Welcome back to the Christianity and Business Podcast, an initiative of the RTW Dunham College of Business at Houston Christian University. I'm your host, Darren Shear, and this is a show that helps Christian business leaders to integrate biblical values into business. On this episode, we're joined by Kenya Kelly. Kenya is the CEO of Kenya Kelly LLC, a vertical video marketing and consulting agency in San Diego, California, where she strategically helps business owners develop video and funnel marketing strategies. In just three years through vertical video marketing, Kenya has grown an audience of over 500,000, generated over $1 million in her business, and has helped thousands of business owners scale and market their businesses online. And she recently helped one of her clients reach over $1 million in her business in 10 months on the TikTok platform. And um, and she does it for the glory of God, which is why she's on this show. Kenya, welcome to the Christianity and Business Podcast.
SPEAKER_00Thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_01So when did you first realize God wanted to be involved in your work and business?
SPEAKER_00Um, I think it was probably 2016. I had started this curly hair business for African-American women that have curly hair. And during that time frame, it was this God idea that I had. I didn't know it was a God idea, but it was a God idea that I had. And there was all these things that I wanted to have happen for this hair show. And I was, I was a tither, but I was I was on this journey of like my faith and tithing and all that. And so I remember for this show, and I just started writing on my tithe envelope, like, I want this to happen and this to happen, all these things. And in a matter of like a couple of months of planning this whole show, my tithe envelope was filled every single, like every other week with what I was believing God for. And at the end of the show, everything that I wanted to have happened happened. And it was in that moment I realized, you want this, I want this, you want this. So let's do it together.
SPEAKER_01Wow, that's awesome. So, what changed in your approach to business?
SPEAKER_00Um, so what started to happen was like, I feel like I'm smart, so to speak, but I started to realize that like there's this level of wisdom that I just don't have. And I was like, well, if I'm supposed to be praying to God, let me pray to God and talk to him about everything. And I just kind of started on this journey of being like, if he is the creator creator of it all, then maybe he can give me strategies for my business. So I started like just on the journey of asking him questions, and I started to realize that his what I was hearing was better than any coach that I was hiring. And so I started going, like, my approach is wrong. I need to actually go to him first and then other people because everybody can't see what God can see because he's God.
SPEAKER_01Wow. And so practically, what's one of the habits that helps you just tune in to his voice for business?
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. So one of the things that I do every morning in general for my life is I wake up early and feed my cats. Um, but then I usually journal all of my feelings for the day, week, month, about all the things. And then right before I go into prayer, I write the word Jesus on a sheet of paper and I just start writing down all these questions that I have. And that's about my life and about my business. And so when I'm talking about the business things, I started going like, okay, so here's this product we want to launch. Is this the right product? If it is, what's the right price? How many are we gonna sell? And just having those like literal conversations and asking those things. And as I started watching the exact number, the exact price work, I was like, this is gonna be my practice for everything that I do.
SPEAKER_01Wow. And so video marketing is that's your specialty and helping people to be able to be influencers on TikTok and YouTube and the rest. Um, a big part of that really what we're talking about is branding. And that's something that a lot of us Christians are uncomfortable with. Um, you know, I think about the scripture where it says that Jesus made of himself no reputation, and yet that's what social media influencers are doing by definition, is making a reputation for themselves on on uh on these different platforms. So how do you reconcile um just some of those? And it's probably just um um poor interpretation um on a lot of our parts in the way that we just sort of throw out the idea of branding and oh, that's just being selfish and taking glory away from God. Um, but should Christians brand themselves?
