Meet Keneisha Kay Jay Johnson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keneisha Kay Jay Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Keneisha Kay Jay , appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?
I’ve always been one to have some sort of self-discipline. Growing up in a military family with Mississippi roots there was always discipline implemented into my life. However, during my incarceration is when I really started to gain some much needed self-discipline. I honestly had lost focus and was doing whatever I wanted. During my time in the wilderness I gained so much self-discipline. I had to really refocus and allow God to put me back on track. We can be given discipline on all levels in our lives but is it ultimately up to each person to have self-discipline moving through this journey that we call life.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m Keneisha Kay Jay Johnson the founder and CEO of Inside Out Prison Ministry (IOPM), Rebels For Humanity (R4H), Kingdom Music MFFK, and when it’s all put together I like to call it Da Kingdom Era. I was born and mostly raised in central Texas. My roots are grounded in Mississippi and Chicago. God appointed me and anointed me to the ministry, I simply answered the call. I didn’t know that by me answering the call that I would have so many twist and turns and ups and downs. In 2014 I was arrested for an aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. From that charge I served a total of 15 months of incarceration. During those 15 months God transformed my life and gave me another chance in society to make a change from what I was doing before. I took that as an opportunity to be the change in my community and the change this world needed to see. God gave me the vision for IOPM,R4H, and Kingdom Music MFFK. In 2018 I recorded my first album on my Kingdom Music MFFK label. IOPM had 70 incarcerated family members and R4H was serving up to 500 meals to homeless brothers and sisters in the Austin area. Since then there has been enormous growth throughout the ministry. IOPM now has 180 family members which are located in Texas, Mississippi, and Michigan. R4H not only servers the homeless community in Austin, TX. but we also serve along side with some other organizations in Orlando, FL. providing home cooked hot meals, showers, and basic everyday items in hopes to encourage our brothers and sisters who are experiencing homelessness. We also have ongoing projects that we are apart of in the country of Haiti. We are now hosting annual Back to School drives in Texas, Mississippi, and Haiti, with the hope to bless students with the basic supplies to start off the school year on a good foot, encouraging them and let them know that some really cares. You can find my music on all streaming platforms under my artist name Kay Jay SD1.

I don’t really have a name for what I do. If one word could describe it I would simply say I’m a servant. In any and everything that I do, I do for God to receive the glory. I live my life to bring lost sheep to His Kingdom. What is most exciting and special about it is that God choose me to do this and I get to travel and share His Love, and Word all over the world.

The newest thing that has happened within my life and the ministry is the release of my autobiography From Mourning To Morning which is available on Amazon. In the book I share the first part of my life and I allow people to know more than just the artist or the humanitarian. It’s all my ups and downs, ins and outs and most importantly all truth. The book tour starts in July. We have our 2023 community Back to Schools drives coming up in August. August 5th in Yazoo City, Mississippi and August 12th in Pflugerville, Texas. I’m currently working on a new album and hoping to have that release in the fall or early part of 2024.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think three qualities to have is to being able to listen, be teachable, and trusting in God. I know without a doubt in my mind that my obedience to God is why I am where I am today. None of this would have been possible if I hadn’t listened, I wasn’t teachable and I didn’t trust God. With God all is possible. There’s no limit when you rolling with Him and allowing Him to lead you.

The advice I would give is to always put God first in all that you do. Never make a move without talking to God about it first. Don’t just talk to Him though, wait and listen for His answer. Walk in full obedience in whatever it is that He tells you. This is showing that you are teachable. Trust that God will never put you on the wrong path and that He will never lead you in the wrong way.

So listen, be teachable, and trust God in all that you do.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth in past 12 months has been allowing others to step in and help me out. Also voicing what I need help with. I am a do it all person and it is so hard for me to ask for help but with the ministry growing so quickly I have no longer been able to keep up by myself. Me being mindful of what I need and asking for help has allowed the ministry to improve. My team has been nothing less than God’s gift to me. I’m extremely grateful for them being a part of my life and always being willing to jump in and help, often times when they are not even asked.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Julia Grubbs; Ricky Ray Castro; Adrian Lee

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