Pastor Derek Although Destiny Family is a new church being founded by Pastor Derek and the Destiny launch team, he has been pastoring full time since 2002 and in ministry since 1992. He was raised in Homewood, a south suburb of Chicago in a Christian home.
Derek’s fresh and non-religious approach to scripture disarms his audience. When he preaches the Word, his primary focus is to compel people to have a soft heart and to form Christ in them. Hard hearts separate us from God and one another. Soft hearts allow us to fulfill our God-given destiny. Derek is a firm believer that humor is an anesthetic that the Holy Spirit uses so that He might do surgery on the hearts of His people.
Derek has a real passion to see not only Destiny Family Church, but churches everywhere established accurately upon God’s word so that the presence and power of God will be poured out in unprecedented ways ultimately changing entire cities.
Derek’s focus is not motivational preaching. It is his conviction that the lazy need to be motivated. He is a core-value driven pastor who believes that when people have genuine convictions that they believe are worth dying for, you will not have to motivate them to do what is right.
God has graced Derek with a strong prophetic, teaching, and healing ministry. He is a prolific song writer and increasingly in high demand as a guest speaker and worship leader at various conferences and churches both locally, nationally, and even internationally. Pastor Derek also teaches S.O.P. (the School of the Prophets) as well as G.E.A.R., (God Encounter for Apostolic Reformation). These schools/seminars are designed to train and refresh pastors, leaders, and ministry teams. The S.O.P. and G.E.A.R. were inspired by the Permanent School of the Prophets founded by his spiritual father & friend, Dr. Jonathan David.
Pastor Derek is happily married to his lovely wife Veronika who grew up in the nation of Estonia. Together they lead the congregation of Destiny Family Church.
Pastor Veronika Veronika was born again at the age of eleven while her country was still under the communist regime of the Soviet Union. After graduating from high school she completely devoted her life to Jesus and His Church despite persecution. For twelve years she was a vital part of a strong church in her country established by missionaries from the U.S. During that time, as a gifted singer with a heart to worship God, she was part of a worship team, helped organize international and nation wide events, led small groups and ministered frequently in the Word. Veronika also has a background in art and she is currently working towards a future in photography as she teams up with her husband in ministry.
In 2006, though Pastor Derek didn’t know Veronika yet, he was invited to minister in the same Estonian church having already become good friends with Veronika’s pastors, Kenneth and Diana Kaasik through their mutual connection to the I.S.A.A.C. network. The rest is history!
Destiny Family Church Launch Team
"Pastor Derek Ott is the Senior Pastor of Destiny Family Church. He is my spiritual son, an emerging apostle of good standing in character with the spirit of excellence and charisma. His prophetic gifting has empowered him to bring God’s proceeding word to churches and individuals alike. The local churches who had received his ministry have been greatly impacted with lives changed and bodies healed. Different men in high places especially in the marketplace have been touched by his life and gifts. Pastor Derek carries a strong breakthrough anointing in the area of worship and commands a tremendous favor with His Presence. I highly recommend him as one who will represent the apostolic-prophetic accurately. The churches in the U.S. need his input and soon the nations will also demand for it. Pastor Derek is happily married to Veronika and they live in Chicago. Enjoy God’s Gift. (Proverbs 18:16)"
