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Pastor Trisa Kelly was born in New Jersey and raised in Portland, Oregon, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School. She attended Portland State University and earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish and French. Feeling a call to ministry, she began seminary at Western Evangelical Seminary, now named the George Fox Seminary, but later completed her Master of Divinity at Western Seminary.
She joined the Oregon Air National Guard in August 2002 where she became Oregon’s first female chaplain and first African-American chaplain. Within her first year of assignment to the 142nd Fighter Wing, she took on the grand task as sole chaplain for the wing when both the Wing Chaplain and the other Protestant chaplain were deployed. She served as Wing Chaplain, reaching the rank of Major and served 13 years.
Pastor Trisa is the mother of two young adult believers: Tobias James and Sydney Rae and works for Multnomah County in Human Resources where she coaches leaders, facilitates equity trainings, provides workforce development and assists with managing workplace conflict.
She was ordained at Maranatha Church in Portland where she was an associate pastor for 20 years and was installed as senior pastor at Gales Creek in October 2022.
Pastor Kelly was an instructor and board member at the North Portland Bible College and can be found volunteering throughout the Portland metro community as an active member of the nation’s first African-American Greek organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
She joined the Oregon Air National Guard in August 2002 where she became Oregon’s first female chaplain and first African-American chaplain. Within her first year of assignment to the 142nd Fighter Wing, she took on the grand task as sole chaplain for the wing when both the Wing Chaplain and the other Protestant chaplain were deployed. She served as Wing Chaplain, reaching the rank of Major and served 13 years.
Pastor Trisa is the mother of two young adult believers: Tobias James and Sydney Rae and works for Multnomah County in Human Resources where she coaches leaders, facilitates equity trainings, provides workforce development and assists with managing workplace conflict.
She was ordained at Maranatha Church in Portland where she was an associate pastor for 20 years and was installed as senior pastor at Gales Creek in October 2022.
Pastor Kelly was an instructor and board member at the North Portland Bible College and can be found volunteering throughout the Portland metro community as an active member of the nation’s first African-American Greek organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.