Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennis Devorick.
Dennis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always lived at the intersection of faith and education. I began my professional journey as an elementary school teacher after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, and over time I earned my master’s in administration and eventually became principal of Carolina Forest Elementary in Myrtle Beach. I’ve now served there for many years, and leading one of the largest elementary schools in our district has shaped my heart deeply — because ministry and education are both about forming lives.
At the same time, God was stirring something deeper in me. I answered the call to pastoral ministry and pursued my Master of Divinity, serving churches in Ohio and South Carolina for over two decades. I’ve been blessed to shepherd congregations through seasons of growth, renewal, and mission. Throughout those years, one conviction kept growing stronger: the Church must be rooted in Scripture, anchored in historic Christian doctrine, and passionately committed to making disciples.
When the Global Methodist Church was formed, I sensed clearly that God was calling me to step into something new. After many years of faithful ministry in established churches, I felt led to help start something from the ground up — a church plant that would serve the South Strand area of Myrtle Beach with clarity, conviction, and compassion.
On July 1, 2025, South Strand Global Methodist Church officially launched. We began with a small but committed group of charter members who believed God was doing something fresh. From our very first Sunday, centered around Holy Communion and the saving work of Jesus Christ, we committed ourselves to being a covenant people — grounded in the Word, formed by prayer, and sent on mission.
Today, South Strand is a growing congregation of people who love Scripture, value Wesleyan theology, and are passionate about reaching our community. My journey has taken me from classroom to pulpit, from established congregations to church planting — but the mission has always been the same: helping people know Jesus Christ and live as His disciples.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road — but it has been a faithful one.
Balancing multiple callings has been one of the greatest challenges. I serve full-time as principal of Carolina Forest Elementary while also planting and pastoring South Strand Global Methodist Church. Add to that being a husband and father, and life requires careful stewardship of time, energy, and priorities. There are days when the weight of responsibility feels heavy — but I truly believe God calls us to faithfulness, not convenience.
Starting a new church brings its own obstacles. We rent our church space that we are outgrowing. . There is no inherited building, no decades-old systems — everything must be built from the ground up. Financially, church planting requires faith. Every sound system, every chair, every curriculum decision matters.
One unexpected challenge was finding quality ministry materials that fully aligned with our Wesleyan convictions and the theological clarity of the Global Methodist Church. Rather than compromise, I began writing what we needed. That led to A Covenant People, a confirmation resource designed specifically for the Global Methodist Church. It also sparked a broader writing journey — including the Faith Stories series beginning with John Wesley: A Heart on Fire, and Under the Jackfruit Tree, which shares my wife Kurusumu’s story of growing up in Uganda.
Those books were not originally business ideas. They were solutions to ministry needs — ways to disciple children, teach doctrine clearly, and share the beauty of faith across cultures.
The road hasn’t been easy. But through every obstacle — balancing school and church leadership, planting a congregation from scratch, writing resources late at night — God has been faithful. Every challenge has deepened our dependence on Him.
And in church planting, dependence on God isn’t a weakness. It’s the foundation.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For more than 34 years, I have lived in two parallel callings — education and pastoral ministry. I have served as a principal and educator for over three decades, and I have pastored churches for just as long. For me, those vocations are deeply connected. Whether in a classroom or a sanctuary, the mission is the same: shaping lives, building character, and helping people grow into who God created them to be.
As a school principal, I specialize in instructional leadership and building strong school culture. Leading one of the largest elementary schools in our district requires clarity, systems, accountability, and heart. I am known for steady leadership and a commitment to excellence — because every child deserves opportunity and hope.
In ministry, I am known for being biblically grounded and mission-driven. I preach Scripture clearly and unapologetically, rooted in historic Wesleyan theology. I care deeply about discipleship, evangelism, and building churches that are covenant communities — not just gatherings.
My global ministry has also shaped who I am. I have served as a missionary in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. Through these partnerships, I have helped support and fund schools and churches internationally. Education and faith go hand in hand — and investing in both changes communities.
One of the greatest blessings of my life has been marrying my wife, Kurusumu, who was born and raised in Uganda. Our marriage brought together two worlds — and expanded my heart for international mission even further. Together with her family, we are involved in a ministry called Chariots of Hope, which provides funding for education, equips children and families, and offers hope for a brighter future. We believe education is one of the most powerful tools God uses to break cycles of poverty and build dignity.
Another unique dimension of my ministry is serving as chaplain for the Life is Good Morton Cyclist Ministry. I participate in motorcycle blessings and outreach at biker events. I believe the Gospel belongs everywhere — in schools, in churches, and even in places many might overlook. Ministry is not confined to walls.
Recently, I added a new hat as a published author. I have now written five books, including A Covenant People, confirmation and discipleship materials for the Global Methodist Church, and children’s books such as Under the Jackfruit Tree, which shares my wife’s story of growing up in Uganda. Writing began as a way to meet ministry needs, but it has become another avenue for teaching, discipleship, and cross-cultural storytelling.
What am I most proud of? Not titles. Not positions. I am most proud of lives changed — students finding confidence, churches rediscovering mission, children deepening in faith, families gaining educational opportunity, and communities strengthened through partnership.
What sets me apart is not one accomplishment, but the integration of roles God has allowed me to serve in — educator, pastor, missionary, chaplain, church planter, husband, father, and author. Each calling strengthens the others. And through it all, the mission remains the same: to help people know Jesus Christ and to offer hope — both for today and for the future.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One thing that surprises many people is that I serve as a motorcycle chaplain and actively minister within the biker community.
Most people know me as a school principal, pastor, or author — but they’re often surprised to learn that I ride a Harley-Davidson and serve as chaplain for the Life is Good Motorcycilist Ministry. I participate in motorcycle blessings and outreach events, building relationships with people who may never walk into a traditional church setting.
Another surprise is how deeply personal our global ministry is. My wife, Kurusumu, grew up in Uganda, and through her family we help lead Chariots of Hope, supporting education and equipping children and families there. What began as marriage became mission — and what began as mission became family.
And perhaps most unexpected: I started writing books not because I set out to be an author, but because I couldn’t find materials that fully aligned with our convictions. So I wrote them. What started as a practical solution for ministry became five published books — including children’s stories rooted in faith and cross-cultural experience.
What makes this even more amazing is I have adhd and dysgraphia . God uses what others see as a disability as a stepping stone or springboard to do extrondinaty things.
I’ve learned that ministry doesn’t always fit in neat categories. It can happen in a classroom, in a sanctuary, in a village in Africa, or at a motorcycle rally.
And sometimes the most surprising parts of our lives are the very places God uses most.
Pricing:
- https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mr.-Dennis-J-Devorick/author/B0GG5RQ3Q1?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1771197263&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.southstrand.church
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577155516508
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthStrandMethodistChurch
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mr.-Dennis-J-Devorick/author/B0GG5RQ3Q1?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=f69f9c3d-3b23-441c-80ba-5984dfb5ac96
