Kevin DeYoung


Kevin DeYoung is an American Reformed Evangelical theologian and author. He is currently the senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church, in Matthews, North Carolina. The church he previously pastored, University Reformed Church, shifted to the Presbyterian Church in America in March 2015 after having been a member of the Reformed Church in America. DeYoung is a member of The Gospel Coalition Council.

Early life

DeYoung was born in South Holland, Illinois, and largely grew up in Jenison, Michigan, where his parents Lee and Sheri DeYoung worked for Words of Hope - an international media ministry based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both of his grandfathers were from Dutch Reformed backgrounds.

Education

DeYoung graduated summa cum laude from Hope College in Michigan in 1999 and then received his MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts in 2002. He completed a Ph.D. in Early Modern History focusing on the theology of John Witherspoon at the University of Leicester (John Coffey served as his adviser, successfully defending his Ph.D. thesis on January 10, 2019.

Career

DeYoung first served as a pastor at First Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa. From August 2004 to June 2017 he served as senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, near Michigan State University.
DeYoung has authored or co-authored many books and articles; his book Why We're Not Emergent won the 2009 Christianity Today book award. His book Why We Love the Church won the 2010 Christianity Today Book Award and Leadership Journal Golden Canon Book Award. Crazy Busy: A Short Book about a Big Problem was awarded the 2014 Christian Book of the Year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.
DeYoung is a member of the Gospel Coalition Council with Tim Keller, John Piper, and others. In 2012, he also gained nationwide attention for his article responding to the viral video Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus, after the popular rapper Lecrae posted DeYoung's article, "Does Jesus hate religion? Kinda, sorta, not really," on Facebook.

Written Works