Dennis Barrett and his family moved when his father, an ordained minister, started a new church in Stockton. It was 1953 and Dennis and his twin brother Dale entered 3rd grade at El Dorado Elementary School. Even at this early age, the innocent comparisons of their lives began, and would have a significant impact throughout Dennis’ life.

After graduating from Stagg High School, Dennis and Dale left to study ministry at a small Bible School in Iowa. In his senior year, Dennis married his college sweetheart, Mary Lynn, and together they returned to Stockton where he became the Youth Pastor at his father’s church. Two years later he received his first call to be a full-time pastor in Castro Valley, where he and Lynn had a daughter and a son. They also served in Cudahy near Los Angeles, and Dallas, Texas. When his father passed away, Dennis was called to serve as the Senior Pastor at his father’s church, where he served for the next twenty-two years.