By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of Get on The Ark.

At a modest Dairy Queen in Luling, Texas, a pastor’s simple question – “How do you know you’ll go to heaven?” – ignited a transformation that would carry a young woman from a quiet rural upbringing into the heart of a worship movement where banners ripple, voices rise, and faith feels tangible.

Early Life and the Late Arrival of Faith

Tammy Kelly grew up in a rural southern Texas town of just under 5,000 residents. Her mother was 15 and her father 17 when they welcomed her older sister, and Tammy arrived eleven months later. “Very young parents did the best that they knew how to do,” she recalls, noting that her household was not a Christian one. As a result, she did not experience a personal walk with the Lord until she was 28.

When asked about her early understanding of Christianity, Kelly admits she once equated belief with simply acknowledging God, heaven, and Jesus. “I would have probably told you yes,” she says, describing a youthful, surface‑level notion of faith that lacked true surrender.

A Divine Appointment and the Decision to Surrender

Marriage brought Tammy and her husband to a new community where they met a young Southern Baptist pastor and his wife. Over burgers and fries at that same Dairy Queen, the pastor posed the pivotal question that would change her trajectory. The moment she invited Jesus to be her Lord and surrendered her old self, she felt an “overwhelming love and conviction” that she wanted to live according to God’s desire.

Kelly emphasizes the importance of accountability in her new walk: “My old self, the old Tammy, did not want to be held accountable to anything. Now I welcome it because I want to be pleasing to God.” She acknowledges her imperfections, noting that gentle corrections from the Holy Spirit help her repent and grow.

Discovering a New Expression of Worship

After moving to a non‑denominational church, Kelly observed a striking difference in how believers prayed and exercised spiritual authority. She was drawn to the idea that the Holy Spirit would enable believers to “do all the things that [Jesus] did into a greater measure” – not to surpass Christ, but to expand the reach of the gospel, heal, and cast out demons.

Her curiosity led her to a worship environment where men carried large banners on poles, dancing and shouting filled the sanctuary, and worshipers expressed joy with exuberant gestures. Initially, Kelly felt distracted and even criticized the practice, thinking, “They need to sit down. They’re just creating a distraction in church.” Yet she was prompted to respond with prayer rather than judgment, learning to focus on God amid diverse expressions of worship.

Visions of Heaven and the Freedom to Worship

During a particularly moving service, Kelly experienced a vision of worship in the heavenly throne room: “I could see all of these angelic looking light beings that were just worshiping and dancing and moving and twirling.” This encounter deepened her desire for a worship style unbound by traditional restraints. She describes wrestling with the notion that worship should not be limited to prescribed postures, but should flow from the heart’s freedom.

Eventually, she received a worship flag, symbolizing her embrace of expressive, spirit‑filled worship. “I had his permission to worship in spirit and truth and to express my heart and my love,” she says, underscoring the personal permission she feels from God to worship authentically, regardless of external opinions.

Lessons Learned and the Path Ahead

Kelly’s journey illustrates the power of divine appointments, the necessity of surrender, and the value of openness to varied worship expressions. She stresses that judging others’ worship styles distracts from personal communion with God, advocating instead for prayerful support: “If you’re not understanding something, instead of criticizing it, how about just pray?”

As she continues to seek deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit, Kelly remains committed to growing in authority, accountability, and authentic worship, hoping her story encourages others to pursue a faith that is both personal and vibrant.

The full episode of Get on The Ark is available on OBBM Network TV.