Deneen was born of Russian/Ukrainian parents and speaks fluent Russian. She began singing professionally at the age of 16. She graduated from Baylor University’s Business school with a double major in Marketing & Management. Deneen was first invited to sing in the Russian Language for Dr. Graham’s International Amsterdam Crusade in 1986. She continued singing for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for the next 23 years, as well as traveled with Anne Graham Lotz as Worship Leader/Soloist for several Crusades in Eastern Europe. Her ministry in Ukraine began in early 1990. Deneen was the first American artist to release a Contemporary Christian recording during Communism, sponsored and distributed by the Soviet Government. Simultaneously with her music ministry in Ukraine, she focused on orphan care and indigenous adoptions. Deneen and her husband, Mark, adopted their son, Andrew, from Ukraine in 1999. That same year, Deneen and her Ukrainian ministry partner, Yuri Yakovlyev, co-founded a ministry to orphans called HopeHouse International®.