Naming things is a natural occurrence in human society. According to Pastor Derwin Gray, even in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam the task of naming the animals and that was a good thing. However, as he goes on to share, “as a result of selfishness fear and insecurity we can label people negatively.”
Gray knows of this negative labeling all too well as he was a victim of childhood neglect and verbal abuse. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, to a teenaged unwed mother and father who suffered with drug abuse; he was often the target of unwelcome criticism.
He recalls being called “dumb” by one of his mother’s boyfriends. Dumb … a critique that would manifest in the form of an uncontrolled speech impediment for much of his young life and continue to plague him with thoughts of inadequacy well into adulthood.
At age 11, he discovered the sport of football as an escape. This escape eventually led him to Brigham Young University and then to a drafted position with the Indianapolis Colts. It was his third year with the Colts that began the formative years leading up to the deeply spiritual path he finds himself on today.
“I had a teammate (Steve Grant) who was known as the naked preacher,” said Gray jokingly. Grant would spend time after showers walking around in his towel, Bible in tow, proselytizing fellow teammates. Gray initially tried to avoid the scantily clad holy man but one eventful chat led to a five-year conversation that eventually encouraged Gray to receive the gift of salvation.
“When I realized I was a beloved child of God, that changed how I saw myself,” said Gray.
Pastor Gray, who is a former safety for the Colts and pastor of the multi-generational, multi-ethnic Transformation Church in Indian Land, South Carolina, is on a new mission as a self-described member of Team Jesus.
“Now that I look back, playing football was such a gift,” said Gray. “It’s all about identity… you are identified as being on a team. When I became a Christian I got a new identity, I was a part of Team Jesus, I am now a part of the body of Christ.”
In his most recent literary offering, Limitless Life, Gray sets out to teach believers how to achieve a more fulfilling existence by abandoning negative feelings of self development as a result of trauma and fear.
“That’s the first chapter of the book From Afraid to Courageous. I grew up with a fear of rejection and always had fear that I was not good enough,” said Gray. Pastor Gray went on to say that fear does not have to govern us, “Fear isn’t going anywhere, but courage will take you right through it.”
In the case of Pastor Gray and his wife Vicki, it is this concept of God-given courage that led them from NFL retirement in 1999 to the motivational speaking circuit and ultimately worldwide ministry.
Today, the Transformation Church is listed as one of the 100 fastest growing churches in the country with one main campus, a prison church plant, and another additional plant planned to open in Spain.
When asked what his thoughts were for the future, Pastor Gray said he wants the message of living a truly limitless life to set thousands of people free from the bondage they are currently experiencing.
“I want to see people live a limitless life,” he said, “I don’t ever think that our dreams intimidate Jesus.”
Pastor Gray will be speaking at Heartland Church in Fishers on Oct. 12. His latest book Limitless Life hits store shelves on Sept. 3.
For more information on Pastor Derwin Gray and Transformation Church visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
