Philip Anthony Mitchell is an American pastor, preacher, speaker, and founder of Atlanta’s fast-growing 2819 Church. Raised in Queens, New York, by Trinidadian parents, his life before ministry included drugs, street violence, legal trouble, and what he has described as a severe personal crisis in 2003. Today, Philip Anthony Mitchell leads a congregation that grew from fewer than 200 weekly attendees in 2023 to roughly 6,000 by late 2025, while his sermons reach a much larger online audience.
His preaching is intense.
He cries.
He shouts.
He challenges listeners.
And he regularly speaks about repentance, holiness, judgment, discipleship, and what he believes is an urgent need for Christians to take their faith seriously.
But Philip’s current ministry makes much more sense when you know where his story started.
Philip Anthony Mitchell Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Philip Anthony Mitchell |
| Profession | Pastor, preacher, speaker and author |
| Hometown | Queens, New York |
| Family Background | First-generation American; parents from Trinidad |
| Birthday | December 7 is widely reported |
| Birth Year | Not firmly confirmed publicly |
| Current Age | Not reliably verified |
| Wife | Lena Mitchell |
| Married Since | August 2004 |
| Children | Four |
| Sons | Two |
| Daughters | Two |
| Church | 2819 Church |
| Position | Founder and lead pastor |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Ministry Organization | 2819 Institute |
| College | North Carolina Central University |
| Ministry Education | Valor Christian College |
| Podcast | Street Preachers |
| Upcoming Book | Contend |
| Book Release | October 13, 2026 |
| Known For | Fiery preaching, discipleship, evangelism and online sermons |
His official biography confirms that he is from Queens, graduated with honors from North Carolina Central University, earned a Pastoral and Church Leadership degree from Valor Christian College, and has been married to Lena since August 2004.
Who Is Philip Anthony Mitchell?
Philip Anthony Mitchell is the founder and lead pastor of 2819 Church, a nondenominational Christian congregation based in Atlanta.
He is also the founder of the 2819 Institute, which forms part of his broader focus on discipleship and Christian teaching.
His church’s mission is simple in wording:
spread the Gospel and multiply disciples.
The number 2819 comes from Matthew 28:19, where Jesus tells his followers to go and make disciples of all nations.
That verse has become more than a church name.
It is essentially the framework Mitchell uses to explain his ministry.
Philip Anthony Mitchell Grew Up in Queens
Mitchell was raised in Queens, New York.
Premier Christianity reported in a January 2026 interview that he is a first-generation American whose parents came from Trinidad.
His parents were Christians.
But Mitchell has said their faith did not automatically become his own.
As a teenager, he was much more attracted to the street culture around him.
Money.
Status.
Drugs.
Violence.
He later said he was selling drugs by around age 12.
That path became increasingly dangerous.
His Teen Years Included Drugs and Violence
Mitchell has not tried to make his younger years sound cleaner than they were.
In his own telling, drug dealing grew into larger trafficking and violent situations.
He has spoken about shootouts and repeated trouble with police.
At 15, he says he had a frightening encounter with a police officer in Queens who pushed him against a wall and held a gun near him.
Mitchell later used that memory during a sermon about authority, although some of his broader comments in that message drew criticism and led him to issue an apology in 2025.
His teenage life was far from the pastor image people know now.
And the change did not happen quickly.
Philip Says Success Still Left Him Empty
By his early twenties, Mitchell says he had many of the things he once thought would make him happy.
A nice apartment.
A luxury car.
Money.
A girlfriend.
Yet internally, he says he felt deeply empty.
That emptiness eventually reached a dangerous point in 2003.
Mitchell has publicly described a night when he was suicidal and sitting with a gun and alcohol.
A woman he knew came into the apartment and sat beside him.
He says her quiet presence helped stop him from ending his life.
That episode became one of the major turning points in his testimony.
His Conversion Happened in 2003
A few months later, another event had a major impact.
The woman who would eventually become his wife, Lena, had survived a car accident.
Mitchell said she returned home grateful to be alive and began listening to gospel music and worshiping.
He had grown up around the idea of God.
But what he saw in Lena felt different.
He later recalled thinking that whatever she had, he needed it too.
Mitchell went into the bathroom and began praying.
He dates his Christian conversion to November 2003.
Who Is Philip Anthony Mitchell’s Wife?
His wife is Lena Mitchell.
Lena is originally from Durham, North Carolina.
2819 Church says she serves alongside her husband in church leadership and administration. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and also holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Valor Christian College.
Philip and Lena married in August 2004.
As of September 2026, they have been married for about 22 years.
They live in the Atlanta area.
How Many Children Does Philip Anthony Mitchell Have?
Philip and Lena have four children.
