Singing is her passion. Making worship fun and intimate is her mission.Born into ministry, Kendra is no stranger to witnessing the ups and downs of the human relationship with God. Singing since the age of six, her father not only taught her to belt every note, but he helped her understand that every song is a ministry of hope, joy, healing, and faith to someone. Her mother emphasized the importance of stage presence teaching her that by believing what one is singing, others will believe it faster causing them to enter the healing journey of worship quicker.
Taught to reach high because with God’s favor, nothing is unattainable, at the age of 16, Kendra was honored with the title of Miss Teen Louisiana in the Miss America’s National Teenager pageant. At the age of 17, she released her debut album, Beyond with You. Kendra is a graduate of University of North Texas with a degree in Mass Communications and minor in social studies. She works full-time at the Daystar Christian Network as the guest coordinator the JONI show and the lead Coordinator of the annual Refreshing Times Women’s Conference.
Her parents, Rev. LeRoy and Carlene Kelly have been in ministry for 38 years. They currently pastor Christ Temple in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Kendra also has two older bothers. The eldest, Michael Kelly pastors a church in Lomita, Texas with his beautiful wife, Annette, and two of the most amazingly beautiful children Kendra’s niece, Hannah Kelly and Kendra’s nephew, Corbin Kelly. The second eldest bother, Shannon Kelly, serves at Daystar TV as an audio engineer where his ministry plays an integral part in making worship reach its max with every EQ adjustment. He is also responsible for introducing Kendra to Joni Lamb where she auditioned for Joe Ninowski and David Ribb and was initiated as part of the Daystar Team.
In August of 2005, Kendra experienced the ultimate gift on earth when her heavenly father gave her earthly leading man, Dusty Dean. The two vowed to love, honor, experience life together, and to help each other wash the dishes. The handsome, Dusty Dean, born into ministry as well, is the full-time youth pastor at Heartland Church, in Irving, Texas, pastored by his parents, Rev Dan and Becky Dean. At Heartland church, together, these newlyweds are learning the art of working as a team in ministry while balancing their commitment to each other and God first. Making life interesting, they just purchased their first house and Dusty has learned the art of tiling and watching Kendra spend money on things like plastic plants.
Kendra believes that it is imperative for one to have a mentor imparting wisdom into their life. The Daystar singers are her mentors as well as her extended family. Everyday is an honor and joy to see how everyone’s ministry anointing and talent comes together in unity to form a unique solid melody of praise.