Bishop Derek Grier currently
serves as the founding pastor
of Grace Church in Dumfries,
Virginia. Grace Church began
in 1998 with 12 people and has
grown to more than 4,000
members and over 50 lifechanging ministries. In 2008, he
founded the Dumfries Youth
Center (now the Grace Youth
Center) as an extension of
Grace Church. It has served
hundreds of high-risk children
in the Dumfries area.
Bishop Grier studied business
administration at Howard
University. He earned a
master’s of education degree
from Regent University and a
doctorate in practical
ministry from Wagner
Leadership Institute. Bishop
Grier serves on several boards.
He also served as an associate
trainer for Equip, founded by
John Maxwell, and has been
internationally certified with
the program since July 26, 2011.
Bishop Grier was ordained a
bishop in 2008 by Dr. Myles
Munroe. He currently mentors
hundreds of Christian leaders
29
It’s Christ Or Nothing
and business owners through the
Renaissance Leadership
Network (RLN). He has received
numerous awards and is President
of the newly
founded Virginia Bible College
(VBC).
Bishop Grier’s uncompromising
approach to preaching and
teaching the gospel has
helped him lead Grace Church in
phenomenal growth. The highly
acclaimed Outreach
Magazine lists Grace Church as
one of the fastest growing African
American Churches in
the nation and it is among the
top 100 fastest growing of all
churches.
Bishop Grier is nationally
recognized as a thought leader on
engaging the culture and
continues to earn the respect of
leaders from all political stripes.
The Washington
Post recently featured Bishop Grier
in an inclusive, highlighting his
increasing influence
in politics and culture. The
Washington Post writes, “In many
ways, he illustrates a new