Rev. Lorenzo Sewell's Life Transformed From A Drug Dealer To A Pastor

I was a dope dealer on Friday but I became a hope dealer on Monday and that’s what Christ did for me.
Lorenzo Sewell, Next Steps Forward with Chris Meek interview

Imagine a young boy, slipping deeper into the spiral of chaos, his life a mess of violence and drugs, his mind clouded with hatred and fear, with no clue what his future might hold. Then out of the blue, a flicker of kindness and love comes his way and his whole life flips upside down in a heartbeat. This is the real-life story of Rev. Lorenzo Sewell, now senior pastor of 180 Church in Detroit.

Rev. Lorenzo Sewell posing for a picture — Photo Credit- Lorenzo Sewell ( @lorenzosewell/Instagram )

He was born March 24, 1981, in an African-American family on Detroit’s gritty east side. Young Lorenzo lived a messy life, seeing domestic violence against his mother by his stepfather. With his real father locked up for murder and no one to steer him straight, he dove into drug dealing.¹

By 18, Lorenzo was heavily into drugs and had earned a ton of money. But no amount of money can truly fix an empty heart.

In an interview with Daystar, Lorenzo Sewell revealed that during high school spring break, while he was high on drugs and cutting himself, a security guard held his hand and prayed for him. This small act cracked Lorenzo open and he decided to kick drugs and pick Christ in that very moment.

Journey to become a Pastor

After breaking free from the dark grip of drug dealing and gangs, Lorenzo immersed himself fully in the Christian ways of life. As he progressed, he took on the role of campus pastor at Woodside Bible Church in Pontiac while digging into Divinity/Theology studies at Moody Bible Institute.²

In December 2018, Lorenzo Sewell stepped up as the Lead Servant at 180 Church in Detroit and now serves as a Senior Pastor. His work is focused on serving the local community and increasing the number of disciples at the church.

Under his watch, the church also includes weekly food distributions for families and senior citizens in need, facilitates adult literacy classes, and works with various youth mentoring programs.

He was once handcuffed outside his Church

In June 2023, Rev. Sewell learned someone had drilled the locks of 180 Church. When he showed up to get in, he was handcuffed by a police officer who brushed off his role as senior pastor.³

This happened amid a legal tug-of-war between him and another group linked with the Church who wanted his ouster. Weeks later, a Judge allowed him to hold service at the church while the fight grinds on.

A father to three children

As a “father” in the church, Rev. Sewell pours his heart out in lifting his community’s faith. Alongside that, he is raising three kids and is a loving husband to his wife, Molly.⁴ His family is his backbone, providing support as he balances his responsibilities at home and in the community.

Connection with Donald Trump

In 2024, while current US President Donald Trump was campaigning as a Presidential candidate in Detroit, he visited 180 Church. Rev. Sewell hosted a campaign event and a roundtable discussion at the church with Trump.

During the event, he offered an impromptu prayer that caught Trump’s attention. This interaction led to a personal invitation for Rev. Sewell to participate in Trump’s inauguration.

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On January 20, 2025, he delivered one of the benedictions during the inauguration ceremony of Donald Trump, where he prayed for America’s unity, strength, and belief. He invoked Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of racial equality and justice, which was especially meaningful since the event took place on MLK Jr. Day.

He launched his own Memecoin

After his prayer at Donald Trump’s second inauguration went viral on social media, Rev. Sewell launched his own memecoin $Lorenzo, on January 20, 2025.⁵ He revealed that he wanted to use the money raised from the coin to support things like transportation, housing, education, and medical care for people in need.

Note- His biography will be updated here as new details emerge.