Denny’s Schooling
See Board of Directors Bio - Short for Publication
Grant High School – North Hollywood, CA
San Diego State University, graduating from California State University, Northridge, CA in Psychology.
Graduated President of his class from Denver Theological Seminary with his M Div June/1979.
Denny’s Testimony
Denny grew up third generation Italian. His Paternal Grandparents, Arnold and Bellesi came to America and soon found Christ at the Azusa Street meetings in Los Angeles, CA. With their new found faith Denny’s Grandparents started an all Italian speaking Pentecostal Church called Christian Assembly in Glendale. With very little money for an immigrant church Denny’s Grandfather lead as the lay pastor of Christian Assembly for over 50 years. That church is still in existence and is now called Eagle Rock Christian Assembly.
These were Denny’s roots, but it did very little for a boy who was raised in the San Fernando Valley where sports consumed his days. Christianity was an embarrassment to him going as far as to turn the clocks back in his house on Sunday Mornings hoping his parents would sleep in and miss church all together.
That all changed when his parents, Rosann and Harold Bellesi, took him to Van Nuys Baptist Churches youth group and he ran into a good friend and sports rival, Rob Scribner. Rob was sharp and Denny respected him very much. Denny started to change his view of Christianity. He thought, “if Rob can be a Christ follower maybe there is something to this”. Within a few months after a youth event Denny gave his heart to Christ and crossed the line of commitment to be a believer. It wasn’t long before Denny’s quiet leadership skills began to show up, becoming a stand out in this well established youth group where over 500 10th –12th graders attended on a Sunday. Denny’s Senior year he was voted in President of this youth group beginning his ministry of leading with humility, humor and grace.
Denny’s Mentors
Jim Grindle - Youth Director of Van Nuys Baptist Church
Faith and Jack Halverson – Pre and Post Marriage Mentors
Dr. Vernon Grounds – President Denver Theological Seminary
Pastor Larry DeWitt - Senior Pastor Calvary Community Church
Harry and Pat Frum – Elder/Friends Calvary Community Church
Denny’s Top 5 Strengths
(in order) Ideation, Strategic, Connectedness, Communication, Belief, From Now, Discover Your Stengths/FP Free Press/Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D.
(click here to read descriptions)
Denny’s Ministry Experience
Youth For Christ—San Diego 1970-73 (Campus Life Director)
Summer Mission—Naples, Italy—CBFMS—Jun-Aug 1973
Van Nuys Baptist Church—1973-76 (High School Campus Ministries Staff/ Youth Director)
Youth For Christ—Denver, CO (Campus Life Volunteer staff while in seminary—1977-79
Youth For Christ—San Diego, CA –1979-80 (Campus Life Staff Training Director)
Calvary Community Church,--Westlake Village, CA—1980-85 (Associate Pastor- Youth/ Young Couples/ Mission-Outreach)
Coast Hills Community Church—Aliso Viejo, CA 1985-2005 (Founding/ Senior Pastor/ led church from launch of 10 people to 7000 congregants)
Lake Avenue Church—Pasadena, CA –2005-07 (INTERIM Weekend Teaching Pastor)
Kingdom Assignment, International—Lake Forest, CA – 2006-Present Founder
Board of Directors, MOPS, International, Denver, CO--2006- Present
Board of Directors, New Life Ministries, Laguna Beach, CA--2006- Present
Denny in the News
PEOPLE Magazine—May, 2001
Oprah Winfrey Show—May, 2003
Well Done Awards—May, 2007/ June, 2008
To Tell The Truth (television)—September, 2001
Denny’s Interests
Honors/ Accomplishments
Orange County Boy Scouts of America—Man of the Year—2003
Senior Class President—Denver Seminary, 1978-79
Kingdom Assignment (Co-Creator), 2000- Present
Pastor’s Roundtable (Creator)—1995-Present
Hole-in-One (9th Hole, North Course--The Lakes Golf Club), July 7, 1995
Maintain a 6 Handicap in golf
34 years of marriage
2 married daughters, 3 beautiful grandchildren
Denny the Pastor
Denny have written and preached over 500 sermons on every subject under the sun.
A few links to Denny’s messages - CLICK HERE
To book Denny to speak at your church you can reach him at denny@kingdomassignment.com
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