SPEAKER_00So um I feel like yes, but I feel like that there is it, it also depends. So when I look at um, let's just say social media or just business in general, you've got a company like Apple, right? The only reason why we even know Apple exists because they built a brand and they started to market themselves, right? And so the only reason why some some of us know the church that we belong to is because they built a reputation, they built a brand and they started to market themselves. And so when I look at, you know, Christians as influencers or people that should brand themselves, I think it really depends upon what is the call on a person's life, first off. Um, because if everybody starts branding themselves and they haven't gone through enough deliverance, they haven't gone through another inner inner healing, you know, then they can become this person and they're not actually ready for the influence that they're building because they don't really, there's no foundation, you know, for themselves or what have you. So I don't think that everybody should. But if a person, if there if there's a calling on their life to preach the gospel, which is all of us, you know, in some way, form, or fashion, um, if our desire is to fulfill that call, reach the loss, and one of the ways we want to do that is building a is building a reputation online, then yes, build a brand. Um, and when I think about building a brand, is it's not about like, yes, people know my name, King of Kelly, but when you reach me and you start talking about Christianity or whatever, you know, I'm not gonna be boasting about here's my social media numbers, here's how much money we've made. I'm gonna be talking to you about you and trying to bring the light of God that I have on the inside of me to a person. But one of the things that I know is that like if people can't, they'll know my reputation, so to speak, let's just say online, then there is like, there's like a hesitancy. It's like, for example, sometimes I'll be in like rooms with like very wealthy, very famous people. And, you know, they don't know me. I know them, but they don't know me. And but when we're in these conversations, they start having this like something's something's going on with her. And they like I could see them leaning in with the quick the curiosity of who I who am I? Why do I why am I making them feel this way in a good way? And what a lot of times happens is people then go and search me online and they go, Oh, I like her, I trust her, I want more of her. And then they start telling me their secrets because I've built this reputation of a trustworthy person.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. So how do you define branding?
SPEAKER_00Um, so in general, I say that branding is what people say about you when you're not around. That you uh you have told the world, this is me, this is who I am, this is what I'm known for. So, like if you find me online, you'll see that I'm known for video marketing, and that's the brand that I've built for King of Kelly. Now, King of the person, there's a whole lot more to me, but the brand is this is a video marketing strategist.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And so, based on that definition, do you think Jesus branded himself?
SPEAKER_00Um, yes. If he was in 2024, Jesus definitely has a brand. Jesus has a brand of doing A, B, and C. Like you know, Jesus is not going to like, he's not gonna make uh this person feel good about themselves and this person feel bad about themselves. He's not gonna he's not gonna go to the woman who's sleeping around and tell the whole world what she's doing. He's going to tell everybody that he who's without sin casts the first stone and make people be convicted in you know what it is that they're doing and like stop messing with other people. So he has this, he has a brand of Jesus loves everybody. He sits with everybody, hangs with everybody, and leads everybody back to God. You know?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. And he even used phrases, uh, you know, not just if Jesus was here today, would he have a brand, but back in biblical times, he says, I'm the bread of life, I'm the way, the truth, and the life, the good shepherd, the door, the vine, you know, all of these things are are branding devices that he's using to help people understand who he is. So even though it says in Philippians that he made of himself no reputation, there there are still phrases and descriptors that he uses of himself to help position who he is in the minds of people, right? And I agree, because they don't know people can't understand the kingdom until they uh like they're not gonna buy into what you represent until they buy into you. Would you agree with that?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I 100% agree. You know, I I went to Bethel Church for a couple years, and the reason why I even wanted to go there is because I bought into Bill Johnson, I bought into Chris Valatin and what's my guy's name, Eric Johnson. I bought into those three people, and I bought into Bethel Music and how they display God through worship, you know. But there's no way I would leave Houston, Texas to go live in Redding, California, population 90,000,600 brown people. There's no way I would go there. Like, who nobody would do that? But because they built this brand, this reputation, it was like, I don't care how many brown people are there, I'm going.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I love that. Um, so what should we be doing to brand ourselves and our companies?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So when I think about like building a brand, so first a person has to ask themselves, where am I trying to go with this? Um, because it's one thing to go, okay, my name is Kia Kelly. I'm coming online and I'm talking, it's like, well, where are we trying to go? So if you're a Christian business, you're saying to yourself, okay, yes, we love Jesus and we want to bring Jesus to people or whatever. But um is are we trying to focus on leading people to Jesus or are we trying to build a business? Right. So let's just say that you have a podcast company. If your podcast company isn't necessarily just trying to reach Christians, then you're like, okay, here's the business that we have, here's what we're trying to market. Now, who are we trying to market to? So once you figure out like who your audience is and things of that nature, then you have to go, okay, what is our message, right? So let's just say I want to be a Christian influencer where I am talking about God preaching, da-da-da-da. Well, I then have to say to myself, okay, what does that look like? Who is my people group? Is it male, female? Is it, you know, non-denominational? Like, you got to get very specific about who you're trying to target. And then you have to just start. You know, a lot of times people um they say they want to do this thing online and they're trying to do all these things perfect first. Let me get this thing and this equipment and all this stuff. And most times it's busy work because the person is afraid to actually show up online. Um, but I always tell people that like you don't really know which way you're gonna go online until you actually start. So I've been doing what I've been doing for 10 years, but uh everything has changed over the years because I had to figure out who am I? What do I enjoy doing? What do I not enjoy doing? Like I have a ministry, it's called You Me and Jesus. And when I was like talking to people online, I was just talking to Christians. And then I started to realize, oh, there's some aspects of Christians I don't really like, you know, and I'm like, okay, who do I really want to talk to? I want to talk to the people who are curious about the Holy Spirit and that also are obsessed with the Holy Spirit. Like, yes, if a person is not on that track with the Holy Spirit, that's okay. Those just are aren't my people because I don't want to convince you of the Holy Spirit and its power or whatever. And so, but I had to figure that out as I went, it didn't happen overnight.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. What is it that keeps us from branding ourselves and just saying, you know what? I'm just gonna put this stake in the ground. This is who I am. Take it or leave it. I'm gonna make no apologies for it. What is what what holds us back from doing that?
