About Derek

Pastor Derek Sanford serves as Lead Pastor of Grace Church in Erie, Pennsylvania (one of the snowiest cities in the country!). The emphasis of his ministry is building up and equipping leaders to walk in their God-given calling. He has served in ministry at Grace since 1995, first as Youth Pastor and then as Executive Pastor before serving in his current role as Lead Pastor. He also created a ministry called ServErie that has mobilized over 50 churches and organizations to address the needs of the greater Erie area. Derek is a graduate of Taylor University and holds a Masters of Theology degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Derek married his high school sweetheart, Kim, who runs a construction company (she wields the power tools in the family) and has three amazing kids, Caleb, Chase, and Ayden. As a washed-up athlete, Derek still enjoys old-man sports like golf and racquetball.