Our Pastor, Dr. Marvin H. Dennis

     Dr. Marvin H. Dennis has been pastor of Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church since July 1987, having previously pastored in New Jersey, Kansas and Wisconsin.

     Dr. Dennis has over fourty years of experience as a pastor. And he has always been involved in community service as well as pastoring.

     He has been a man who has worn many hats including

ministering to the Big Red One at Fort Riley, Kansas, organized city-wide softball and basketball leagues, public school teacher, private school founder and administrator, chaplain for the Janesville Police Department, chaplain for the NFL/AAA Professional Football team, chaplain for the Wisconsin Express, president of Abundant Life Ministries, Inc.

     He served the State of Wisconsin in various capacities, and was involved with En-Mark Financial Service as a consultant and Paik’s Academy of Martial Arts as administrator of the school. All of these activities, Pastor Dennis is quick to point out, would be impossible without the assistance of those who came to help him.

     Pastor Dennis served as the Chaplain for the Carson City Sheriffs' Department under two different Sheriffs from 1987 to 2002. He is also one of the chaplains who serve the Nevada State Legislature and Carson-Tahoe Hospital.

     Pastor Dennis has been honored in various ways from the Governor of the State of Nevada, to being listed in Who’s Who in Kansas, Outstanding Young Man in America and various other honors all of which he attributes to people supporting him and the grace of God.  

     On July 10, 2001, he received "The Pastor of the Year" award from the Pacific Southwest District of the Wesleyan Church during the District Conference in San Diego. 

     His education includes various continuing education classes and school where he continues taking classes to enhance his education. First graduating from United Wesleyan College - now Houghton College - where he was class president for two years and named Outstanding Alumnus, to Glassboro State College, School of Tomorrow’s ACE, Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism, Christian Law at Hyles-Anderson College, University of Wisconsin and Jameson Christian College. He studied stress and time management with World Vision, and psychology with Jackson Psychiatric School of Psychology and Christian Counseling Ministries, Inc.

     Pastor Dennis was married to Shelley Goodrich-Dennis on Mt. Princeton, high in the Colorado Rockies by Dr. Basil Jackson. He has a daughter, Pamela, and Shelley has two sons, Josh and Nick. Shelley helps tremendously with GSWC activities as church decorator, events coordinator, and instructs in Junior Church.