​Dallas Lenear was born and raised in Flint, MI – the youngest child of Dave and Marie Lenear’s eight children. As a youth, he was active in his church and in academic and extracurricular pursuits. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Michigan – where he received his BBA in Finance and Computer Information Systems. Lenear returned to Flint where he worked as Assistant VP & Community Bank Manager of the former D&N Bank.

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While in Flint, Lenear expressed a call to preaching and pastoral ministry. He was licensed as a minister at New Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. W. G. Terry. Shortly thereafter, Lenear moved to Grand Rapids, MI to pursue a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies degree from the Grand Rapids Theological Seminary of Cornerstone University. While in seminary, Lenear also worked at the Messiah Missionary Baptist Church. After seminary, Lenear served as the Director of Graduate Admissions for GRTS. Later, he became the first Executive Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, where he served for more than eight years.

Since 2001, Lenear has been personally passionate to inspiring and informing his community to make good financial decisions. He has taught personal finance workshops, written articles in local newspapers and national magazines, and spoken on economic justice issues locally and nationally. In 2016, Lenear launched Project GREEN – the Grassroots Economic Empowerment Network. Project GREEN’s vision is to turn everyday people into money heroes. In summer 2020, Lenear began streaming live videos on Facebook #firstthingmondaymorning, which continues to this day.

In August 2020, Lenear launched Journey Church of Grand Rapids.
Dallas is married to his wife, Senita – who is the former Third Ward City Commissioner of Grand Rapids. They are parents, and they own Genesis Consulting Group providing event planning and production and ministry and non-profit consulting services. They also own Genesis Suites - an office building, event venue, and where Journey meets.

Dallas makes some mean Daddy Cakes (pancakes) for his kids, and he loves strawberry cake!