Derwin Gray on Racial Reconciliation as a Gospel Imperative

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast! We have a great episode today with our guest Pastor Derwin Gray. You may have heard of Pastor Derwin - he leads the multi-ethnic, multi-generational Transformation Church. It is a mission-based church with four campuses near Charlotte, North Carolina. Derwin grew up unchurched, but attended Brigham Young University, where he met his wife, who had also grown up unchurched. It was during his first year in the NFL playing for the Indianapolis Colts that Derwin heard the gospel from a teammate. Around the same time his wife also heard the gospel through a coworker and both Derwin and his wife came to Christ. Eventually they moved to Charlotte so Derwin could play for the Carolina Panthers, and Derwin also began speaking at various events around the country. Soon it became clear that the secular world was much more diverse and integrated than the church world. In fact, Derwin said the church was the most segregated world he had experienced. So on February 7, 2010, Derwin, his wife and a few other people planted Transformation Church in order to create a more unified and integrated church. Their first service opened with 701 people and they have been growing fast ever since. Derwin talks with us today about how Transformation Church embraces the gospel through racial reconciliation and discipleship. Theological, not sociological. // When coaching other pastors on how to better integrate their churches, Derwin instructs them that the desire to do so needs to be based on a theological conviction, not cultural relevance or social pressure. Our motives should be based on the true gospel where Jesus is the superglue that unites former enemies so we can reflect God's glory. Transform your church into a foretaste of the kingdom to come, where ethnic differences don’t separate people. It’s not about me, it’s about the we for the glory of God. // Derwin tells us on average local churches are 10 times more segregated than the schools they are near, and 20 times more segregated than the neighborhoods they are near. Churches have become built on a foundation of consumerism rather than reflecting the community they are a part of. Globally we are a family of believers, but how can we live that our practically within our local communities? Come together through the vision. // Professional sports is a very diverse world. Derwin points out that the majority of college basketball coaches are white, but their players are diverse. And yet, the coaches don’t have trouble coaching their players just because they are a different ethnicity. Why is that? Because, as Derwin says, they sports teams have a clear and captivating vision that unifies the team. How much greater is the gospel! The pure gospel message needs to be lived out in a way that encourages a multi-ethnic lifestyle, rather than creating a consumeristic culture that encourages people to "shop" for churches that will keep us in our comfort zones. Love God, love your neighbors, love yourselves. // In order to keep the mission of Jesus front and center, Transformation Church keeps the greatest commandment in front of them at all times. The neighbors around us each day are different ages and ethnicities and pursuing the great commission means loving this diversity. “The mission of Jesus shapes how we go and love humanity,” Derwin tells us. Evangelism, worship and mission are all in one at Transformation Church because of the great commission and greatest commandment. You can learn more about Transformation Church by visiting them online at http://www.TransformationChurch.tc. Or reach Derwin on Twitter @DerwinLGray. Episode Highlights 00:39 // Rich introduces Pastor Derwin Gray and welcomes him to the show. 01:15 // Derwin talks about his background and his family. 02:09 // Derwin shares his reasons for wanting to plant Transformation Church. 03:25 // Derwin talks about Transformation Church. 06:42 // Derwin offers advice to other church leaders on how to become a multiethnic, multiracial church. 09:51 // Derwin explains how Transformation Church continues to grow as a multiethnic, multiracial church. 13:16 // Derwin shares Transformation’s vision and how they keep it alive. 15:51 // Derwin shares what he believes is the true meaning of the gospel. 19:35 // Derwin introduces us to his book, The High Definition Leader: Building Multiethnic Churches in a Multiethnic World. 22:41 // Derwin offers his contact information.