SPEAKER_00Um, I think it's a couple things. Uh, one, I think it is uh fear of being judged by other people. Um, because the moment you put your face on a camera, well, one, you have to like deal with your own insecurities about being on camera, like your voice, how you look, all the things. That's the first major thing for everybody. Um, the second thing is fear of being judged by other people because once you come out online and you start saying things, saying what you believe or what have you, you have both people who agree with you and those that disagree with you that are there and that you they have the potential of, you know, saying things to you online or what have you. But I also feel like it's gonna sound kind of controversial, but I also think that it's our own judgment, you know, that you know, we have judged other people so harshly, whether we have been a keyboard warrior or not, or we've just kind of said it in our private lives. And there's this part of us, some that are like, well, I don't want to go out and say anything because, you know, they know sometimes what they have done to other people, what they have said about other people, you know what I mean? Um, but I think the biggest thing is is more like the insecurities of showing up. Like I remember when I was first coming online talking about God, and I knew I had some pastors that were connected to me on social, and I was like, who am I to try to talk about God and the Bible when they're like the scholar, they're the prophet, such and such? I'm like, there's no way I would feel comfortable knowing that she could possibly come on on my live stream. And I started like, I was so so insecure about it, but finally I realized I was like, well, she was just like me and she's just like me. God wants me to do this, I'm gonna do it, you know. But I had to get over that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Is there a particular scripture that comes to mind when you think about this kind of audacity that we ought to have to just step out and just be faithful with the message that that God has given to us?
SPEAKER_00Um, so the one that immediately comes to mind is be bold, strong, and courageous, right? Now, there's a whole lot more to that scripture or what have you, but when I think about like, okay, we're supposed to make disciples, all right. What does that mean? That means that we are trying to go to people who may or may not believe in God and uh educate them and quote unquote convince them of who he is and who he wants to be in their life. And he's a bold person to do that. You know, you've got to be courageous enough to like go and try to tell somebody something that they may not believe or what have you. So that's what I think about when when you're we're trying to do this is being bold, strong, and courageous, because that is what that's what an evangelist is.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I love that. You know, I I just as I've really just gone deeply into what does it mean to serve God in business, there's a there's a theme that has really started to emerge. It's taken a long time uh for me to really start to see this, but just the role of audacity, just our the the audacity that we're called to walk in as believers, because there's so much making apologies for our faith, you know, for again just saying this is who I am, love it or hate it, um, I'm gonna make no apologies for it. Um, just all of the political correctness, um the the fear of coming across as a self-promoter or trying to that I'm greedy or whatever. You know, there's so many things that come at us from the world, the flesh, and the devil to keep us from stepping out into what God has called us to. And I just really believe that a holy audacity is the order of the day for many of us as Christians. And um, you know, one of the I was just thinking about one of the stories where Isaiah says, Here I am, send me. You know, it's that kind of like that's a very audacious thing to say to God, you know, here I am, send me, you know, and you know, because you've got the more celebrated attitude of um, you know, I'm just I'm gonna be walking this sort of false humility, like I don't want to actually be used for anything. And um, but you know, maybe God will will use me if I sort of view myself in this way that I'm I'm worth nothing, that I have nothing to offer. Um and yet God is wanting us to have that audacity to be able to just say, here I am, send me. Um and by the way, world, here I am, and this is who I am. Exactly. Being able to say that to the world is is almost even harder, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I think it really, I think it really depends. You know, like I've been a Christian my whole life, and I've pretty much been an entrepreneur all my life. And I think that sometimes what happens in the Christian world is, you know, um, whatever church or whatever minister they've been a part of, ministry they've been a part of, however they've been taught about God, or even how they ever they've been taught about by about God in their household with their moms, dads, and all that has created the perfect storm. You may you may have created the bold Christian, or you may have created the Christian that is um kind of docile, not to say that one is better than the other, but it really just depends upon the environment that you that you've kind of grew grown up in, you know, because I know people who I mean, I mean, I have my sisters, three or three sisters, and you know, we all grew up Christian or what have you, and and I'm the