Kelly Swanson

Director of Sr. High Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Kelly grew up in Wheaton, IL and then ventured off to college in Florida. She graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic College (GO Sailfish!!) in West Palm Beach Florida in 2000 with a B.A. in English with a Minor in Religion. Right after college, Kelly took at job in Minneapolis for a non-profit organization, Youthworks, helping facilitate youth mission trips both nationally and internationally. Within a year of living in Minnesota, Kelly became a "lifer"! She loves Minneapolis and has made this place her home.

After leaving Youthworks, Kelly worked for a Residential Treatment center, counseling teens with mental health issues. She learned a lot about teens during that time and realized her desire to not only work directly with teenagers, but to be able to do so in a setting where faith could be spoken about freely.

Kelly joined the staff of Centennial in 2003 and is passionate about the youth in this church. She has a desire to see every student in this place "love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and love their neighbor as themselves." In the fall of 2007, Kelly took on the role of leading the Young Adult Ministry.  The young adult group is made up of college students, young professional, singles and young families.  We meet regularly for Bible Study as well as try to get together socially throughout the year. 

Kelly loves people and enjoys hanging out with friends. Here are a few books Kelly has read and recommends: The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne,  A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren, Repenting of Religion by Gred Boyd, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and the Harry Potter books.

Kelly Swanson, Director of Youth Ministries
Telephone: 651.633.7644
e-mail: kswanson@centennialumc.org