They have:
two sons,
and two daughters.
The family keeps the children relatively private.
Philip’s official ministry biography confirms their number and genders but does not turn the children into public personalities.
That privacy has become more important as Mitchell’s public profile has grown.
In a 2026 podcast conversation with Lecrae, he discussed how increasing public ministry affects his family and the steps he takes to protect them.
Mitchell Did Not Immediately Become a Pastor
Philip says that around six months after becoming a Christian, he felt called toward preaching and pastoral ministry.
But he resisted.
For roughly four years, according to his 2026 Premier Christianity interview, he ran from that calling.
Eventually, he surrendered to ministry.
Even then, there was no overnight megachurch.
He describes years of serving other leaders and doing small, unseen jobs.
He has even mentioned cleaning toilets as part of those years.
His point is that the public success people see today came after more than a decade of work that most people never noticed.
Philip Anthony Mitchell’s Education
Mitchell later pursued formal education alongside ministry.
His official biography says he graduated with honors from North Carolina Central University.
He also earned a degree in Pastoral and Church Leadership from Valor Christian College.
That combination gave him both university education and specific ministry training.
His preaching style, however, is not especially academic in delivery.
It is emotional and direct.
He frequently teaches through biblical books verse by verse while mixing biblical interpretation with personal stories and strong calls to action.
Before 2819 Church, There Was Victory Church
2819 Church did not begin from nothing in 2023.
Mitchell previously planted and led Victory Church in Atlanta.
RELEVANT reported in 2026 that he had spent about a decade building Victory before making a dramatic change following the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pandemic conditions had scattered the congregation and severely reduced momentum.
Instead of trying to rebuild exactly what existed before, Mitchell chose to change direction.
At the ten-year mark, Victory Church became 2819 Church.
The new identity officially launched in January 2023.
Why Is It Called 2819 Church?
The answer comes directly from the Bible.
28:19 refers to Matthew chapter 28, verse 19.
The verse is part of what Christians call the Great Commission, in which Jesus commands his followers to make disciples of all nations.
2819 Church says its entire mission is organized around that command.
Mitchell frequently repeats a phrase connected with the mission:
“Until all have heard.”
That phrase appears across his personal ministry and the church.
2819 Church Grew Extremely Fast
The growth after the 2023 relaunch was dramatic.
The Associated Press reported in December 2025 that 2819 had grown from fewer than 200 weekly attendees in 2023 to roughly 6,000.
People were arriving early in the morning and waiting in lines before services.
Many attendees were young adults.
The church also built a huge online audience, meaning the actual number of people regularly encountering Mitchell’s teaching is far larger than the in-person congregation.
That rapid growth transformed Philip from a locally known Atlanta pastor into a national Christian media figure.
What Makes Philip Anthony Mitchell’s Preaching Different?
Mitchell’s delivery is physically intense.
He moves around the stage.
His voice rises.
He sometimes cries while preaching.
He may stop and pray.
He speaks about heaven and hell with urgency.
The Associated Press described his preaching as emotional, direct, and focused on the idea that people’s spiritual decisions carry eternal consequences.
Mitchell himself has described preaching as feeling like being on the front lines of a war.
That helps explain why his sermons rarely feel casual.
He Pushes Back Against “Comfortable Christianity”
One of Mitchell’s recurring themes is that modern Christian teaching can become too focused on comfort.
He argues that messages about love and grace should not erase teaching about repentance, judgment, obedience, or holiness.
In his 2026 Premier Christianity interview, he criticized what he sees as a version of Christianity that allows people to remain comfortable while avoiding difficult biblical teachings.
Supporters find that approach refreshing.
Critics can find it severe.
Either way, it is central to his public identity.
His 2018 Israel Trip Changed His Ministry
Another important turning point happened in December 2018.
Philip and Lena traveled to Israel for ten days of prayer and fasting.
Mitchell says the trip deeply affected him.
On the final day, at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, he encountered a group of Brazilian Christians worshiping.
He later described that moment as part of a profound spiritual experience that changed how he saw his ministry and the condition of Christianity in America.
His official website still points to that 2018 Israel experience as a major source of his later urgency.
Philip Anthony Mitchell and Social Media
Mitchell’s growth is not only happening inside a church building.
Short clips from his sermons spread widely on:
YouTube,
Instagram,
TikTok,
and other platforms.
His sharp statements and emotional preaching are naturally suited to short video clips.
Famous Birthdays notes that his TikTok presence has grown to more than a million followers, while third-party social tracking in 2026 placed his Instagram audience above two million.
The exact follower numbers constantly change.
The bigger point is clear.
2819 is both a physical and digital ministry.
What Is a “Digital Disciple”?
2819 Church uses an unusual phrase:
Digital Disciple.
