My name is Derek Shatto and I want to change the world.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant”
Jeremiah 1:5-10
I’ve made plenty of excuses in the past few years. I allowed fear and insecurity to come between me and pursuing another job working in youth ministry, getting married, and fully embracing a non-profit organization that was handed over to me (among other things).
Each time an opportunity had presented itself, I had this tendency to overthink about it and self-sabotage myself before getting my feet even off the ground.
Last year, I embarked on the World Race where God defibrillated my sleeping heart and woke me up to my calling again.
The World Race was the first thing I had embraced and fully committed to in 3 years because I was so consumed with that fear and insecurity.
Here I am now, in Mijas Spain, at G42 Leadership Academy where God has been making it abundantly clear what I was designed for since the very beginning.
I’ve known there is a calling on my life and I know I’m still alive today for a purpose. And despite battling depression and feeling so low to the point of suicide, Jesus has constantly reminded me (hence why it’s tattooed on my body), that His promises still remain!
This is where my life is going and how I got to this point…
February 2013 – After reading Love Does by Bob Goff, I feel super lazy, like I need to get up and do something BIG! I begin to pray and God shows me a vision of a key, revealing to me the powerful meaning behind the keys and the authority that comes with them.
“Keys open doors. Keys unlock new things. Keys set people free.”
Matthew 16:19 becomes my life verse and sermon that I begin to seek out the daily realities of.
March 1st 2013 – I launch “Keys of the Kingdom”, a key necklace campaign used to raise funds for our skateboard ministry “Underground Skatepark” to go on missions; as well as to empower anyone who buys a key necklace, reminding them that THEY hold the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, having authority in the Holy Spirit wherever they go to pray and see miracles happen.
May 8 2015 – After told “be expectant” by the Lord, He challenged me and my convictions to Matthew 16:19 when presented with a teammate with back problems and two different sized legs. Finally, I prayed asking Heaven to come down and for the Kingdom of God to fall down upon her. That moment, God began to heal her. I walked away for a minute and when I came back, we came to find her legs were both the same length and all back pain was completely gone! This was the start of the ownership and stewardship of the “keys of the kingdom” lifestyle and the beginning of many miracles that would soon follow.
July 2015 – God tells me that I am to specifically start a “movement” (not simply a ministry) amongst 20 somethings and millennials; to wake up the church to live out an everyday practical walk, empowered in the Holy Spirit.
August 1 2015 – God tells me I’m supposed to go to Spain to attend G42 Leadership Academy; to be trained on how to begin this “movement” and grow in discipleship.
January 11-15 2016 – At Project Searchlight, a World Race alumni gathering, I received numerous prophetic words confirming a calling to the 20-30 year old generation, a practical yet radical evangelistic approach, as well as reassuring (from the main speaker in front of all my peers (super nerve racking honestly)) that I would be used to reach “millions” (confirming the “movement” not just ministry)
July 9th 2016 – Andrew Shearman, founder of G42 Leadership Academy, was speaking in class about the Keys of the Kingdom, how former generations haven’t picked them up and he asked, “Who will finally pick up the keys?!”
This is my calling.
Another of my teachers, Gary Black, also asked who will ever initiate the young 20 something year old men and usher them into manhood, teaching them to own their faith.
I want to be the guy he is talking about.
There is power in declaration. I’m receiving these words and I’m choose to believe them now.
No more excuses.
I was destined for a bigger purpose than for what I’ve been settling for.
No more living overwhelmed or on my own strength.
This may seem like a tall order, but you know what? If God has spoken this, and God doesn’t lie, why should I be afraid anymore?
I trust Him.
I want my inheritance.
I want to take the Keys my Father has entrusted to me, set the captives free, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out the demons, wake the sleeping giants, proclaim the good news, and breathe life into lives and dreams that have been spiritually dead for far too long.
My name is Derek Shatto.
I’m going to change the world.
