Derek Godfrey is an Evangelical and Pentecostal/Charismatic Minister, ordained and called by God to minister to all in need, with a deep interest in the Messianic Jewish and Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith. He has a heart for Revival; a burden for the lost and hurting; a passion for preaching and teaching the uncompromised Word of God; a vision not only for Revival, but for planting churches that plant more churches; and a strong belief in prayer as the only means of impacting this dark world and experiencing the power of God in our day. He holds a belief in the value of blended worship and allowing the Holy Spirit to move freely among God’s people.
As a child growing up, Derek was not very active in church, though he did occasionally attend church at Cullasaja Assembly of God in Franklin, North Carolina when visiting his grandparents and also occasionally attended First Assembly of God in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with his mother. Derek made a decision for Christ at the age of 9, while watching the 700 Club, but did not feel a real and lasting change. Sometime during Junior High or early High School, he made a true decision for Christ during a Revival Meeting at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was not until High School that he got baptized in water, after being actively involved in both Junior High and Senior High Youth Group for several years.
Derek first began to feel a call to ministry when he began to be active in ministry support roles in high school. He was a member of the Praise and Worship team in the High School Youth Group at Calvary Baptist Church, playing guitar with a few of the other guys in the group. He also joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at that time; becoming an Officer in the Mount Tabor High School FCA, editing and publishing that group’s newsletter. Derek went to every retreat with both the FCA and the Youth Group, seeking to learn all he could about being a Christian, including attending three Dawson McAllister conferences that he enjoyed very much and also attending two Walk Thru the Bible conferences, studying both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Derek studied his Bible almost every day in Study Hall during his Senior Year of high school and participated in Bible studies and Leadership at every possible opportunity; even teaching once at a student prayer breakfast at Mount Tabor, which was the first real step of Faith he took towards answering his calling of preaching and teaching the Word of God.
In December of 1989, Derek received his Eagle Scout Award at the age of 18. Previously, during his time in Cub Scouts, he earned the Arrow of Light badge and advanced into the Boy Scouts in 1982. While in the Boy Scouts, he had many fun, wonderful and educational experiences, earning many merit badges and other Scouting awards. He also held several leadership positions, over a five year period, in Troop #934 during his time in Boy Scouts, including Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster and was also inducted into The Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts of America’s National Honor Camper Society, at Wahissa Lodge # 118. He was also privileged to attend the 1985, 75th Anniversary, National Scout Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill, Va.
After graduating from Mount Tabor High School in 1990, Derek briefly considered attending Bob Jones University, but decided instead to follow in his Parents’ footsteps and attend Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, where he was active in the Wesley Foundation at Cullowhee United Methodist Church, but eventually ran from his calling and even began to backslide, feeling that somehow God had made a mistake and that he was unworthy and unqualified for Pastoral Ministry. Derek did not realize, and had never been taught, that “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called”, and that basically, as fallen Human Beings, none of us are really worthy of such a call, but God uses us despite ourselves. At this time, Derek began a long process of compromising his values and got involved in a worldly lifestyle, moving further and further away from God as time went on, while seeking fulfillment in worldly pursuits and various religions, but to no avail. After many years of infrequent visits to church and being hurt by “the church” and various Pastors, he finally decided to give church another chance in November of 2000 by visiting Faith Assembly of God in Kernersville, North Carolina with a friend of his.
In January 2001, Derek received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (with evidence of speaking in other tongues) during an Evangelistic event at Faith Assembly, after re-dedicating his life to Christ and repenting of his previous lifestyle, finally finding what he had been seeking with other religions and could not find. At this time, Derek found it impossible to refuse the calling God had placed on his life years before, and submitted himself to God’s will and calling. Two weeks after receiving the Spirit Baptism, he began attending Vintage Bible College and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Biblical Studies on July 18, 2003. He was heavily involved in, and attended all but a few services of, the Revival at Faith Assembly that lasted nearly two years (2002 – 2004), and which radically changed his life forever. In 2002, he made two trips to Pensacola, Florida to the Brownsville Revival where he experienced many things of God he had never experienced before and was touched mightily by God both times. This too had a lasting impact on his life.
Derek was first granted ministerial credentials by the Assemblies of God on July 12, 2004 at which time he received a Certificate of Ministry. He was granted his License to Preach by the Assemblies of God on September 20, 2005. On February 5, 2008, Derek left the Assemblies of God and began prayerfully seeking credentials elsewhere, searching for a denomination that would more closely match what God had been revealing to him for some time. On September 4, 2008 after much prayer and seeking of God’s Will; and being led by God, Derek Godfrey received a Call to Ministry and Ordination from the General Conference of the Evangelical Protestant Church (GCEPC) and was officially consecrated and Ordained as a Priest with valid Apostolic Succession on February 21, 2009.
Derek completed a Bachelor of Practical Ministry degree through Concordia Theologica (the LEPC denominational school) in May of 2009, and completed a Master of Divinity degree at Tripp Bible Institute in February of 2020. Derek plans on completing the Doctor of Divinty degree through Tripp Bible as well.
Derek is available for ministry as either a Guest Preacher or a Fill-In Preacher.. Send him an e-mail, or visit the Services page and complete the form, if you would like for him to assist you in any way.
We are currently in the planning phases of starting a House Church here in Winston-Salem, NC. If you are interested in being a part of this group, or would like more information, please contact us.