youngest, and they all see me as you're just so bold, you're so fearless, dah, dah, dah, dah. And I'm like, but we all grew up in the same household. The difference between us and me being so bold and strong is because entrepreneurship got a hold of me because I ended up getting uh around a bolder people, and that like I got into network marketing when I was in my early 20s, and it started to raise up this lion that, you know, so so now I am like this with my faith and all the things. So I think that sometimes Christians are it's just it's environment. You know, I've been a part of churches where you're like, you're just told to just basically be quiet, come learn. And church is quiet. Like when you're there, the music is quiet and whatever, whatever. But and and and I've seen a lot of people who are never go after the the big call that's on the inside of their lives because something in them has said, no, I need to just be whatever. But then I've been a part of bigger churches that are like louder and bolder and they're going after things, and you see way more people going stepping out because there's this unconscious permission happening there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So it's getting around the it's getting around bold, audacious people. Um, you know, what else what else do we need to do to be able to cultivate this this bold audacity that's gonna help us own the brand that God has has called us to?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so it's definitely first you get you've got to get around people that are that are doing it, right? Uh, but it in even with that, it's important to know that how do I say this nicely? If you are the quiet, docile person, you're not trying to do anything, and then you try to get around the bold people that are doing it, the bold people are gonna be like, hey, you can be around us for a while, you know, but you've got to come on, you've gotta, you gotta get moving. Otherwise, you're kind of pulling them back a little bit. So it's just really important to just know that. Um, but the second, the most important thing is like you've got to get with God and you've got to talk to God and go, God, who am I? What what is in me that you see? Um, because if you're if we're waiting for our pastor or somebody at our church to tell us who got who who we are, they're not God. There's only so much that they can see, you know, because they all have their own lives, their own calling and stuff. But we have like you, we have to get with God and say, who am I? How do you see me? And then once we start hearing what he's saying, we've got to start believing him, right? And we've got to start going in that direction of where who he says we are. So I'm 42 now, but like for a lot of my life, people always say, You're gonna be like Oprah, you're gonna be famous and wealthy and da-da-da-da. And I was like, mm-mm mm-mm, do you know who my mom and daddy is? You know how I was raised, like, there's no way I'll ever be any of those things. And then I just kept hearing that and kept hearing that for many years. And then I started asking, God, who do you say that I am? And he started sending people to just give me prophetic words, just like it was just crazy. And I had this moment in time where I said, okay, here's where I am, here's where I keep hearing that I'm going. I don't know who to believe. So why don't I go after the thing that feels more appealing to me? Me, it feels like the the success and all the things that I believe God is saying. Why don't I start going in that direction, even though I don't believe it by any means? I'm just gonna start going in that direction and let's just see what happens. And so over the years, of course, like I've been going down that road, and my faith, my boldness, my current everything is just continuously increasing as I'm watching that thing begin to happen in my life. But for 20 years, like back back then, it was like, there's no way I'll ever be that. But I said, I'm gonna at least try this, try to trust and believe God, and we'll just see where this goes, which is why I look today and I'm just like, this is weird to be influential, knowing that 20 years ago, I never would have thought this would be possible.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. What's one thing somebody ought to start doing today? Like maybe it's um point the camera at yourself, start talking into it about that thing that is on your heart, or that thing that you um talking about whatever your business is, or talking about God, talking about anything really, um something practical like that that we ought to start doing, that we could start doing today, to start to stir up that gift that's in us.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So a couple things. One, a person, because not everybody's gonna jump on camera immediately. That's like very intimidating for most people. Um, but I would probably say um it's like starting an opportunity where somebody is already preaching the gospel somewhere, somebody's already doing something that you can kind of partner with. Like, for example, I just joined a smaller church here in San Diego. And if I was nervous about ministry, what I could do is I could reach out to the person leading and say, hey, is there any way one day for the service I could do the, I could do the announcements, right? It's very small, very subtle, but it's like starting me doing something I would not normally do, which is like, let me just do the announcements. So you could be part of your local church or whatever, and you're