Pastor Dennis Reese comes to Cañon City First United Methodist Church after serving 33 years in the former Yellowstone Conference, in the state of Montana. He graduated from Point Loma Nazarene College of San Diego in 1983 with a BA in Religion; then attended The Iliff School of Theology in Denver, graduating in 1986 with a Master in Divinity.

Originally from The North County of San Diego, following seminary he answered a call to ministry in Montana serving the Mineral County Parish (Alberton, Superior and St. Regis) from 1986-1991; Shelby 1991-97; Great Falls Christ UMC from 1997-2007; and Lakeside Community Chapel UMC from 2007-2019.

Dennis has worked in Camping and Youth ministries for over 30 years. He chaired the Conference Camping committee for six years and was the Dean of Middle and Junior High Camps. He has served on Congregational Development Committees and the Conference Board of Pensions and Healthcare.

Dennis served as a Spiritual director for both Men’s and Women’s Walks with the “Walk to Emmaus” programs in Helena and Western Montana communities. He also helped introduce the “Face to Face Encounter with Christ” program to the Western Montana area.

“My first passion has always been the Ministry to the Local Church. That is what God called me to and that is what I have found the most satisfaction in,” Pastor Dennis says. ” When I can bring people to a new understanding of how God works in their lives, or help them experience an ‘Ah Ha’ moment of revelation from God, that brings a special joy!”

I hope people will come see and experience what the Cañon City FUMC is all about. We are a church that believes in the primacy of the scripture as our guide for our lives as we strive to live in God’s way. We follow the traditional practices of our faith as was encouraged in the ways of John Wesley, but first and foremost, we seek to live out our faith the Jesus way!