The church defines this as someone who participates in Christian formation through Scripture, prayer, and an online global community rather than only attending the Atlanta building.
Mitchell’s official biography specifically says he is committed to equipping both traditional disciples and “Digital Disciples.”
That idea reflects how churches have changed since the pandemic.
Someone watching from another country can now participate weekly without ever entering the building.
Philip Anthony Mitchell’s Podcast
Mitchell also co-hosts Street Preachers with pastor Tim Timberlake.
The show presents Christian conversations and biblical teaching in a direct, conversational format.
Episodes continued throughout 2026.
The podcast has discussed biblical books including Jude and 1 Peter while connecting their themes to modern Christian life.
It gives Mitchell another platform beyond Sunday sermons.
Philip Anthony Mitchell on TBN in 2026
Mitchell’s television reach also expanded.
Trinity Broadcasting Network lists him in a run of programs aired from June 1 through June 5, 2026, including teachings titled:
Christ the Redeemer,
Christ the Healer,
Christ the Way Maker,
Christ Our Shepherd,
and Christ Our Strong Tower.
That exposure placed his preaching before an audience far beyond Atlanta.
His Appearance on Girls Gone Bible
Mitchell was also a guest on Girls Gone Bible in June 2026.
The episode was titled “Winning the War Within.”
The conversation focused on internal struggles including fear, temptation, overthinking, and spiritual battles.
His podcast appearances have helped introduce him to younger Christian audiences who may never have physically visited 2819.
Philip Anthony Mitchell’s New Book Contend
One of the biggest updates in 2026 is Mitchell’s first major upcoming book, Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within.
The book is scheduled for release on October 13, 2026, through Thomas Nelson/W Publishing.
As of September 11, 2026, it is still in preorder.
The book is based heavily on the New Testament letter of Jude.
Its themes include:
standing firm in faith,
recognizing false teaching,
fighting spiritual complacency,
dealing with internal struggles,
and passing Christian convictions to the next generation.
The hardcover is listed at 224 pages in the publisher-backed book information.
Why Is the Book Called Contend?
The word comes from Jude’s call for believers to “contend” for the faith.
Mitchell uses the idea in two directions.
One battle is external.
How does someone hold Christian convictions in a changing culture?
The other battle is internal.
How does someone deal with fear, shame, disbelief, temptation, pride, and unforgiveness?
That second part explains the subtitle:
“Winning the War Within.”
Mitchell Has Faced Criticism Too
Rapid growth naturally creates scrutiny.
One notable controversy came in 2025 after a sermon about Christians, government authority, policing, and obedience.
Critics argued that parts of Mitchell’s message risked placing too much responsibility on victims of police violence.
Mitchell later apologized for the way some of his remarks were expressed and acknowledged that the conversation should also include critique of abuses by authorities.
The episode showed an important side of his public ministry.
A larger audience means sermons are no longer heard only by sympathetic church members.
Statements can be analyzed nationally within hours.
Why Does Philip Wear So Much Black?
People who regularly watch Mitchell may notice something immediately.
He wears black constantly.
Premier Christianity’s 2026 profile said the choice symbolizes his idea of daily death to self—the Christian concept of surrendering personal desires and ego.
So the black hoodies and dark clothing are not simply a fashion brand.
For Mitchell, they carry spiritual symbolism.
They have also become part of his instantly recognizable public image.
Philip Anthony Mitchell’s Birthday and Age
Famous Birthdays lists Philip’s birthday as December 7.
However, strong official biographies do not clearly publish his birth year.
That means websites giving an exact age can easily create false certainty.
The responsible answer in 2026 is:
Philip Anthony Mitchell’s birthday is widely listed as December 7, but his exact birth year and age are not firmly established by his official biography.
What Is Philip Anthony Mitchell’s Net Worth?
There is no reliable public record establishing his personal net worth.
Some biography websites may publish estimated figures.
Those numbers should be treated cautiously.
A church’s revenue is not automatically the pastor’s personal money.
Online followers are not the same as personal wealth.
And without verified information about:
salary,
property,
investments,
debts,
book royalties,
and other assets,
an exact number would mostly be speculation.
So Philip Anthony Mitchell’s net worth is not independently verified.
What Is Philip Anthony Mitchell Doing in 2026?
2026 is one of the biggest years of Mitchell’s public ministry so far.
He continues leading 2819 Church in Atlanta.
He appears on podcasts.
He has had national television teaching appearances.
He co-hosts Street Preachers.
His sermons continue spreading online.
And his book Contend is scheduled to arrive on October 13.
His official church still gathers both in person and online every Sunday.
That means his ministry now works on several levels at once:
local church,
digital audience,
podcasts,
television,
live speaking,
and publishing.
