Notable Dance Workshop Instruction and Keynote Speaker
· March 27th—31st, 2006- Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) 44th Annual Congress, Christian Conference, Leadership School, and 3rd Quarter Board Meeting. Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO. Dance instruction and lecture for 30 youth.
· November 25th-27th, 2005- Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) Midwest Region Youth and Young Adult Conference, Louisville, Kentucky. Dance instruction and lecture for 30 youth.
· March 14th-18th, 2005- Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) 43rd Annual Congress, Christian Conference, Leadership School. Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO. Dance instruction and lecture for 30 youth.
· November 26th-28th, 2004- Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC). Regional Youth and Young Adult Conference, Kansas City, MO., Hyatt Regency Hotel. Dance instruction and lecture for 60 students.
Special appearances with the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC)
· Midwest Regional Conference, August 2000, St. Louis, MO. Danced for the Women's Department meeting.
· National Convention, August 2003, Houston, TX. Danced for the Women's Department meeting.
· National Convention, August 2004, Charlotte, NC. Danced for the Women's Department meeting, Laymen's Meeting, and Global Missions Night.
· National Convention, August 2005, Detroit, Michigan. Danced for the Women's Department meeting.
· Midwest Region Annual session, April 2006, Indianapolis, IN. Danced for the Women's Department Meeting "A Tribute to Faye Caldwell".
Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church
Minister Chris Kelly is no stranger to praise dance ministry. What began in 1996 as an annual praise and worship service for the Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church Women's Mission Auxiliary evolved into one of the most dynamic and sought-after dance ministries in Kansas City, MO.
For 11 years, Chris served as the director of all the dramas and provided leadership to the dance ministry, making notable appearances in Black History programs, as well as assisting in directing Black History events for area schools and churches.
Dance Ministry chronology under Chris's leadership
1998- Serenity Praise Dancers. The first dance team was formed for Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church.
1999- We Can Praise Too youth dance ministry. Restructured in 2003 as Continuous Praise Dance Ministry.
1999- Praise in Motion, young adult dance ministry. Restructured as God's Favor.
2000- Men In Praise (M.I.P.), young adult men's dance ministry
2001- Blessed In The Spirit senior women's dance ministry
2005 - Chris formed the "Family in Praise" dance ministry, comprised of family members (cousins).
Notable Appearances, Awards, and Recognitions
2002 - Serenity Praise Dancers traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica, to minister in dance at the North American Baptist Women's Union Assembly and its 50th Anniversary.
2002- Serenity Praise Dancers and God's Favor opening act for Gospel Artist, Tone' at the Ujamaa/Black Expo
2002- Serenity Praise Dancers opening act for Reynaldo Rey of Comic View fund raiser for the Grant Chapel AME Church "A Time to Laugh" concert.
2003- Serenity Praise Dancers travel to Birmingham, England, to minister in dance for the National Baptist Women's Alliance Women's Leadership Conference.
Winner as best Praise Dance Ministry, Omar Awards 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Chris works diligently to support her husband, Rev. Bill Kelly, in evangelism ministry. Both serve in various ministries (Drama, dance, and Evangelism) at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield as Pastor and provided services in the past at the Greater St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Nathan Buie, Dynamic Life Baptist Ministries, under Pastor Victor Clay,
Education
Chris holds a B.S. in Management Accounting and a B.S. in Management with a focus on Human Resources from Park University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is a licensed dance minister and has a Master's degree in Theology from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the author of Never Too Old to Dance, released in October 2016.
Awards and Recognitions
Community
· Women Entrepreneurs and Influencers (W.E.I.) Women's History Month Lifetime Achievement Award- 2025
· Lucile V. Jackson/Charlestine Scroggins Distinguished Service Award to help stop domestic violence- 2015, 2016, and 2017
· Western Baptist Bible College Women's Contribution to Black History Award- 2017
· Kansas City Globe's Society of Influentials- 2015
· Midwest CEO Magazine's 50 Most Influential Women- 2009
Individual
· Who's Who in America Award by The Marquis Who's Who Publications Board- 2025-2026
· Prospect Business Association Supplier Diversity Trail Blazer Award- 2023
· Minority Women In Business Leadership Award- 2022
· Conference of Minority Transportation Officials Small Business Advocate Award-2019
· Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Supplier Diversity ACE Award- 2018
· MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council Supplier Diversity Coordinator of the Year for Metropolitan Community College- 2011
· Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Supplier Diversity Group "Charles J. McDonald Jr., Supplier Diversity Advocate Award- 2009
· MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council Newcomer of the Year, Metropolitan Community College- 2008
· Minority Enterprise Development Week Advocate of the Year Award for Metropolitan Community College
Corporate
· Insight Into Diversity Jesse L. Moore Supplier Diversity Award- 2021
· Public Sector Champion Award from the Kansas City Women's Business Development Center- 2019
· Minority Enterprise Development Week Award for Corporation of the Year – 2008
Minister Chris and Rev. Bill Kelly have a son and daughter-in-law with three adult grandchildren and five precious great-grandsons. Receiving spiritual direction, encouragement, and support from Bill, Chris makes sure that the Heritage Dance Ministry holds to its mission "To reach out into the world and touch lives through praise and worship by creating a curriculum that encourages growth and drawing nearer to God through drama, expression, movement, and spiritual development.
