Derek grew up in a Christian household in Northeast Houston, where he was introduced to the Gospel at an early age. At 8, after attending a Bibleman concert, he made a conscious decision to follow Jesus, fully aware of the cost but trusting in His restoration of his heart. While his faith journey faced challenges during middle and high school, his spiritual growth took a turning point in college. He interned with his former youth pastor, which surrounded him with mature believers and deepened his understanding of what it means to live out the Christian faith.

After earning a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Texas at Tyler, he began his career in Houston. In 2018, he married his incredible wife, Maria, whose faith in Jesus continually inspires him. The following year, they were blessed with their daughter, Addy Jo, who fills their lives with joy.

In 2022, the church's Senior Pastor, Joshua Crutchfield, approached him about considering full-time ministry at Emmanuel Baptist Church. After months of wrestling with God over this call, Derek transitioned from engineering to become the Student Director in June 2022, and he's loved every minute of it.

Today, you can find him involved in the local school district, engaging with students and faculty to share the light of the Gospel, while also shepherding the students in the church, and poking fun at the senior pastor in staff meetings! In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, which includes a diverse mix of people, pets, farm animals, and garden plants.