Jalisa Kale

A native of Kings Mountain, NC, Jalisa Kale has been faithfully serving in worship ministry since 2012. She graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a Biology Pre-Med degree, preparing for a future as a physician. However, God had other plans. After returning home and seeking the Lord, she began to embrace His call on her life. She stepped into ministry as a worship leader at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Shelby, NC, where she served for eight years, encouraging the congregation to engage deeply in meaningful worship experiences.

For 11 years, Jalisa served in public education within the Cleveland County School District as a high school science teacher, instructional coach, and digital learning coordinator. During that season, God made clear a growing call to move from teaching science to participating in the spiritual formation of others in Christ.

In response to that stirring, she entered Gardner-Webb University’s School of Divinity in 2020, earning a Master of Divinity in Christian Education in 2023. In 2025, Jalisa stepped away from full-time public education in faith, answering God’s call to devote her teaching gifts to spiritual formation, discipleship, and the life of the Church.

Jalisa joined the Hope Hickory team in 2022 and serves as our Worship Minister, where she leads worship and equips leaders within the ministry. She enjoys time with her husband, Matthew, their daughter, Nyla Grace, as well as reading, traveling (especially to Disney!), and making family memories. Anchored in John 4:23–24, her heart is to point others to God and lead them into genuine worship.