Drew Derreth: One of the Good Guys

Taken December, 2011. L-R: Me, Jed Slaboda, Dale Buettner, Andy Phillips, Drew Derreth

This week, the Lord called one of my pastor buddies home. Drew Derreth was the founder and Pastor of Hanover Valley Presbyterian Church. He was a husband, Dad, Grandpa, and one of the good guys, the kind of pastor you wish was the norm in more churches.

I write this with a good measure of regret, that kind of regret that wishes I had spent more time with Drew in recent years. When we did see each other, we could quickly snap back to the way we joked together years ago.

The picture above was my band of pastor buddies when I was planting and pastoring City Church York. Each of us pastored separate congregations and would meet together every Tuesday at Panera Bread in West York. Drew would make the weekly drive over from Hanover. We sat together at one of those curved benches and pulled up a couple of extra chairs to squeeze everyone in.

Looking back, those were the golden years. I kind of knew that what we shared as pastor friends was special, but sometimes it takes years and maturity to fully appreciate the gifts God gives.

We would spend a couple of hours together each week to prepare weekly sermons. At some point, we started selecting Scripture texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, which allowed us to study together and share notes.

We would spend the first 30 minutes catching up. We would talk about family, church, the latest news, or listen to Dale share old funny stories with ridiculous attention to detail.

Inevitably, one of us needed an impromptu counseling session about some challenge we were facing in our churches. What would ensue would be a mix of listening, pastoral care, sarcasm, mockery, and the kind of friendship that allows pastors to be human. Picture brothers who could deliver witty one-liners but who loved each other deeply.

That weekly meeting was a highlight for me. It was life-giving and therapeutic.

I will always picture Drew laughing uproariously at one of Dale’s quips or dropping one of his own witty one-liners.

Drew always had an insightful read on Scripture. No matter what we were studying in the Bible, he was always bringing us back to the needs of real people and making it about the radical love of Jesus alone. He was a thoughtful critic of the kind of Christianity that turns people off, and an honest sinner who loved the grace of Jesus.

Drew was the kind of pastor you would want your adult kids who are struggling with their faith to meet. He was honest, raw, funny, compelling, compassionate, gentle, but unashamed of the Gospel of his Lord. He really believed it was Good News for broken people.

Whenever I met someone who lived near Hanover, I told them they should visit Hanover Valley Presbyterian Church. I had the utmost confidence that they would click with Drew and that he would shepherd them well.

Drew was respected by leaders in Hanover. He spent time caring for his community, and I’m certain he was loved by many.

It was so obvious to me that he loved his wife, Becky, and was so proud of his kids and grandkids.

Man, I can’t believe Drew is gone. I had to go back and look at our last text threads. There he was, witty, sarcastic, and just present enough in the thread to let us know he was still there.

I believe in the resurrection of the body. That’s what the Apostles’ Creed says. In times like these, I cling to the resurrection of Jesus. He came, lived for us, died for us, rose from the dead for us, and ascended into Heaven for us. One day, Jesus will raise our dead bodies from the grave. The resurrection of Jesus gives me hope that I’ll see Drew again.

I wonder in Heaven if Jed, Dale, Andy, Drew, and I will sit down in a curved booth in Heaven’s version of Panera and laugh again. I’m certain that if the Lord allows it, Drew will have a smart comment about how he got to meet Jesus first.

And the brotherly banter will pick up right where we left off just a few short years ago.

I love you, my brother. Rest in the peace of Christ.