Kelly was born and raised in California. She graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 1999 with a Bachelor’s in Literature and a concentration in English Education. She thought she wanted to be an English teacher. However, after volunteering as a youth staff member for her church youth group for 7 years, and creating a support group for the High School girls in that youth group, she realized that her gifts would be better suited for work as a counselor. She earned her Masters in Social Work at San Diego State University and then worked as a therapist in San Diego’s inner city schools for 3 years.

In 2007, her husband, Joe Bankard, was offered a job as a professor at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. Kelly and Joe barely settled in Boise, when the joy of their lives arrived—their son, Sullivan.

The Bankard family spent their first year in Idaho searching for a church family. When they finally found Cathedral of the Rockies, they knew they were home. Kelly started a support group for the 8th-12th grade girls in the youth group. This gave her the opportunity to be more involved in the youth group and to quickly become a more intricate part of the church community.

In September 2009, Kelly was offered the opportunity to take on the role of youth minister. Kelly firmly believed this was a gift from God, as she had been fervently praying for a job that would allow her the flexibility to still meet the needs of her family, but also allow her to pursue her other great passions—youth and Christ. Kelly feels honored to be a part of the amazing ministry team at Cathedral of the Rockies.

Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cooking, baking, listening to music, and watching her favorite TV shows.

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