Why Philip Anthony Mitchell’s Story Gets Attention
It is partly the contrast.
The teenager selling drugs in Queens is now preaching against the life he once lived.
The young man who says he reached a suicidal crisis now spends his career telling other people to find hope in Christianity.
The pastor whose church nearly lost momentum during COVID now leads one of Atlanta’s fastest-growing congregations.
You do not have to agree with everything Mitchell teaches to understand why the story attracts attention.
It is dramatic.
It contains failure, change, family, faith, controversy, and rapid growth.
Final Thoughts
Philip Anthony Mitchell has built his public identity around urgency.
His childhood and teenage years in Queens took him toward drugs and violence.
By his early twenties, he says he had material success but no internal peace.
Then came the crisis of 2003.
A suicidal night.
Lena’s car accident.
A moment of prayer.
And what Mitchell describes as a conversion that changed the direction of his life.
He married Lena in August 2004.
Together they built a family with two sons and two daughters.
Ministry came more slowly.
Mitchell says he resisted the calling for years before eventually spending more than a decade serving, preaching, and developing away from national attention.
He planted Victory Church.
COVID badly disrupted it.
Then in January 2023, he relaunched the ministry as 2819 Church, taking the name from Matthew 28:19.
The growth that followed was remarkable.
By late 2025, the Associated Press reported weekly attendance of around 6,000, compared with fewer than 200 in 2023.
Now his audience reaches far beyond Atlanta.
There are sermons online.
A podcast.
Television appearances.
International speaking.
And, coming in October 2026, a new book called Contend.
Mitchell’s preaching will not appeal to everyone.
It is deliberately intense.
He does not seem interested in making every message comfortable.
That is actually the point.
His central argument is that faith should change the way someone lives rather than simply make them feel better for an hour on Sunday.
For supporters, that directness explains his rise.
For critics, it provides plenty to debate.
Either way, Philip Anthony Mitchell has become one of the more visible new voices in American Christianity—and in 2026, his audience is still growing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Philip Anthony Mitchell
Who is Philip Anthony Mitchell?
Philip Anthony Mitchell is an American pastor, preacher, speaker, and founder of 2819 Church and the 2819 Institute in Atlanta.
Where is Philip Anthony Mitchell from?
He is from Queens, New York.
What is Philip Anthony Mitchell’s ethnicity?
Premier Christianity reports that Mitchell is a first-generation American born to parents from Trinidad.
What is Philip Anthony Mitchell’s birthday?
December 7 is widely reported as his birthday, although his exact birth year is not firmly established publicly.
How old is Philip Anthony Mitchell?
His exact age is not reliably confirmed because his official biography does not publish a birth year.
Who is Philip Anthony Mitchell’s wife?
His wife is Lena Mitchell, who serves alongside him in the leadership and administration of 2819 Church.
When did Philip Anthony Mitchell get married?
Philip and Lena have been married since August 2004.
How many children does Philip Anthony Mitchell have?
He and Lena have four children: two sons and two daughters.
What church does Philip Anthony Mitchell pastor?
He is the founder and lead pastor of 2819 Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
What does 2819 mean?
It refers to Matthew 28:19, part of Jesus’ Great Commission commanding his followers to make disciples of all nations.
When did 2819 Church begin?
The ministry was relaunched under the 2819 Church name in January 2023, after about a decade as Victory Church.
How large is 2819 Church?
The Associated Press reported that weekly attendance had grown to around 6,000 people by late 2025, up from fewer than 200 in 2023.
Where did Philip Anthony Mitchell go to college?
He graduated with honors from North Carolina Central University.
What did Philip Anthony Mitchell study?
His official biography also says he earned a degree in Pastoral and Church Leadership from Valor Christian College.
Was Philip Anthony Mitchell involved with drugs?
Mitchell has openly said he began selling drugs at a young age and was deeply involved in street life before becoming a Christian.
When did Philip Anthony Mitchell become a Christian?
He dates his conversion to November 2003.
Did Philip Anthony Mitchell struggle with suicidal thoughts?
Yes. He has publicly described a severe suicidal crisis before his conversion.
What is Philip Anthony Mitchell’s podcast?
He co-hosts Street Preachers with Tim Timberlake.
Does Philip Anthony Mitchell have a book?
Yes. His book Contend: Standing Boldly for Biblical Truth While Winning the War Within is scheduled for release on October 13, 2026.
What is Philip Anthony Mitchell’s net worth?
His exact personal net worth is not independently verified.
What is Philip Anthony Mitchell doing now in 2026?
He continues leading 2819 Church, preaching online and in person, appearing on Christian television and podcasts, co-hosting Street Preachers, and preparing for the October 2026 release of Contend.
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