Dennis Swanberg at Civic Center Music Hall

If laughter is truly the best medicine, then 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. Raised in what he calls a "mostly blue-collar, but sometimes ring-around-the collar" family during the fifties, that old black and white television in the corner of the living room became an important part of making Swanberg the success he is today. "Most moms yell at kids to go outside and play", he remembers with a laugh, "My mom would say, 'you sit there and watch that television - your daddy worked so hard for it!'" her "encouragement's" paid off One of the first voices the future impersonator nailed as a child was his television hero, Barney Fife, from "The Andy Griffith Show."
Today Swanberg takes Barney Fife and over twenty other lovable impersonations, together with 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 Swanberg doesn’t care who he’s talking to, as long as he can leave knowing he made someone’s day a little brighter.
The story is typical of Dennis' ability to take everyday life with it's ups and downs and turn it into an act that's more than just an act. As a motivational speaker, teacher, preacher, author, counselor, TV personality, and humorist, Dennis Swanberg knows just what it takes to make life a more pleasant road to journey down - with a laugh or two along the way.
"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."
Looks like this doctor of encouragement writes his own prescriptions.