Practical. Spiritual. Different.
Chicago native, Derrick B. Wells, Ed.D. is an author, artist, corporate CEO, and The Senior Minister of Christ Universal Temple. He is a contemporary man of God whose story is one of radical redemption. His process of redemption has played a major role in his commitment to teaching people how to transform their life. It is the manifestation of the vision God gave him to help build individuals, families, and communities through the power of love, the pursuit of happiness, and the application of self-determination.
Derrick’s journey to ministry draws from his own personal life of encountering challenges as an adolescent in the inner-city of Chicago. In his words- he was, “unchurched,” but found his way to Christ Universal Temple in search of someplace that could help him change and become better. Nearly five years after the Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon’s retirement, the Reverend Dr. Derrick B. Wells was selected by the congregation as the second Senior Minister in the history of CUT. As a leader and teacher with an unquenchable thirst for excellence and achievement, he sees the potential of God and the emergence of the Christ in all humanity.
EARLY LIFE
After graduating from Simeon High School in 1988, Derrick enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served in the Persian Gulf War, and received numerous awards and commendations. He later enrolled in the University of Chicago. He was a critical communication scholar and a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society. Recently, Derrick made his way back to his love for learning receiving a doctorate at Olivet Nazarene University, in Bourbonnais, Illinois, where the faculty and staff also honored him with the Award of Excellence for his academic and community work.
A man of passion, vision and purpose, Dr. Wells’ partner in life, ministry and service is his wife Sylvia. They are the parents of a daughter, Malika and son, Mikael. The family lives, plays, and works in the greater Chicago land area.
LIVE HAPPY
In his new book, Guidelines for a Master, 12 Steps to an Extremely Happy Life,Derrick shares clear insights on how to live an authentic life through practical spirituality. This self-help blue-print draws parallels to a cult classic 1980’s film, The Last Dragonwhere he pulls analogies from the film as points of reference for readers to relate to in modern day living. Not to mention, in 2012, Wells was a contributing author for the book,Spiritual Principles for a Prosperous Life.
Reverend Wells’ extraordinary story of changing his own life from one of trouble to one transformation is what fuels his dedication to teaching others that it is possible to do the same. Dr. Wells is committed to facilitating the growth and evolution of human consciousness by helping people discover their untouched talents and develop their unlimited potential. He believes that there are habits that lead to a happy, healthy, high-functioning life; habits that when put into action make each of us masters of our destiny. Certainly, God is not done and the best is yet to come.