No More Hatred and Shame- Kelii Kenney

Kelii Kenney was born and raised in Aiea playing little league baseball. He is the son of a famous athlete, Dick Kenney who played football at Michigan State University. Kelii went to a Christian elementary school, The Children’s House where God did His first miracle in his life in 3rd grade. However, Kelii was sexually abused at age 5 (for 5 years) by a boy close to family. During those years he was introduced to pornography. He didn’t know what he was doing was wrong until his parents confronted the person for doing same thing to his 5 year old nephew. That’s where he says, “My life was shattered.”

Kelii was filled with a lot of hatred, shame, anger, and trust issues. He also longed for approval from others and his father on top of pressure to perform for his dad. Though an outstanding baseball player, he turned to drugs to cope with the anxiety of life. At age 13, he started smoking marijuana, at 14 he did acid and cocaine, and by 15, Kelii was strung out on crystal meth. This pattern of drug abuse continued until the age of 22.

One day in October of 2002, while skateboarding through Momilani Elementary School, he found a Bible. He began reading Proverbs and God convicted his heart. But, he still continued using drugs. By the following month he started hearing voices and entered a time of depression to the point of thinking about suicide. On Christmas Eve, that same year, he was at the end of “his rope.” It was not the end. Instead, it was the start of a new beginning through Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous,” for the Lord your God is with you.”