Derwin Gray’s heartfelt take on evangelism will inspire you

In a world loud with fear and division, Lit Up with Love by Derwin Gray (Navpress) calls us back to what truly transforms: the steady, burning power of God’s love. A former NFL player turned pastor, Gray doesn’t just talk about love - he shows how it moves, reaches, and reshapes lives.

His book is a practical and sincere guide to living out the love of Jesus in a world desperate for good news - not just through words, but through action. It calls Christians to live differently, becoming people whose lives shine with the real, redemptive love of Christ.

Derwin’s writing flows from his own encounter with God’s transformative love and his deep desire for others to be ‘lit up’ by it too. Firmly rooted in Christian living and discipleship, the book speaks clearly to everyday believers. For those just starting out or reigniting their passion for Christ’s mission, it offers encouragement, challenge, and practical next steps.

To guide readers on this journey, the book is structured in three parts - Good-News People, A Gospel-Starved World, and Lit Up with Love - spanning eleven rich and grounded chapters.

Derwin’s writing is accesible, avoiding flashy or heavy theological language, instead his tone simple and full of care. Through gospel insight, personal stories, and real-life scenarios, he conveys deep truths while creating space for reflection. Repeated phrases such as “When you’re lit up with love” lend the book a devotional rhythm that reinforces its core message.

The book’s structure mirrors a spiritual journey - beginning with first understanding the gospel, then recognising the world’s deep hunger for it, and finally stepping into the call to embody and share that good news. The chapter ‘Where Are You Going?’, opens with a poetic glimpse of the new heaven and new earth - a promised future free from pain, death, and sin, which becomes the motivation for present faithfulness.

What sets this book apart is it’s authencity. Derwin’s message isn’t to guilt or pressure believers into evangelism; instead, he shows that when grace truly transforms us, sharing the message flows naturally. “When you’re lit up with love, you embrace evangelism as a process, not a one-time event,” he writes. 

The book addresses the common struggles many believers face, including fear of rejection, shame, doubt, or feeling unqualified to share the gospel. Derwin reminds the reader however, that love leads and timing truly matters: “While we reach out to lost people, God is the one who saves them. We participate in the process but we are not responsible for the results.” This perspective is refreshing and freeing, as he shifts the pressure off a believer, especially for those who have felt anxious or inadequate about sharing their faith. He also touches on themes such as identity, calling, and the need for the Church to reflect Christ’s love in a divided and hurting world. 

Derwin isn’t asking us to be perfect or have all the answers - he’s asking us to be present, prayerful, and available to the work God is already doing around us. He proclaims Jesus as the incarnate Son of God, the risen shepherd, the redeeming lamb, and the king who invites his people into his redemptive mission. To embrace Jesus as king, Derwin reminds us, is to embrace that mission too.

Though not the most theologically dense book, Lit Up with Love is a heartfelt and accessible resource for anyone longing to live with greater intention and faithfulness. It’s a must-read for believers seeking renewed purpose in sharing the gospel - ideal for personal devotion, small groups, or church discipleship. Rather than offering quick fixes or lofty outcomes, it invites you into the quiet, powerful presence of love - the kind that shows up, listens, forgives, and remains.

The book is both timely and necessary. In an age when the Church is often better known for what it opposes and not what it embodies, this book recentres the conversation on the gospel - the good news of Jesus - and reminds us that when carried in love, that message still transforms lives today. 

Lit Up with Love: Becoming Good-News People to a Gospel-Starved World is out now