Meet Derek Anglin | Lead Pastor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Derek Anglin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Derek, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
You have to be invested in something that is bigger than you. There are days and times in life where you will require something greater than yourself as a reason for continuing. There will be days where you need more reason than your own ego to get up and do what you do. Leading our church gives us reason beyond ourselves; it’s not just our future…it’s the future of hundreds and hundreds of lives meeting Jesus. It’s not just our family…its families that have experienced life change in more ways than we can count. It’s not just our kids…its an entire generation that is starving for something authentic and genuine; something that offers them more than a man-made experience with religious overtones.

NewGrace gave us (and hundreds of other people) a reason to continue.

I knew God wanted us to start this ministry for people who would need another shot with God and church. And I couldn’t “un-know” that. When there were seasons of disappointment and impossibility, I couldn’t “un-hear” what God put in my heart or “un-see” what He put in my mind. I had to keep going. I was committed to the assignment.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been preaching for 25 years as of July 2026. What started off as evangelism and traveling to preach revivals and conferences led to launching a church in Commerce in the Spring of 2013.

We were brand new to the community, had no funding, no backing, no denominational ties…just a pull from God that we couldn’t ignore and a desire to see the community radically reached in a way that broke the mold on traditional church models.

NewGrace is best known for its authenticity….people say there is a “realness” about the place and its people. Vulnerability and transparency is embraced and people are encouraged to lean into the true realities of their own story.

Pastors don’t usually survive divorce. Honestly, I was scared to death to start the church and cast the net publicly…I was afraid it would work. I was scared it would grow. And I was worried that my past would define the ministry. But God helped me overcome those fears and anxieties. Right after the church launched and people began to come, I remember God speaking so clearly into my hesitation: “Run with your story, not from it”. And this was the turning point for NewGrace and its impact radius.

From there our church grew, alternating though different locations and even having a four year season where we didn’t even have our own location. We used another church’s facility on Sunday nights (which was so hard to find momentum) and then moved away to another town just to utilize another building that came available to us.

In 2024, we finally purchased our own place and made it home. Located just outside the downtown area of Commerce, NewGrace is now running four Sunday services in a small building that we have absolutely outgrown. We are looking at plans and preparing to build a new facility that can house the explosive growth and better position us for the future.

I may be bias but I feel like what we have as a church and ministry is one of a kind. From the sermons on the platform to the discussions on the couch, the messaging in our church is very “raw, unfiltered and gut-wrenchingly honest”. Truth is the only remedy for a world of falsehood and we lean heavy into the truth. And here is the deal…people want the truth! They are craving it. We live in a world where society is drowning in information but dying for the truth. They need it. They can handle it. And someone needs to love them enough to tell it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok…first is food. Always.
Here is a list of the places they need to eat…absolutely must haves:
– Breakfast: Commerce Cafe. When you walk in and see all of the old timers who line up for the breakfast, you know you made a good choice. It is very home-towny, southern “cookin”.

– Lunch: Dos Bros. Best ground beef in a taco or burrito that you can get in the area. Get the Number 7 lunch special. Jennifer will take good care of you.
Hucks is also a winner. Super busy at lunch time and serves up great hamburgers and hotdogs.

– Dinner: Ok, this is tricky.
1) If I am showcasing the food of my Commerce community, I am probably taking someone to Koji Japanese Steakhouse for some sho nuff hibachi or Mr. K’s Korean BBQ…very good food here. Of course one cannot go wrong with some of the other places like La Hacienda or even LongHorn.
2) If I can venture out a little from the church’s neighborhood, I will take someone to either Athens or Buford for something a little fancier.

– Coffee: Two Bean Coffee; great hometown coffee shop with an extensive menu and a very chill atmosphere.

– Entertainment: You have options, depending on your interests.
1) The downtown district of Commerce has and is becoming quite the scene. From shops, to restaurants, golf simulators, breweries, markets and a buzzing growth in the community, it is starting to land on the map.
2) Commerce Bar and Grill has Karaoke late at night. Not exactly a fit for me and my crowd BUT I can testify that it is very interesting…
3) Tanger Outlets. A lot of shopping options and it is visited by a lot of people from all over. Large center with lots of variety.
4) People watching at Applebees late at night or Walmart at any time on any day of the week…you are welcome.
5) We are going to play golf at Chimney Oaks Golf Course. Nice place and very well taken care of.
6) NewGrace. I am 100% taking them to church. You can’t come to Commerce and not visit. It will be the highlight of the trip!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt, my shoutout must go to the people that prayed for me when I could not pray for myself. The people that encouraged me when I could not encourage myself.

My wife Ashley is my best friend and has proven to be the greatest support a man in ministry could ask for. None of what I do is possible without her; and best of all, we get to do it together!

My dad and mom, David and Lora Anglin have stood by me through the seasons of my faithfulness and my failure. They are not only loyal followers at NG, but still two of my biggest fans.

Jentezen Franklin of Free Chapel in Gainesville, GA. He has no idea that he saved my life. When I was done with ministry and calling, he preached a sermon one Sunday, entitled “The Comeback”. He didn’t know there was a young, former pastor in the room who had given up on God and ministry…but he spoke right into my soul that day and it became the catalyst for my comeback!

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