Multi-generational cross-pollination is so, so important for the church.”
“If a guy wants to rock skinnies, that’s cool. Just make sure your heart is filled with grace and humility and you don’t pass out from the jeans being too tight.”
Recommended Resources
The High Definition Leader by Derwin Gray
Limitless Life by Derwin Gray
A Fellowship of Differents Scott McKnight
Jesus: A Theography by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola
The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Pete Scazzero
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