Rev. Karen Elise Atkins was born in Chicago, IL  She has 3 brothers and 1 sister. Rev. Atkins is a lung cancer survivor of more than 9 years. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary 3rd District holding the office of President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, and Chaplain for the district, and a Dorie Miller Unit 915 member. She is also a member of the Virginia Union National Alumni Association and president of the Chicago Chapter.

She became a member of the Third Baptist Church of Chicago in 1980. She served as an associate minister, Sunday School Teacher, and the former administrative assistant to both the pastor emeritus Rev. Dr. Alan V. Ragland, and to the current pastor, Rev. T.D. Hughes retiring in October 2020. She was licensed to preach in 2007 and ordained locally at TBCoC and nationally through American Baptist Churches- USA and the Progressive National Baptist Conference. She received her Master of Divinity in Theology from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University (VUU) in Richmond, VA., and holds certificates in both Social Justice Ministry and Urban Ministry. Her internship was done at First Baptist Church of Chicago under the leadership of Rev. Jesse Brown.

Rev. Atkins believes that both the concepts of liberation and transformation are equitable and cannot be separated from the other in the purposes of religious education in black churches. She provides workshops/seminars that empower people through the word of God for their spiritual transformation and liberation: The Power of NOW (empowering yourself in the here and now), the Power of WORSHIP (the liberating lessons in worship), and PRAISING the Hell out of Yourself. In addition, she is the president and founder of Love Ministries Without Walls an organization that ministers to the spiritual, emotional physical, and social needs of people and facilitates programs for the unchurched and those hurt–by-the-church in the Chicagoland Area. 

Rev. K serves as the Executive Pastor of Immanuel Church Unusual Chicago (ICU-Chicago).

She is married to Deacon Calvin R. Atkins and together they own a printing and website design service Atkins Enterprise for more than 20 years. They have a blended family of six adult children of 2 sons: Calvin Atkins and Christopher (Lakesha) Atkins; and 4 daughters: Deatriss (Brian) Hack, Veda (Lee) Johnson, LaToya Kirkpatrick, and Phantasia (Kowasky) Terrell and 12 grandchildren: Brian E (Camille) Hack, Alisha Kirkpatrick Howerton, Richard Rice, Clarrissa Kirkpatrick, Madison Nichols, Christopher Rashaun Atkins, Bryson Hack, Daetwon Terrell, Courtney Johnson, Silas Terrell, Jireh Terrell, Jorja Johnson, and 4 great-grandchildren.