Meet Derick Williams

September 11, 2025 // By interviewer Dan Bracken

Derick grew up in Dayton, Ohio, before his family relocated to Huber Heights when he was 12. He worked his first job bussing tables and washing dishes at Bob Evans, where he admits he was “the worst dishwasher in the world.” Eventually, with training and persistence, he not only improved but became the trainer for others—a small but telling example of his resilience and willingness to grow.

It was at Bob Evans that Derick first met his future wife, Shauna, in passing. Years later, they crossed paths again at the YMCA, where Derick spent countless hours playing basketball and staying healthy. Their friendship deepened, and eventually they married. Today, Derick and Shauna have been together for 12 years and are raising two daughters, Aria—the baker and cheerleader—and Layla—the fireball artist with a wild imagination.

Finding Home at Ginghamsburg

Derick’s introduction to Ginghamsburg Church was in 2003, when he was a 16-year-old looking for something to do on Saturday nights. The church hosted an event called Ultra Live, which featured open basketball courts, a skate park, and a dance room. Admission was free if you attended the worship service beforehand. “An hour of church for two hours of basketball? Sign me up,” Derick laughed. What began as a teenager’s clever trade-off turned into a lifelong connection with the church.

Over the years, Derick has found Ginghamsburg to be a welcoming and diverse community. As a Black man married to a white woman, raising biracial children in a predominantly white congregation, Derick acknowledges the importance of intentional conversations about race. But overall, his experience has been marked by connection across generations and backgrounds. “I’ve always felt welcome here,” he said.

Surviving Covid and Finding Peace

In the fall of 2021, Derick contracted Covid-19. At first, he thought it was just a bad cold, but his condition quickly deteriorated. For days he was weak, unable to walk to the bathroom without carefully planning each step. At night he was plagued by nightmares of darkness and despair, praying desperately for God to spare his life.

Eventually, Derick was admitted to the hospital for four days. One Sunday afternoon, as sunlight streamed through the window, he turned off the TV and sat in the quiet. In that stillness, he felt an overwhelming peace and sensed God speaking to him: “You prayed for your life. This is a second chance—use it wisely.” That moment marked a turning point.

Building New Rhythms of Faith

Like many who’ve had a brush with death, Derick knew he had to live differently. Yet he’s honest about the struggle: “It was clear for a while, but it was easy to fall back into old patterns.” To stay grounded, he sought deeper community. He joined a men’s group at Ginghamsburg, where vulnerability and transparency became lifelines. Later, he signed up for the Rooted class, which proved transformative.

One of the most powerful practices Derick embraced was fasting. During Lent, he gave up processed foods, seeking not just physical discipline but spiritual renewal. What began as a small decision turned into a 40-day fast, sustained by Scripture, prayer, and God’s presence. “I didn’t want to self-medicate with food anymore,” Derick explained. “I wanted to deal with my struggles in a fruitful way.”

Living with Faith Over Fear

Today, Derick reflects on the past five years with humility. He admits fear is still present—fear of rejection, fear of failure—but it no longer rules his choices. “The more I’m intentional with my faith, the more my faith makes my choices instead of my fear,” he said.

Derick’s story is one of second chances—given by God, embraced through community, and lived out with intentionality. From his days as a teenager coming to Ginghamsburg for basketball, to his near-death experience with Covid, to his 40-day fast, Derick has learned that transformation happens when you show up, lean in, and let God do the work.