Pastor Dennis was born in Hillsboro, OR on April 9, 1947, and raised in Northern California. He graduated from Gulf-Coast Bible College in 1980 with a degree in Christian Ministry/Counseling. He met his wife of 40 years in Modesto, CA. where her father Rev. Donald Smith was the pastor of North Modesto Church of God. Together they have two children; Jeanette Early born in 1970 and Darrin Early born in 1973. Their children have blessed them with six grandchildren. Dennis and Shari started full time ministry in Merced, CA at the First Church of God in 1974. They then went to Santa Cruz, CA. as Youth Pastors at the Capitola Community Church of God. In 1977 they went to Houston, TX to complete Dennis’ college education at GBC. In 1980 they moved to El Cajon, CA to serve as Senior Pastor at the First Church of God. In 1988 they moved to Palmdale, CA to serve as Senior Pastor at the Palmdale Community Church of God. In 1991 they returned to San Diego County to assume the Senior Pastor position at the First Church of God in Chula Vista, CA. Today Dennis and Shari live in Wichita, KS where Dennis is the Senior Pastor at the Pawnee Avenue Church of God.