Kevin DeYoung
Kevin DeYoung (born 1977) is an American Christian Reformed Evangelical theologian and author. The church DeYoung pastors is shifting to the Presbyterian Church in America after previously being a member of the Reformed Church in America. DeYoung is a member of The Gospel Coalition. Kevin DeYoung was born in South Holland, Illinois and largely grew up in Jenison, Michigan where his parents worked with Christian radio. Both of DeYoung's grandfathers were from Dutch Reformed backgrounds. DeYoung graduated summa cum laude from Hope College in Michigan in 1999 and then received his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts in 2002. DeYoung first served as a Pastor at First Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa and since August 2004, he has 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, and 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 (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem was awarded the 2014 Christian Book of the Year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). DeYoung is a member of the Gospel Coalition with Tim Keller, John Piper and others. In 2012 DeYoung 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. DeYoung is currently studying part-time to complete a Ph.D. in Early Modern History focusing on the theology of John Witherspoon at the University of Leicester (John Coffey is serving as his adviser).