Thanks be to God

Jun 21
9 min read

Updated: Jun 21

What This Post Is All About

I wanted to write this blog because to me, Phoenix Anthem isn’t just a business—it's rooted in my story, my faith journey, and a calling to serve God's Church in a changing world. This is the story behind not only me, but why Phoenix Anthem matters.

Why It Started

As I grew Phoenix Anthem—partnering with Trinity Lutheran and helping shape its online presence—I began to see other congregations struggling with digital ministry. That’s why I started reaching out locally and, eventually, to the South Wisconsin District of the LCMS. It wasn’t just opportunity; it was calling. But more on this later...

A Great Awakening on the Horizon?

Recent trends actually point toward something hopeful: after decades of decline, Christianity in the U.S. has leveled off at around 60–64%—and among Gen Z, the religious “none” share has stabilized thanks to a renewed interest in faith Gen Z—and especially young men—are attending weekly services at higher rates, with some describing it as a post‑COVID search for community and deeper meaning.

I strongly believe this isn't a random cultural shift—it’s a soft echo of a new Great Awakening on the horizon. So here’s where I come in: with the gifts God has given me—storytelling, video, livestreaming, web presence—I want to help churches lean in to that moment.

Early Life & Challenges

My story began in a way you might not expect. I was born in early December—three months premature—and spent some time in the hospital before I was strong enough to go home.

By the time I was two years old, I became a victim of child abuse. That incident would shape my life in more ways than I could have imagined at the time.

I grew up the youngest of five siblings—three sisters and one brother. The child abuse incident caused a disability that left me with a limp in my walk and partial paralysis on my right side. In my school days, kids could be cruel sometimes, but I learned early not to let it bother me. I found friends who liked me for who I was, and that gave me strength. I still pushed myself to do everything others could do, especially in gym class. I think that persistence earned respect, and though bullying happened, it never had the last word.

grade school, honestly, wasn't ever my thing. I struggled, especially with math (still do, to be honest). I was placed in Learning Disability (LD) classes where I got extra help and time on tests. Looking back, it might have been some form of undiagnosed ADHD, but I’ve never been tested. Even in college, while I excelled in almost every subject and truly loved learning (my grades were near perfect), I still relied on accommodations to get through exams—especially math. But more on my college days a bit later.

Family Transition & Trauma

Things took a sharp turn one summer day in the mid-90s—and in fact it's still hazy in my memory. Perhaps a defense mechanism blocking things out but I remember I came home, from school or out playing with friends, only to find out I'd be moving with my siblings to Milwaukee to live with my dad. I didn't fully understand why, and much of that period feels blurred. I do remember my mom occasionally visiting and gently telling me I had to stay "just a bit longer."

I would eventually start 8th grade in Milwaukee and walked to school most days. One day, my dad offered me a ride. As he stalled to start the car, he told me my mom was in the hospital and might not make it. She had suffered a brain aneurysm. The moments or even days that followed -- I barely remember what came next, except I remember sitting outside her hospital room, refusing to go in—it wasn't until one of my sisters gently urged me to go in. "It might be the last time you get to see her" she said. "You have to go in".

As I walked into the dark room, machines beeping and seeing my mom lay there, in that moment, something in me shifted—but not in the way you might hope. I didn’t feel comforted or hopeful. I felt abandoned. That was the day I began to truly lose my faith. I couldn’t understand how a loving God could allow so much brokenness—my disability, the abuse, and now nearly losing my mom. I held on to the hope and faith as long as I could but my faith slowly faded, replaced by bitterness and doubt towards God.

During this time, I sought comfort in books, reading Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" and Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations," trying to find some kind of meaning or calm amidst the chaos. I didn’t realize it then, but these books, along with works by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman, would help shape me into who I am today. Emmerson even has a quote that reads, "I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me." -- fitting. Still, the sense of abandonment lingered, and I steadily shut God out. My mom eventually would survive. But she was never the same—now paralyzed as well and with a memory that was both fragile and remarkably resilient.

Growing Up & Graduating

Eventually, I moved back to West Bend to finish 8th grade, staying with my brother for a short while. After that, my oldest sister and I moved into a place together, first briefly in West Bend and later settling in a farmhouse outside of Kewaskum. High school there was quieter, and though I kept mostly to myself, friendships still bloomed. Still being closer to West Bend again though was comforting, and I'd walk miles down county roads just to spend weekends with childhood friends. Later, in my last two years of high school we would move again, this time to Jackson, allowing me to reconnect with my childhood friends and classmates.

I of course would graduate high school—the first of my siblings to do so—and started working at Pick 'n Save as a custodian. I also moved in with one of those childhood friends. I loved my time at Pick 'n Save. I made lifelong friends, some of whom I still talk to today. The store owner was incredibly kind to me, and I worked harder because of it. Sure, I had my rebellious streak (it was my early 20s after all), but I showed up every day and loved the customer service aspect.

Awakening & Searching for Purpose

Pick 'n Save wasn't just a job—it became my community. But a simple moment one day, while bagging groceries, changed my perspective. I paused and asked myself, What am I really doing with my life? Do I really want to bag groceries forever? That brief pause spurred me to action, enrolling part-time at Moraine Park in West Bend for Computer Science, while still holding onto my full-time job.

