STAFF

Pastor Tony Dennis – Lead Pastor
Pastor Tony came on staff at Purpose Church {formerly Agape Dream Center} in 1989 just 2 months after marrying Cheryl (a PK from Louisiana!) Shortly after coming on staff, he began Dynamite Kydz where children from the projects would be bussed in weekly for “Sunday School”. Ten years later he took the lead of the youth ministry where he would pastor for the next 15 years. Tony’s heart has been to serve the vision of his father & pastor Jimmy Dennis to see the lost won to Jesus in Odessa. In 2017 Tony took on the role of Lead Pastor, his mission is to continue reaching the lost as well as discipling those who come to Jesus to live successful, overcoming lives in their families, jobs, and community.

Cheryl has excelled at what she enjoys most, and that is being a helpmate. Cheryl is Pastor of our women's ministry, Ruby Café. She and Tony have raised two great children both of which are married. Ashley Dennis Galvan & her husband Steven Galvan who she met while attending Texas Bible Institute and have blessed Tony and Cheryl with two beautiful grandkids. Aaron Dennis also met his spouse, Gabriella at Texas Bible Institute and they have a handsome son. Aaron is currently serving in the US Navy. Thanks to Cheryl, Tony’s clothes match daily, and he stays well fed.

Pastor Jimmy Dennis – Founding Pastor
Jimmy Dennis is a pastor and street minister known for his uncompromising communication style. He has a passion for reaching people in every situation of their life with the Gospel. Jimmy has been in ministry since accepting Jesus into his own life as a teenager. Early in his ministry he started and operated a coffeehouse ministry reaching teens and street people. In 1970 Jimmy founded West Texas Teen Challenge in Midland, Texas. After 3 years as director of West Texas Teen Challenge he moved to Stamford, Connecticut, where he founded and directed Connecticut Teen Challenge.  In 1981 Jimmy felt God calling him to teach churches how to invade their cities for Jesus. He and his family traveled for 5 years in a seven-state area ministering and teaching evangelism in the local church. In 1987 he and his family returned to Odessa to begin an outreach ministry. The Agape Dream Center Church was founded in 1996 by Jimmy. He served as founding and senior pastor until 2017 when his son, Tony, stepped into the role of lead pastor. Jimmy married his wife, Billie, in 1966. They have two children who are also in ministry.

Pastor Jami Butts – Associate Pastor
Jami Butts was born in Odessa, TX. in 1967 and has lived here for most of his life. His parents are Jim & Betty Butts. Jami worked in the oilfield most of his life in various job positions. In 1999 he was called to ministry and in 2002 he was ordained through Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches & Ministries International. Jami started New Creations Ministries where he led a team going to the streets, bars, and crack houses preaching to the lost and hurting and shortly thereafter he started a Christian 12-Step Program. Jami was married to his beautiful wife, Tammy Dennis Butts, March 26, 2005. Jami & Tammy have four daughters and a house full of amazing grandkids. In 2005 they opened Freedom House Discipleship which was a 12-month Christian Discipleship and Rehabilitation Home for men that are coming out of prison. Jami served as Pastor/Director of Freedom House for 12 wonderful years. Jami has been Associate Pastor at Purpose Church WTX {formerly Agape Dream Center} since 2017.

Tammy was born in 1969 and was raised in Odessa, TX. Her parents are the Founding Pastors of Agape Dream Center, Jimmy & Billie Dennis. She has been a partner in ownership of Klean Freaks since 2007. Tammy serves as the Service Coordinator/Assimilation. Tammy also served as secretary and Bible Study Correspondence Assistant for Freedom House Discipleship for 5 years. Tammy has been Jami’s partner through the good and bad in ministry and life. Tammy is truly a Proverbs 31 woman

Pastors Greg and Lillie Ohlsen – Purpose Kids
Gregory James Ohlsen was born a twin on March 12, 1974, in Augsburg, Germany, where his parents were stationed with the United States Army. He lived with his family in Germany for seven months before transferring to the United States. Greg’s family moved to El Paso, Texas for a few years before residing in Fort Davis, Texas where he graduated from high school in 1992. He moved to Alpine, Texas and attended Sul Ross State University and then moved to Midland in 1994. He married his wife of twenty-one years, Lillie, in 1996. They have a son, Shawn, who is now a student at Texas Tech. In 2010, Greg was called to the children’s ministry. Since then, he and Lillie have whole-heartedly served as pastors over the Purpose Kids {formerly Dynamite Kydz}.

Lillie Marie Ohlsen was born on April 30, 1971 in Alpine, Texas. She graduated from Alpine High School and went on to receive her Accounting Degree from UTPB in 2003. For the past Fourteen years, she has worked in public accounting.

Ashley Galvan- Purpose Worship
Ashley Galvan was born in 1992 in Odessa, TX where she was raised. Ashley grew up in Purpose Church (Formerly Agape Dream Center) where her grandparents are the founding pastors, and her parents served as Children’s Pastors and Youth Pastors when she was younger, and now are serving as Lead Pastors. 

After high school Ashley attended Texas Bible Institute in Columbus, TX where she met her husband, Steven. They got married in 2013 and had their son Oliver in 2015 followed by their daughter, Raeley, in 2019. Ashley has led worship at Purpose Church since 2015 and has been the church secretary since the end of 2017.

Jon & Laura Stuart - Purpose Youth
 
Jon and Laura met in 2006 and have been married since 2009.
Both have been residents of Odessa their whole lives and love this city!
Jon works in the oil field and has been a truck driver for 16 years. Laura volunteers with First Priority (a powerful ministry that reaches our youth in school), she babysits, and she and her best friend run a small business.

They have three fur babies that are spoilt rotten: Wednesday is a Pug, Pebbles is a Chihuahua, and the beast is Daisy which is a Mastiff.
Jon and Laura both have a love for teens and desire to teach them and lead them to Jesus.

Jacob Landrum- Purpose A/V & Worship.
Jacob Landrum has attended and served at Purpose Church (formerly Agape Dream Center) since 2015. Before that, he attended Hybrid Youth and served as Worship Leader. That is where he met his beautiful wife, Brittany. They were married in 2013 and had their son Declan in 2020. Their hearts remain pointed at serving where they are Worship Leaders and lead the Audio Visual team. They love Jesus and people!