How my journey began.
My mother, Karen Dooley, grew up in urban Columbus, Ohio while my father, Rodrick Dooley, was raised in a poor country town called Taylorsville, North Carolina. In effort for a well to do life for their two kids they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa because of a great job opportunity
Their move led to a comfortable and safe life for my brother and I. Even though we grew up away from extended family the church that we attended became family to us. It was people in this church who introduced me to God and Jesus. I grew to have a deep fascination with God along with the justice and healing He provides. In addition, the values taught in the martial arts I participated in growing up also increased my passion for justice and helping others
In 2015 I moved from Iowa to Phoenix, Arizona to attend Arizona State University and majored in Criminal Justice/Criminology. After my first semester Freshman year I became distraught because of systemic issues in the Criminal Justice system. It led me to learn and fall in love with term restorative justice. A concept that refers to holistic healing for the offender and victim after an injustice had occurred.
My heart to see justice done mixed with my faith in God has led me to study at Covenant Theological Seminary in order to attain a Master of Arts in Missional Theology. While attending school for my Masters degree I have been ministering to youth as the Student Pastor of a church in Downtown Phoenix called New City Church. Living in Downtown Phoenix and the demographics of people I have connected with has now led me to work alongside a youth community center for low-income, under-served 8th grade thru college aged students. The organization is called Neighborhood Ministries, and their mission is to be the presence of Jesus Christ to distressed families of Urban Phoenix. Neighborhood Ministries is a Christian Community Service organization that seeks to provide holistic restoration to the marginalized community of Downtown Phoenix.
My passions and story has led me to now work for this organization and fundraise myself to be the Spiritual Development & Mentorship Coordinator at Neighborhood Ministries. My hope is that this leads me to then plant my own Christian Community in a marginalized city in the U.S. To be a blessing to those who are under-resourced and overlooked thanks to the blessing my parents and home church were in my own life.
What I value most.
Prayer - contemplation, silence, mindfulness, listening to God and being aware of what he's doing.
Unity - unity within diversity and bringing different spaces together.
Justice - restorative justice and bringing healing within people, relationships and spaces.
What People Are Saying
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Kendall has been a great resource for me in helping and relating to refugee kids. He relates well and enjoys being with them. He has taken several kids to summer camp where they related "it was the best time of their life." He is an uncompromising Christian who lives what he teaches. I consider it a privilege to know Kendall!!
— CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN
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Thank you for pouring into our students. You have made an incredible difference in my kids’ lives! We are grateful for you!
— AUBREY JACOBS
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KENDALL!! You are always a part of our family…soo thankful my kids have been blessed to learn and grow with you these past few years!!
— ESTHER FLEMING
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As the campus pastor for Chi Alpha at Arizona State University I had the privilege of knowing Kendall as a student leader in our ministry. As a student leader Kendall was truly an influencer among his peers. His walk was evident not only in his growth as a man of God, but in how he lived as an example and light to those around him. Kendall is naturally gifted in developing relationships with others and uses that ability to draw people to Jesus in all aspects of his life. He is truly a man after Gods own heart who I feel blessed and encourage to know and call friend!
— SHAWN WHITE
