The Journey

The Call To Ministry

Steven Maurice Kelsey was called to preach at the age of seven. God spoke to Steve through the voice of Rev. O.W. McClain Pastor and Granddad, who led him to give his life to Christ at Dayspring Missionary Baptist Church. On this day, Steve told the congregation, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me”.

Steve preached his first sermon at Dayspring Missionary Baptist Church, received his Certificate of License on June 7, 1987 and was ordained on August 13, 1989. Steve served as Interim Pastor at Dayspring while attending Simmons Bible College, where he met Dr. J.R. Sams, Pastor of The Massie Zion Missionary Baptist Church and Rev. Kelsey joined that ministry as Associate Minister

Founding Pastor Archbishop Dr. Steven M. Kelsey, PsyD, PhD, MEd, LPCC-S

Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Kelsey served faithfully under the leadership of Dr. Sams until he received a call from his grandmother, Sister Margaret McClain. Sister McClain was asked by Sister Edith Miller, wife of former Pastor, B.J. Miller of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church to contact Rev. Kelsey. Pastor Miller passed unexpectedly and the congregation was without a Pastor.

Rev. Kelsey became the interim Pastor, August 1994, and was officially installed the following year. Under his leadership, the church began to prosper and acquired several pieces of property around the building. God added to the church daily and the membership grew from the faithful eight to over 1,000.

Spirit Filled New Life

After years of faithful service to Mt. Moriah and the Limerick area, under his personal mantra of “Loyalty, Commitment, and No Excuses”, God prepared Bishop Kelsey for a new journey. This new journey was Spirit Filled New Life Church Ministries.

Bishop told the people of Mt. Moriah about what God instructed him to do and invited the membership to follow him as he followed God.

Spirit Filled had its first worship service on October 12, 2008 at the Holiday Inn on Dixie Highway. Approximately 50 people attended and everyone was excited for what God was doing. As the ministry grew, God blessed the journey from Holiday Inn to Farnsley Middle School and in 2014, God blessed Spirit Filled to purchase its current home at 4936 Hazelwood Ave. Bishop Kelsey is a visionary and dynamic leader. Bishop Kelsey’s ministry touches the soul and spirit of clergy and laity, above and beyond cultural and denominational boundaries.