like, okay, I want to do something I would not normally do. Let me join the greeters. Because if you're normally a hidden person, when you're greeting, you gain hide when you're doing greeting. You're right there out in the front, right? Um, or it could be you're asking to do the announcements or you're asking to serve in some part of church or that's not in the back, that is actually out front. Um, the more bolder person, I would say start creating videos. Whether you post them online initially, just start by putting your put your phone up somewhere where you got good lighting and just start talking into your phone, teaching, preaching, or whatever. And then the next bolder person is actually start posting those videos. Um, because what you're then gonna find is that like you're gonna start seeing that your message resonates with somebody. Um, and then if a person is even more bold, then I was like, go live, go live, whether it's gonna be on Facebook or it's on Instagram or whatever, and start doing this live stream where you're sharing whatever your message is, whether it's a ministry message or use your business message, whatever. Because that's how kind of how I started. You know, I'm like, I didn't know anything about live stream, but I was like, well, they're making a bunch of money. I'm gonna just see what's happening. And I was terrible at it. But now if you cut the lights on, you would I'm turning to a whole different character because I've been doing it for 10 plus years, but like you got to start wherever you are. Um, but I guarantee you everybody has a phone, so everybody can film, it's just them choosing to.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I read you've been doing it since the Periscope days.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Periscope, long time.
SPEAKER_01That's that's taking it back.
SPEAKER_00Way back.
SPEAKER_01Well, you certainly are setting a great example for us in that that that bold audacity that we've been talking about. Um, and so we really ought to go to the Lord about how we need to apply this in our own lives. Uh, because I mean, when you look at the most effective business people, whether Christians or not, I mean, one of the things they have in common is that audacity. Like they're not afraid to ask for better terms on that deal. You know, they're not afraid to go knock on that door. And and that's that's really what sets effective people. One of the things that sets affected people apart from those that just are kind of burying that talent is is just a lack of audacity. So we just need to really lean into that. I think more and more it's become a greater theme for my life because there's more things that I need to do. And that that audac, and I don't want it to be a self-concocted kind of a fleshly sort of a thing that I'm trying to stir up. I want it to be the the boldness of the Holy Spirit, you know, so that it's channeled in the right direction. Um, and so uh Kenya, thank you for the wisdom that you shared with our with me, with our listeners today. Uh Kenya Kelly.com, that's K-E-E-N-Y-A, K-E-L-L-Y.com. Um, what do you want to say to our listeners about how they can uh potentially work with you?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so I do uh obviously we do video marketing uh and business strategy. So you can get all of that on kenyakelly.com. We also do what I call creative consulting, which is kind of like prophetic business consulting. Um so where if you're someone and you're like, I want to hear God from my business, I want to like get on the right track and strategies and all that, uh, we do creative consulting as well.
SPEAKER_01Awesome. Well, Kenya Kelly.com, is that the best place to go?
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_01Okay. All right, everybody head on over there. And um, thanks for listening.
SPEAKER_00Can I say one last thing to them?
SPEAKER_01Yes, ma'am.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so the one thing that I just I wanted to say, and I it's just like bursting out of my chest, is I want to say that like you're not your circumstances. Like, I really feel the Holy Spirit. Like, you're not your circumstances, like wherever you are today is like that's just where you are today. And that God wants to take you somewhere else, right? And so no matter what's happened with your mom, dad, if you've gone through divorce, I've gone through divorce, if you have a bunch of money right now or not a bunch of money, like there's something that God wants to do in your life. And don't think that you have to be Christine Kane or Bill Johnson. You get to literally be exactly who you are and let God take you on that journey. It's gonna take faith, it's gonna take courage, but in a year, you're gonna say, Oh my God, I am so glad I did this.
SPEAKER_01Amen. Thank you for that, Kenya. So powerful, so powerful. Uh, I received that. I don't know who else that was for, but it was definitely for me. I receive it. Um, thanks again, Kenya. It's been a lot of fun.
SPEAKER_00Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01We hope you've enjoyed this episode. And if so, we would greatly appreciate it if you'd leave us a quick rating and review for the Christianity and Business Podcast on iTunes. You can get more information about HCU's Center for Christianity and Business and sign up to receive free access to all issues of the Christian Business Review Journal by visiting our website at Christianityandbusiness.com. Thanks for listening and remember to keep integrating biblical values into your business.