Pastor Derrick Anderson of Chief Cornerstone Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Traces Path From Military to Ministry

Pastor Derrick Anderson of Chief Cornerstone Church in Winnipeg became a follower of Christ at age 27 while serving in the military. He says he was saved in a Cree community, Fish River, Manitoba, in a Pentecostal church, where he believes the Holy Spirit took hold of his life and he was born again. About three months later, he says, he was called into ministry.

Five years later, Anderson began pastoring in Ontario. His first church was in Sturgeon Falls, and he says the church he now leads is his fifth pastorate. He has also done itinerant work among Indigenous communities, travelling across Ontario, most of Manitoba and some of Quebec.

Anderson describes his time in Moose Factory, Ont., as a highlight of his ministry. He said the community sits on the edge of the Arctic and is Cree. While he was there, he said, the local church pioneered a TV ministry, which he called the first of its kind in that community, originating from the local church.

Anderson said the church’s vision is based on an account in 1 Samuel 22, when David, fleeing King Saul, gathered people at the Cave of Adullam. He described those who came to David as poor, bitter and distressed, and said they later became David’s mighty men. Anderson said the church’s vision is to build people in the love of Christ so that they become mighty in Him. He said the church primarily ministers to Indigenous people and has seen people delivered from addiction, which he called exciting to witness, (Matthew 25:35) .

Looking ahead, Anderson said he hopes to keep seeing God at work at Chief Cornerstone Church. He described it as a small church that is continually growing and moving forward, with people coming to Christ, being set free and being delivered.

Anderson summed up the church’s approach to ministry in these words: “It’s about loving people, caring for people, building them up and encouraging them, equipping them, being there when they stumble, when they fall, helping to pick them up. It’s being a shepherd and loving sheep.”

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