Pastor Dennis was born and raised in Baltimore City, graduating from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with concentrations in management and marketing. Out of college, he pursued a career in health and fitness as a salesman, personal trainer and manager in a Baltimore health club for eight years. Through his experience in physical fitness training, the Lord taught him spiritual fitness. From there he was called into ordained ministry. Graduating in 1995 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C., he served in the United Methodist churches for 12 years. In 2007, he received credentials through the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
During his four years in seminary, he was the Director of Christian Education at Catonsville United Methodist Church. Upon ordination in 1995, he served for seven years as pastor of the Potomac Charge, which consists of Mt. Carmel, St. Paul and Parkhead Churches in Big Pool, MD. He was appointed the Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Laurel, MD, a church of 600 plus members. He was active in ministries to the homeless and those with substance abuse issues.