Dennis and Kathy, his wife of 36 years, live  in Tracy,California. They have 3 adult,  married daughters and 6 grandchildren. Dennis is the founding Pastor  of Valley Community Baptist Church. He has spent some 38 years of working with people in real life circumstances,  both in the public sector and the local church.

     In 1971 Dennis became a deputy sheriff for San Joaquin County in Northern California During his 17 year tenure he served in a variety of law enforcement assignments promoting to the rank of Commander.  In his last 7 years he served as a member of the senior leadership  command staff. Dennis played a principal role in the development and implementation of the county wide  9-1-1 system.   He developed, implemented and commanded a unified 9-1-1 emergency law enforcement, fire and EMS dispatch center.  Dennis  was involved in the development of some of the first generation dispatcher’s training programs and assisted in writing state standards for dispatcher training. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Administration of Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy.

    During this time Dennis and Kathy kept busy spending their free time by serving 9 years in Youth Ministry Leadership and College Ministries. After attending seminary and receiving his masters degree, Dennis was prompted to fully utilize his gifts, skills, talents and experiences by seeking a full time vocational position in ministry. In accepting a position as a church  planter with the North American Baptist conference of churches, Dennis took a deferred retirement from the Sheriff’s Department to enter the pastoral ministry in 1987. Dennis has been involved in the intentional mentoring of young people with a heart to serve Jesus for 30 years.  Over 20 of the many people he has spiritually mentored have entered and served in vocational ministries as full time pastors, missionaries and ministers in a variety of different capacities.

     His tenure in law enforcement and the church has given him a practical expositional preaching and speaking style.  He is known as a shepherd and an equipper.  His 3 decades of experience as a leader  and as an equipper of leaders, both in and out of the church,  has allowed him to become a very effective communicator of a balanced, healthy and mentoring based, Christ like development approach.