Farewell To Dr. Derrick Hughes

By Janice Hayes and Sylvester “Nunnie” Robinson

Rev. Dr. Hughes and First Lady Deborah Hughes

 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB)

      Rev. Dr. Derrick J. Hughes is a gifted, passionate and anointed pastor, preacher and teacher. A genuine, courageous, dynamic and visionary leader, Dr. Hughes recently resigned as Senior Pastor of the historic First Baptist Church Piney Grove (FBCPG) in Lauderdale Lakes. He has previously served as a Senior Pastor in three other churches, always ending his tenure in good standing. Likewise, Dr. Hughes leaves an indelible mark of integrity, innovation, and progressive leadership. Under his leadership, the church has expanded its scope of services in the social, political and educational sectors.

       “Dr. Martin Luther King said that the Church has a responsibility to broaden horizons, challenge the status quo, and break the mores when necessary.” Dr. Hughes said, reiterating the words of MLK. “Dr. King’s words resonated in my heart and became the impetus for me to serve from a broader perspective inclusive of all issues affecting our community.”

       Under Dr. Hughes’ extraordinary leadership at FBCPG, 3200 new members joined the church. Dr. Hughes humbly resists any special elevation or personal credit for the work that he has done, but he proudly boasts of his love for the First Baptist Church Piney Grove Family, stating that they will be dearly missed. He speaks of his members as if they were his own family and personal friends. He attributes all of the progress he has made to the members of FBCPG.

A young Chicago native,
Pastor Hughes arrives at his new assignment in 2011.

     Dr. Hughes is a native of Chicago, Illinois. When he arrived in Broward County in 2011 and learned of the dismal graduation rates for Black males, he took on the challenge of starting the Piney Grove Boys Academy, with members of FBCPG enthusiastically embracing Dr. Hughes’ vision, contributing over $100,000 and counting. Today, the school has expanded to include girls. The school has achieved phenomenal academic gains,  receiving national recognition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

     “Pastor Hughes is a true visionary leader who is not afraid of change. He uses Godly wisdom in his decision-making process. He consistently exhibits strong ethics and lives a life of devotion to his congregation and his family, He will be dearly missed,” said Stephanie Hayes-Bostic, a treasured member of FBCPG’s Celestial and Mass Choir.

     Under Dr. Hughes’ direction, a plethora of innovative programs, partnerships, and ideas have been conceptualized and implemented initiatives such as the feeding program with the Salvation Army, Voter Registration campaigns, Civil rights activism, Mentoring programs, and Gun Violence awareness programs. FBCPG youths even participated in a student-led demonstration in support of gun control legislation in Washington, D.C., following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

     “Dr. Hughes has been a tremendous blessing for the Piney Grove family and the entire community. I know he will continue to have a positive impact and make a difference,” exclaimed Derrick Kennedy, an usher at FBCPG.

     “What a Godly man! We will miss Pastor Hughes’ living demonstration of love and commitment to the Lord, his family, his congregation, and the community,” said Cyd and Cleo Dixson, long-standing members of FBCPG.

     Dr. Hughes exudes a realness in his words and actions. He is passionately relentless in his pursuit of serving humanity. He has a true heart to serve God and the people of God. He graciously gives all his energy and love to the cause of Christ. He consistently demonstrates a selfless, noble, and altruistic fervor and ambition to help others.

     His wife, Debra said with a smile of sincere admiration, “I was not attracted to my husband because of his ‘mack’ or ‘swag.’ It was his realness that touched my heart.”

     “Oftentimes, the mission and motive of a Pastor are misunderstood and even unappreciated. Nevertheless, my greatest desire and ambition in life is to be a true man of God, a faithful and devoted husband and father,” said Dr, Hughes.

     Dr. Hughes is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Eta Nu Chapter in Pompano Beach, Florida. He embodies the fraternity’s cardinal principal of “Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift”. It is not an anomaly that men of great faith would be affiliated with fraternal organizations, but most PanHellenic organizations were founded by men of solid spiritual integrity. One of the founders of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Dr. Amos Love, was an AME bishop. Additionally, Brother Dr. Hughes’ chapter of initiation Eta Nu in Pompano Beach has a cadre of Godly servant leaders including Dr. Robert Bailey First Zion MBC, Deerfeild; Cyril Guerra Hopewell MBC, Pompano Beach; Clarke Lazare The Light Center, Ft. Lauderdale; Eddie Moise Bethel AME,  Pompano Beach; and Kenneth Pace Central MBC, West Park, bringing greater clarity to the Christian/fraternal connection. Dr Hughes became a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 2015, number one on the line dubbed the “Unbreakable Eleven”. He has artfully fulfilled his fraternal obligations by fusing and combining several church initiatives with fraternal social action programs such as church services, Kwanza, and the Piney Grove  Academy by utilizing chapter brothers to further impact and ensure programmatic successes in academia, spirituality, and social services.

     Under Dr. Hughes’ extraordinary leadership at FBCPG, new members joined the  church. Dr. Hughes humbly resists any special  elevation or personal credit for the  work that he done, but he proudly boasts of his love for the  First Baptist Church Piney Grove Family. He speaks of his members as if they were his own family and personal friends. He attributes all of the progress he has made to the members of FBCPG.

     The Westside Gazette and the entire Community extend our most sincere prayers of blessings to Rev. Dr. Derrick Hughes and his family as they embark on a new chapter in  life and as he continues to share the light, love, and leadership he bestowed upon the South Florida community.

About Carma Henry 24481 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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