Impact UMC: Port Arthur, TX

Derrick Lewis Noble (click here to e-mail), Founding Pastor

Dr. Derrick-Lewis Noble is an award winning preacher and motivational speaker, having recently been cited as one of the top 20 young preachers in America ("The African American Pulpit" Magazine). He preached his first sermon when he was just a teenager, and has been in the preaching ministry for over 18 years since.  Derrick has served as a Senior Pastor and a denominational leader, and is highly sought after as a revivalist, keynote speaker, and seminar leader. In the corporate world, he has presented on topics as diverse as peak performance, customer service, educational excellence, and leadership in the workplace.

From March 2006 until June 2008, Derrick served as Pastor of the Abundant Life United Methodist Church of Lufkin, Texas (Houston area). Under his leadership, the Abundant Life family won the prestigious Copeland Award for Evangelism (2007), awarded to the 5 fastest growing churches in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Abundant Life baptized more people and added more new members than any other church in the East District and went from being in debt to being 100% financially sound in less than one year! In June 2008, Derrick became founding pastor of Impact United Methodist Church of Port Arthur, TX - "a church for people like you."

Derrick was asked by Bishop Janice Riggle Huie to serve as one of 10 members of the Black Church Transformation Task Force for the Texas Annual Conference, a group charged with the responsibility of helping Black churches to grow to their full potential and stem the tide of decline.

Derrick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) in English with a double minor in Psychology and Speech Communication from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas and a Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.) from Morehouse School of Religion (Interdenominational Theological Center) in Atlanta, Georgia where he graduated valedictorian of his class. 

On May 3, 2008, Derrick successfully defended his doctoral dissertation and was awarded the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) degree in Black Church Studies at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. His professors/mentors during his doctoral studies were some of the world's most respected theological scholars, including Drs. Cain Hope Felder, William H. Myers, Marvin A. McMickle, Dwight Hopkins, and Cheryl Townsend Gilkes. Derrick's dissertation is entitled: Rescuing, Reconnecting, and Renewing the Village: Liberative Pedagogy and the Impact of Teaching Black Liberation Theology to Black Youth.

Derrick's purpose in life is to be used by God to speak truth into the lives of others, thereby enabling them to make a permanent, positive impact upon their world.

Hey Derrick...

1. What do you dream about? - "You mean besides being one of The Temptations?  I dream about a world where people genuinely love and accept one another regardless of their differences."
2. What do you cry about? - "Injustice in our world, and encountering people who feel unloved.  Wait - does going to the dentist count?  Hey, let me change my answer..." 
3. What do you sing about?  - "Jesus - everyday!  Also, I get really excited about those rare days when I toss aside my to-do list and just enjoy the moment. In addition, I can frequently be heard singing about ice cream ... Butterfinger Blizzard baby!!" 
4. What is your greatest strength? - "My ability to speak into people's lives, causing them to listen, learn and grow.  No greater joy for me!" 
5. Who is your favorite singer? - "STEVIE WONDER, followed closely by Donny Hathaway, Luciano Pavarotti, Ricky Fante (good friend of mine), Gladys Knight, and Sam Harris.  I also like Walter Williams (lead singer of The O'Jays) and Joe Cocker." 
6. What's your favorite song? - "Tough question!  Let's categorize: Gospel = I'm In Love With Jesus by New Direction, I Must Tell Jesus by Kirk Whalum, Cry Holy by Salvador, Come Fill This Temple by John Michael Talbot, and In Your Will by Men Of Standard.  Old School Soul = Superstition by Stevie Wonder, Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing by Stevie Wonder, and Love Train by The O'Jays.  Jazz = Big Train: Caboose by Wynton Marsalis, All Blues by Miles Davis, Mr. Bojangles by Sammy Davis, Jr. and anything by JOHN COLTRANE!"
7. What's your favorite book, other than The Bible? - "Also a tough one.  I'd have to say anything by Cheikh Anta Diop, and The Creative Encounter by Howard Thurman."    
8. Who is favorite author? - Cheikh Anta Diop, Howard Thurman, Michael Eric Dyson, James Baldwin, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 
9. What is your favorite movie? - Enter The Dragon (Let the church say, "Bruce Lee!"), The Sixth Sense ("I see dead people!"), and The Godfather, Part 1 ("Why did you go to the police?  Why didn't you come to me first?!").