Drew Oakley is a pastor, author, communicator, and creator helping people understand why they react the way they do—and how faith, formation, and practical wisdom can help them grow. He serves as the Lead Pastor of The Church at Tuscaloosa, where he...

Drew Oakley is a pastor, author, communicator, and creator helping people understand why they react the way they do—and how faith, formation, and practical wisdom can help them grow. He serves as the Lead Pastor of The Church at Tuscaloosa, where he leads a growing church committed to helping people take their next step toward Jesus. Drew writes and teaches at the intersection of Christian discipleship, emotional health, neuroscience, parenting, marriage, and leadership. His work is especially focused on helping people move beyond surface-level behavior change into deeper formation. Drew is the author of The Trigger Cycle, a practical framework that helps parents understand teen emotional blowups through the lens of stress, story, state, and response. Instead of viewing reactivity as simply rebellion or bad behavior, Drew helps parents recognize the predictable patterns underneath emotional moments so they can respond with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Across his writing, speaking, and pastoral leadership, Drew equips parents, leaders, couples, and people of faith to become more emotionally grounded and spiritually formed. His approach blends biblical truth, real-life experience, and accessible neuroscience to help people build healthier homes, stronger relationships, and more resilient lives. Drew lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with his wife and four children.