A Palmdale pastor is making headway, introducing a radical theology and changing the lives.
Bishop Edwin J. Derensbourg, Ph.D., founder of United Christian Fellowship Church has recently written a book entitled, “Creating Your Own Reality” and the inspirational literature introduces a brand new message to some and an affirming nod to others.
Derensbourg wants readers to understand that their reality is only what they create for themselves.
“I think that people really have control over their own lives. A bishop and friend of mine in New York says, ‘Destiny is not left up to chance, it’s a choice,’” Derensbourg said. “Whatever your destiny may be, it is entirely up to you to learn the system of life in order to make those desires come to pass and reach your destiny.”
The Bishop’s message is a bit extreme in some people’s opinions, but he does not shy away from the criticism. He says for so long, as a bishop and member of the church, he felt something was not quite right. He saw his people serving God, but living a life that was not fruitful. Derensbourg found the key to remedying the situation, and decided to write about it.
“I don’t want to be a bishop in the church, if I can’t take people to the place where God would have them to go,” he said.
Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, the bishop grew up in the school of hard knocks.
His mother died when he was only 18 months old, and he never knew his father. Derensbourg’s grandmother raised him, bringing him up in the church.
As a teen, he was rebellious, and frequented juvenile hall. He quit going to church early in his youth, deciding the streets offered a more profitable life for him. For years, he spent time committing crimes, using drugs, and simply living an unfilled life.
At the age of 28, the pastor decided to turn his life around.
“That’s when it all started. My cousin invited me to see a play called ‘The Great White Throne of Judgment’, and that was in July of 1980,” he shared. “That play really turned my life around … I had a real shift in my consciousness and awareness, and I got back involved with the church and ministry.”
The transformed rebel became a street evangelist on the same corners he used to purchase drugs. He wanted to show his former peers that the life they were living was destructive and unfulfilling.
It was in 1986 that Derensbourg received a new call to ministry. His Los Angeles based pastor shared a vision to expand their Christian message to the Antelope Valley. He started with a small bible study group in the home of his now mother-in-law. The ministry eventually expanded into a church building under the name Abundant Life Deliverance Church. Later the name was changed to United Christian Fellowship (UCF), when the ministry merged with another congregation in Palmdale.
Twenty-three years later, UCF has built a new $4.2 million facility that will soon open.
He and his wife, Venita, and their children are excited about the new book and church facility. He believes it has been through the message of “creating your own reality” that he and his church family have been able to accomplish the things they have thus far.
“Creating Your Own Reality” goes on sale soon, but it can be pre-ordered at creatingyourownreality.us. With a pre-order, customers will receive a two-disc set of four sermons for free. Visit unitedchristianfellowship.us for more information about the church.
