He became a Southern Baptist preacher at the age of 20, as he furthered his education he pastored many small country churches.

After 1910 the family moved to Taylor County, where Kelly began working with the Russell Creek Association of Baptist.

Kelly aided in its reopening the school in 1914, and in 1916 began holding higher education classes; it later developed into Campbellsville University.

Kelley took the pastorate of the First Baptist Church in Pineville in 1919; here he led prohibition rallies and preached against alcohol.

He felt led to start an annual Bible Institute and chartered Clear Creek Mountain Springs, Inc.

During the 1920s Clear Spring was used by the Kentucky Baptist as their Camp meeting location, as revivals were held on what is now the main campus and the athletic field.

He retired from Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in 1989 and moved back to Louisville, Kentucky.

During his tenure, the school became debt-free and constructed a new education center, now known as the Bill D. Whitaker Class Room Building.