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Senior Pastor, Mt. Olive AME Zion Church, Waterbury, CT

President/CEO, Mt. Olive Senior Center, Waterbury, CT

 

Kelsey Hopson is a native of Earlington, Kentucky. He is married to Chicago native, Tanesha (Denmark) Hopson. They have a son, Jabari, and his daughter Kylie. He enjoys spending time with family, people, football, fishing, working out, golfing, and reading.

In March of 1999, he responded to God’s call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Subsequent to preaching his initial sermon, he served as an associate minister at his home church in Kentucky. In November 2002, he was called to his first charge to serve as the pastor of Johnson Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Springfield, Kentucky where he served eight years. He served as district director of evangelism and led effective community building initiatives and innovative outreach to connect, encourage and strengthen young men facing the struggles of navigating life within a challenging culture. He was ordained an elder in the A.M.E. Zion Church in September of 2006. In July 2010, Rev. Hopson was transferred from the Kentucky Conference to the Missouri Conference, where it was a joy and honor to provide courageous leadership to the congregation of St. Matthew A.M.E. Zion Church in Kansas City, Missouri and serve the Kansas City area for eight years. He served the Kansas City District as a member of the Budget; Examining; and District Studies Committees and Church Planting Coordinator. He served the Missouri Conference as a member of Conference Admissions; Board of Trustees; Conference Studies, Finance Committee; and Chairperson of the Board of Evangelism.

Rev. Hopson served on the Board of Directors with Communities Creating Opportunities and in partnership with several other organizations for the social, environmental, economic and holistic wellbeing of people and communities.

He received a B.A. in Business Administration with Management Specialization from Kentucky State University and was conferred the Master of Divinity Degree with Specialization in Wesleyan Studies from St. Paul School of Theology. 

Rev. Hopson endeavors to provide courageous, compassionate, and visionary leadership through practical and prophetic teaching and preaching, leadership development and community engagement for the liberation and transformation of lives.