Dennis Gingerich is the founder of Successful Successions. He is the Husband of Linda 50+ yrs., a Dad x3, Grandpa x5, Founding Pastor at Cape Christian, Baton-Passing Legacy-Leaving Leader, Blogger, Police Chaplain and Professional Nature Photographer.
SUCCESSION LEADERSHIP – Dennis has been very intentional to develop a succession plan that prioritizes the well-being and longevity of the organization he founded. Dennis led three successful successions at Cape Christian. He has been a consultant to other non-profits and churches in developing and executing their succession plans. This blog is designed to inspire transformissional leadership successions and to give practical and usable principles to help ministry and business leaders develop their own succession plan.
THE MISSION – The mission of Dennis is to inspire transformissional living in others. Dennis has passionately empowered the transformation of young leaders as they discover their calling, develop their character, refine their gifts and intentionally engage in their mission. He also realizes that older adults often coast as they near retirement. In addition, they fear uncharted territory, being irrelevant, or being pushed to the curb by the younger generations. His blog at DennisGingerich.com is designed to inspire young and older adults to live with intentionality and leave a significant legacy — honoring the past, celebrating the present with an eager eye toward the future.
BACKGROUND – Dennis was born in Salem, Oregon where he grew up on a grass seed farm. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work and Bible and a Master of Divinity degree at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1979. After pastoring in Elmira, NY from 1979 to 1986, he moved his family to Cape Coral, FL to lead a team of six to launch the city’s first contemporary church, Cape Christian Fellowship in 1987. Now, worship attendance in 6 services each weekend, is over 5,000.
MARRIAGE – Dennis married Linda Augsburger in 1974 and she has been a vital part of starting and growing Cape Christian. Professionally, Linda is a retired Registered Nurse, working in Labor and Delivery at Cape Coral Hospital for 33 years. She is passionate about parenting and grandparenting and has written a course, Parenting on Purpose, that she has taught to hundreds of young parents.
FAMILY – Dennis and Linda have three adult children who live in Fort Myers, Tampa and Jacksonville. Their five grandchildren range in age from 19 to 6.
INTERESTS – Dennis and Linda love to travel. They also love the privilege of regularly leading groups to experience the delights of following the steps of Jesus in Israel, Apostle Paul in Greece and Turkey, Radical Reformers in Europe and other locations. Information can be found at TransforMissional Travel.
To relax, Dennis enjoys nature photography. His award-winning images can be enjoyed and purchased at Gingerich PhotoArt or at local gift shops. His photographs can often be found in print and web media advertisements that promote the beauty and attractions of southwest Florida.
COMMUNITY – Beyond his work at Cape Christian, Dennis serves and pastors the community. Dennis coached youth soccer for 13 years and has been the Lead Chaplain for the Cape Coral Police Department since 1996. He has served on several non-profit boards over the years and has been a volunteer with the Eagle Watch program in Cape Coral for nearly 20 years. Plus he just loves to mentor and pastor community leaders.