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Our guest today on the Everyday Faith Podcast is Kelsey Reynolds, a pastor of student ministries at Eagle Brook Church in Minnesota. As a young adult, Kelsey has an in-depth look at the beliefs that are shaping culture and how to reach young people with the good news of Jesus. When she’s not praying, teaching, or working, she’s probably on a jet ski, headed to a lake, and having fun with friends. You’re going to love this interview about faith, hope, and pursuing community even when God changes your plans. Let’s dive in!
Meeting the Living God
Kelsey grew up as a pastor's kid in a Christian household tucked away in a little town called Mora, Minnesota. During high school, Kelsey found herself going through the motions of faith, and over time, she felt dissatisfied with religion. The majority of her time, energy, and identity were found in sports. Fast-forward to 2020, and her senior year is shattered in the blink of an eye because of lockdown and quarantine. Sports were canceled, prom was off, and Kelsey wondered if she’d even be able to graduate.
Because of all this, Kelsey was mad at God. In the midst of the COVID shutdown, Kelsey found herself hanging out with the wrong crowd and not making the best decisions. As 2020 transitioned into 2021, Kelsey started at Northwestern and continued to be the ‘good girl’ in front of Christians, but a different girl with her friends. However, that spring, her parents caught her in a lie and held her to a higher standard in the Lord.
She spent the majority of that summer alone with God and processing life with Him. In one divine moment, she opened her Bible and started receiving the goodness of God. Then, she started listening to Christian podcasts and learning more about how to live as a Christian. And finally, she surrendered her life to Jesus while driving in her car.
If you haven’t accepted Jesus into your heart yet, today is your day! Head to our page on salvation and receive Jesus as Lord today: This is For You!
Choosing Ministry Over Nursing
“It’s crazy what happens when you open up both your hands.” - Kelsey Reynolds
After surrendering her life to Jesus, Kelsey had the thought come into her head, “What if you went into ministry?” Her automatic reaction? “Nope!” However, Kelsey knew this thought was from God. Kelsey had always dreamed of being a nurse, but God had another plan. He transformed her desire to help people physically into a desire to help people spiritually. Now, Kelsey serves 18-29-year-olds as they pursue God and choose every day to walk in His ways.
Sometimes God calls us to do things we aren't always comfortable with. But the good news is: God always knows best! Learn more about committing to obedience in our blog: Why Obedience to God is Good
Pastoring Students After the Assassination of Charlie Kirk
On September 10th, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered in broad daylight at Utah Valley University during an event. Because of social media, video footage of his death spread across the globe in seconds. Kelsey had their young adults' kick-off night on the same day as Charlie’s shooting. While talking with students, she was able to help them process the grief, pain, and shock of his passing. Young adults still come to her with their questions, their fears, and exhaustion. However, Kelsey is filled with joy because of the trend she sees of deeper curiosity about Jesus and hunger for true faith among students like never before.
In the wake of Charlie’s death, people have been coming to Church in droves. Kelsey has personally met people on Sundays who have said, “I don’t even know why I’m here…I just feel like I’m supposed to be here.”
Though it’s a hard time to work in the Church, people are hungrier and more desperate for God than they’ve ever been. People on social media are even posting their experiences about going to Church for the first time after witnessing Charlie’s death.
Witnessing a traumatic death is intense. Our team at the Everyday Faith Podcast has written a post to help you process faith and trauma: How Do I Process Seeing a Traumatic Death?
Pursuing Community & Godly Friendships
Here at the Everyday Faith Podcast, we have four pillars. Belief is the first and primary pillar of everything we do as Christians. Next, you embrace your mission, commit to obedience, and pursue community. This is our recipe for how you can live out your faith!
While Kelsey was in college and deciding to follow God’s lead out of nursing and into ministry, she had a few God moments that helped her go in the right direction. Community played a key role in bringing clarity to her as she made life decisions.
One of these moments was when a roommate noticed what brought Kelsey joy and what didn’t. Her roommate told her how she had never seen Kelsey as excited about nursing as she was about serving at church on Wednesday nights. The courage her roommate had to kindly confront her about following a path towards ministry was a big step in helping Kelsey pursue God’s call on her life.
In Kelsey’s current season of serving in young adults ministry, she has fought for community even when she doesn’t feel like showing up. Though there is a current of independence in our culture, community is essential to thriving in God. Even Jesus lived in community!
No matter what stage of life you’re in, a Godly community is a must. Learn more about community in our blog: How to Have Christian Community
Conclusion
Kelsey’s story is such a beautiful reminder that God is always at work, even in seasons of struggle and uncertainty. From her days of wrestling with her faith to boldly surrendering to Jesus and stepping into ministry, she’s living proof that God can turn our “nope” into His greater “yes!” Whether you’re figuring out your own calling, seeking healing after heartbreak, or just learning to trust Jesus day by day, you’re not alone. Lean into community, keep your hands open to God’s leadership, and remember—He has more for you than you could ever imagine. Here are four tips from our interview with Kelsey to help you trust Jesus when He changes your plans:
1. Walk in humility: Humility can sometimes get left behind in character attributes we should have. While kindness, gentleness, and joy are awesome, humility helps us to become more like Jesus and less like our world. Always listen to others and be attentive to what they’re saying. You never know what you might learn from them!
2. Look for the lonely: Kelsey has made it her job to look for the lonely and bring them into her community. During our interview, she shared a story of one of her youth leaders looking for the lonely. Her youth leader found a girl at church, welcomed her into the youth group, and found out it was her first time there! This girl was so moved by worship and the message that she gave her life to Jesus that night! You never know what kind of fruit looking for the lonely will bear.
3. Practice gratitude: Gratitude is one of the best ways to grow closer to God. You can learn more about gratitude in our blogs: 21 Bible Verses about Gratitude & Renew Your Mind: What Are the Benefits of Gratitude?
4. Remember Kelsey’s favorite Bible verse: This Bible verse is a great way to grow closer to God and increase your faith:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us - Ephesians 3:20
