Stephen Kelly

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Education: B.M. in Piano Performance from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music.

About Me: Proud husband of 9 years to Trina Kelly, and proud father of 7 year old Stephen Marcellus. I have a passion for people, especially those that are broken and hurting. I'm excited about collaborating across cultural, social and economic backgrounds to truly embody Shalom. I'm compelled by the calling of all humanity to truly be reconciled to God and each other. I'm passionate about racial reconciliation and justice. I am a musician, and enjoy participating in serving the church through music in various capacities. 

Interests: People, Family time, Mentoring and being mentored, Music, Candy, Basketball, chess, TV, boxing, basically sports of any kind, anything sweet. 

Favorite Music: Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans, Mary Mary, most contemporary gospel, Jazz, R&B, CCM, Hymns, Jazz and some Hip Hop. I love and grew up on classical music from Chopin to Rachmaninoff, Beethovan, Liszt, Grieg, Bach, and many others I cannot pronouce.

Favorite Movies: Everybody's got Shawshank and that's truly one of my favorites. The Negotiator, Sound of Music, Life, The Philadelphia Story (Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart - a must see), Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Godfather trilogy, Booty Call (with Jamie Foxx), The Score (Edward Norton), Primal Fear (Edward Norton - a must see as well), A Few Good Men, GoodFellas, Training Day, Crimson Tide, Out Of Time, actually anything Denzel Washington. And how could I forget Gladiator and Braveheart? Those are just a few of my favorites.

Favorite TV: NFL Network, SportsCenter, CNN, Breaking Bad, Homeland, Couple's Therapy, Reality TV, Boss, The Good Wife. 

Favorite Books: The Cost of Discipleship, The Next Evangelicalism, Martin and Malcolm, The Irony of American History, God of the Oppressed. 

Favorite Childhood Memory: Playing basketball with my five older brothers, and traveling and playing different places on piano.

I'd Like to Meet: MLK, Nelson Mandela, both of my Grandfathers. 

Favorite Superhero: It has to be Superman, the only real born Superhero.