Dr. Dennis Swanberg

If laughter is truly the best medicine, then Dr. Dennis Swanberg, America’s “Minister of Encouragement,” is just what the doctor ordered. With his down-home charm and heaping helping of hospitality, this Austin-Texas–born pastor-turned-comedian has won the hearts of audiences across the country.

“The Swan” performs over twenty lovable impersonations, including Barney Fife, Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, and Billy Graham. He presents his side-splitting stories of growing up, families, and the funny side of church, to over 250,000 people every year. His audiences range from churches looking for fresh and new inspiration to marriage enrichment seminars, city-wide concerts, business-related events, and corporate gatherings. Dennis doesn’t care who he’s talking to as long as he can leave knowing he made someone’s day a little brighter. His national broadcast television shows, Swan’s Place and The Dennis Swanberg Show, are described by the networks as “an hour of good, clean fun and entertainment as well as spiritual insight and encouragement” and are viewed by over one million households weekly.

This year Swanberg will appear at over 150 churches, conferences, businesses, and concert events while his popular TBN and FamNet television shows continue to be aired weekly. He has also authored seven books, and an additional book on men’s ministry is scheduled to hit the marketplace during the upcoming year. And as always, he’ll be bringing a note of encouragement, a pocketful of hilarious stories, and a great big bag of joy and laughter wherever he goes.

Swanberg says,

I try to bring people laughter, but my advice to them is always that joy is a choice. Happiness is dependent upon what happens in your life, but joy is a choice you can make every single day. It takes an act of your will . . . even if you don’t feel joyful at the moment. And it takes dying to yourself and coming alive in the lives of others around you. I want to motivate my audiences to have courage, to be strong, to look for the moments in life that make them realize they are an important part of this world. Do your best to go out there risking. We live in a world where you can afford to fail and try again. I want people to realize that this is a great life to enjoy. And the one way you can enjoy life is by helping other people enjoy it too.

Dennis lives in Texas with his wife Lauree and has two sons, Chad and Dusty (wife Britny), and two grandchildren.