In 2004, my life would change yet again when a co-worker practically dragged me to see The Passion of the Christ. At first, I was hesitant, but during the movie, as I wept openly— and straight-up ugly cried -- That night, I asked God to forgive me for shutting Him out for so long. I thanked Him for sparing my mom’s life all those years ago, something I hadn’t truly acknowledged in my heart until that moment. Her survival—and my own, despite all the setbacks and pain—felt like miracles. I realized my accomplishments and the simple fact I was still here too were reasons to be grateful. I made a vow that I would find a home church one day and thank Him daily for what I still had. I vowed to one day find a church to call home but nothing at that time really spoke to me.

After a few years, a roommate situation pushed me to move again, and in 2006, I relocated to Milwaukee with a friend. My new roommate and I transferred to a Pick 'n Save in the area, and I enrolled at Milwaukee Area Technical College, graduating in 2009 with a degree in IT. After graduation, I started a side business, FixIT Computer Services, helping people in my community. It was a small-scale effort but provided a modest income while job searching. I was proud of that milestone, but full-time jobs in the field were hard to come by. I eventually landed a role as a desktop support tech back home in West Bend, only to be let go months later during the recession. I moved in with my brother until I could get back on my feet.

A New Direction: History & Storytelling

Out of options, I decided to go back to school for a bachelor’s. I started in Computer Science again, but quickly burned out and switched to History—a subject I always loved. Advisors encouraged me to pair it with something practical, so I added Journalism. The moment I got behind a camera...it just clicked (Ha! puns). I would eventually earn two bachelor degrees: one in History and one in Journalism.

In 2015, I landed my first real job in my field of study as a video editor at a local TV station. Around the same time, I launched Thomas Kelly Productions, LLC, offering web design to friends, family, and small businesses. In 2017, I expanded my services to include photography and video production, reinvesting in myself with new gear. I started getting real hands-on experience and growing. By 2018, the weight of student debt which was around $70K and bills began catching up to me. My brother offered me a position at his growing construction business, and I accepted, causing me to leave the TV station. I was sad to leave a job that I worked so hard to acquire, especially after such a long journey already, but It helped me get my finances in order and that's what needed to be done.

Finding Tonya and a Spiritual Home

Around that same time, I met Tonya. We dated, grew close, and I, in what felt like a moment of haste, moved into her home five months later. I did tell her though one thing that was especially important to me—if this was going to work, I wanted to find a church to call home. Then as time passed and after nearly 14 years of searching, the two of us set foot into Trinity Lutheran on Christmas Eve in 2018.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, WI. Christmas Eve Service, 2018

It was then at that moment I knew this is where I wanted to go. Beginning the fulfillment of a longstanding promise I had made to God. Two years later, we married in our backyard in September 2020, Our pastor married us in front of a giant maple tree surrounded by family and friends.

Serving and Growing at Trinity

In early 2021, I noticed Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheboygan ramping up their online presence due to COVID. That caught my attention immediately. I reached out to our Senior Pastor, offering my equipment and skills to help. Trinity welcomed me in, and I found myself serving and growing in unexpected ways. The Bible study we produced grew, became a podcast, and eventually included Trinity’s full Divine Service and sermons.

I also began volunteering with livestreaming, updating Trinity’s YouTube branding, thumbnails, and SEO. In 2022, I led the charge on a capital campaign to upgrade our livestream cameras—a $60,000 portion of a $500,000 goal. We launched our first high-quality stream in December, just in time for Christmas. Now our content reaches over 30,000 viewers a month.

One incredible moment: a listener from another state was so moved by the ministry that he visited Trinity in person and handed our Senior Pastor an $80,000 check for the campaign.

Phoenix Anthem

In 2021, I also took over Trinity’s website and gave it its first major upgrade. That same year, I launched Phoenix Anthem, my third and current LLC, to help churches and ministries strengthen their digital presence. Right away, I started helping other LCMS congregations do the same. Eventually, I reached out to the South Wisconsin District of the LCMS for a formal partnership. That step has led to incredible, fruitful opportunities with more on the horizon. I can't wait to show you what is next as we continue spreading God's Word in the 21st century.

What if?

Every so often, I wonder about different paths my life could've taken. One that I think about often whenever I look ay my wife in kids: the morning after 9/11. Driven by patriotism and a desire to serve, I walked into a military recruiting office—only to be instantly turned away because of my disability. At the time, it crushed me. But looking back now, I clearly see how that rejection guided me toward a different kind of service and life. What if my child abuse incident never occurred, what if I joined the military, and more importantly, what if I never came back home -- except only in a casket, the American flag ever so gently draped me? When I reflect on that moment I often think of Genesis 50:20:

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

So much of my life has been shaped by hardship, setbacks, and at the time, unanswered questions. But through it all, God was writing a bigger story—one that led me here, with a wife I love, two amazing sons, and a calling to serve His Church with the gifts He gave me. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post and so not only do you now more about me, but what drives me to make sure Phoenix Anthem leaves a legacy, giving thanks to God.

On a personal level my overall hope is this: maybe one day someone who is struggling with faith, hardship, or just life in general sees this post -- and it can help them. I know how hard it can be, you just have to hang in there -- You never know where the roads may take you.