What inspired your recent decision to become a pastor? 

All through my life, I’ve felt the call to be a pastor. I would hear the Lord telling me, but I had to be ready, and I had to be obedient within that, and spiritually ready, and I just hit a moment in my life where it was just like, you know what? This is really what God wants me to do, and around this time, I kept saying, “not my will, but your will be done” no matter how uncomfortable, I was willing to do whatever God wanted me to do because he saved me and helped me break through so many barriers in my life. I fully relied on prayer to help me make some of the difficult decisions from this new calling. I remember I was praying really hard like I always do, and I heard the Lord speak loud and clear to me, ‘This is the time to do it,” God said, “I want you to be a youth pastor but also still continue to work in the other gift that I gave you which is also in the entertainment business ’cause I need you to show my faith in both. And so I was like, ‘yeah, I’m here for you, Lord. Let’s do this. It has not been easy, but it has been miraculous to see the things that have happened within me answering that call, on both sides of my life—in my church and then also in the entertainment business, where now, when I go on set, I see through God’s eyes ‘Who can I pray with? Why am I here? Who can I talk to about the Lord? I’m here to show his love. Because it’s really about people seeing the God in me and not just the character or the person I’m playing. When you look me up because you enjoy my films, you discover I love the Lord, and that’s important to me. I want people to see how I got through certain things in my life, obstacles, and things of that nature. I have been in this business a long time, and I feel like they should see God in me, and I would be doing people a disservice if I didn’t show them the way to the light.” 

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 How does your background in acting and comedy influence your current ministry?

It was all in God’s plan. My journey led me to this point, and everyone that has followed my career now can see that through my ups and downs, I kept my faith in God! His grace is forever present in our life! I also bring my witty ideas to entertainment to promote faith! It’s all ministry for me! That is why you see me shoot a music video telling the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den reimagined as an anime and giving glory to God in my song BLESSED MODE.  

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How is pastoral work different from your career as an entertainer?

I have learned that this is the way God has designed me to do it it's no comparing the two he just has given me the endurance to learn how to live life with both because, with Pastoral work, I’m constantly working in the spiritual realm, praying staying obedient, being open to hearing God. Constantly asking God to renew my mind daily so I can focus on his purpose and not allow the enemy to creep in and pull me away from the plans of God. God comes first; everything else works out because of him. Being an entertainer, the same obedience and endurance applies because I can only do it because of his help.    

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Why are you passionate about sharing your faith?

People are hurting and need to know of God’s love and be reminded that they are beautifully and wonderfully made by God! The peace and comfort that only He can give.   

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 How do you hope to utilize your platform for God’s Kingdom?

I’m an ambassador for Christ! Influencing others to love like Jesus is so important! And to learn how to not let the enemy stop your influence or your love is important. So I share my everyday testimonies of faith! I am seeing lives change by being transparent, so my everyday hope and optimism, no matter what happens, is knowing God will work it out! I have seen him do it over and over again when I put him at the forefront of my platform. 

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How do you navigate the secular world while maintaining Christian values?

Routine. You can not do something like this without a healthy routine and consistency in making sure you add Christ to everything that you do! Christ is like the air I breathe. I cannot live without him. I start every day giving time to him because I know the enemy wants to stop my influence to lead people to Christ. So I have to make sure my focus is on Jesus so my thoughts will not intervene. Again, it is not easy, but Jesus says we will have trouble in this world, but in Him, we find peace, and He helps us get through whatever obstacle or trouble it is and gives us peace! I trust in scriptures like John 16:33 to help get me through. 

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How do you balance the dynamics of lighthearted comedy and deep, authentic faith?

By being real. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. When you are real in comedy people relate to your real story that came from a real experience that you had, and they can relate and think, “I have been there,” or “wow, I understand that.” Same with your faith, be real about it, don’t sugar coat it, don’t cover it up, tell the truth of how it works and has worked in your life, and it will touch the heart of the ones that are listening to you. And they will see that you really live what you say by your actions and keep your faith.  

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What is the primary focus of your messages?

Is there a specific audience you hope to reach? Of course, I love to reach the youth! But It is really about everyone. I have fans of all ages who have watched me on television on different shows. I'm just doing what God asks me to do, and I want them to take care of their spiritual, mental, and physical health. All things are very important in my message. You will see on my website kelmitchell.com a banner that scrolls by says, Faith, Family, Fitness, Funny. The message is to put God into all that you do, and you will enjoy life. Nothing is impossible.

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How will your partnership with Pray.com help advance the message you are sharing?

Pray.com falls right into line with what I said above. Prayer is so important; it is a daily conversation with you and God; it is what empowers us and gives us peace and endurance to keep going because of the daily and positive conversation we continue to have with our Lord, who knows what is up ahead?  

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Are there any new initiatives you hope to participate in in the future?

Stay tuned; God is always downloading fun, witty, life-changing ideas to me. So I'm just in awe of what he has done and is doing. A ton of surprises are on the way! All glory to God!

Kel created a new Bedtime Bible Story for us—Sermon on the Mount. This story is based on the teachings of Jesus, spoken from a hillside in the land of Galilee. Jesus shares wisdom, encouragement, and guidance with His disciples, and the large crowd gathered to listen.