Pastor Shawn Mitchell
The Extraordinary Life of Senior Pastor and Leader Shawn Mitchell
Anyone who knows Shawn Mitchell, quickly senses that he is a lover of people, second only to God.
Raised Catholic, he always had a sensitivity to the Lord, but it was committing his life to Christ at age 17 that set the course for this man’s life. Shawn Mitchell achieved truly insurmountable feats because he had a definite desire in life, to share the good news of Jesus Christ not just to the inviting parts of the world, but even communist countries such as Budapest, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Romania where spreading the Gospel is outlawed.
While in college he was invited to preach on U.S. Army bases stationed in Europe. While there, the Christian underground approached the home where he was staying and invited him on a Bible smuggling mission into communist Europe. Shawn was so passionate about preaching, that he took enormous risks to spread the Word. For many top influencers this would be reaching a significant level of achievement, but Shawn did not stop there.
Shawn continued in his educational endeavors while also speaking at home and abroad in over 18 countries. During this time, he was invited to speak to the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball Organization. After speaking, he was invited to be Co-chaplain for 2 years. San Diego’s professional football team, the Chargers, looking for a Chaplain to speak to the football players, inquired of the Padres as to having any suggestions for someone to speak to the football team. Shawn Mitchell was suggested by the Padres. After speaking, the next week he received a phone call from the head coach saying that several of the players were so moved, that they asked if Shawn would be the team Chaplain. He was asked to meet the coach and bring his resumé. Little did he know the invitation would culminate in him speaking, training and equipping players and coaches on pro sports teams for the next 29 years, making him the longest tenured Chaplain in NFL history. However, Shawn did not stop there. He was then set to achieve another milestone.
The Extraordinary Life of Senior Pastor and Leader Shawn Mitchell
Anyone who knows Shawn Mitchell, quickly senses that he is a lover of people, second only to God.
Raised Catholic, he always had a sensitivity to the Lord, but it was committing his life to Christ at age 17 that set the course for this man’s life. Shawn Mitchell achieved truly insurmountable feats because he had a definite desire in life, to share the good news of Jesus Christ not just to the inviting parts of the world, but even communist countries such as Budapest, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Romania where spreading the Gospel is outlawed.
While in college he was invited to preach on U.S. Army bases stationed in Europe. While there, the Christian underground approached the home where he was staying and invited him on a Bible smuggling mission into communist Europe. Shawn was so passionate about preaching, that he took enormous risks to spread the Word. For many top influencers this would be reaching a significant level of achievement, but Shawn did not stop there.
Shawn continued in his educational endeavors while also speaking at home and abroad in over 18 countries. During this time, he was invited to speak to the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball Organization. After speaking, he was invited to be Co-chaplain for 2 years. San Diego’s professional football team, the Chargers, looking for a Chaplain to speak to the football players, inquired of the Padres as to having any suggestions for someone to speak to the football team. Shawn Mitchell was suggested by the Padres. After speaking, the next week he received a phone call from the head coach saying that several of the players were so moved, that they asked if Shawn would be the team Chaplain. He was asked to meet the coach and bring his resumé. Little did he know the invitation would culminate in him speaking, training and equipping players and coaches on pro sports teams for the next 29 years, making him the longest tenured Chaplain in NFL history. However, Shawn did not stop there. He was then set to achieve another milestone.
Pastor Shawn caught in an unawares moment.
In 1989 when Shawn and his wife Laurie, moved to Oceanside. What began with a burden to reach his neighbors, grew into a vision for the kind of church to reach them, becoming a passion and eventually a “calling” on his life. This started with just 7 people, including Shawn, his wife Laurie, and 5 others. Within 7 years, Shawn’s and others untiring efforts, ultimately caused the church to be ranked as one of the fastest growing churches in the nation, by the Church Growth Institute of America, with nearly 4000 weekly attendees calling New Venture Christian Fellowship their church home.
It is said that God puts obstacles in our paths to test even His staunch and strongest believers. On March 9, 2008, while preaching at New Venture, Shawn struggled to control his balance. He initially thought it was just fatigue, but after being driven home he collapsed and was eventually admitted to the emergency room of the nearby hospital. The CT scan revealed a hemorrhage from a broken blood vessel on the brains left side. He was told if the bleeding did not stop on its own, Shawn would not live to see the morning. God had other plans for him and by God’s grace the bleeding eventually stopped, and Shawn miraculously survived. In just 5 months, he was back pastoring, speaking, and accomplishing the tasks the Lord had for him without any signs of ongoing impairment or illness.
Click Here to enjoy this 5-minute Video Moment of Shawn Mitchell’s Amazing Story. PROOF PRAYER WORKS!
Pastor Shawn was the Founding Senior, and recognized leader of New Venture Christian Fellowship for an extraordinary 33 years (the average stay for a Senior Pastor at present, is 4 years). In this time, thousands of lives came to Christ through the years and were baptized. Tens of thousands attended services and were touched by God’s love.
Feeling led to impact high achievers in life, ministry, and business, Shawn in 2022 founded Shawn Mitchell Ministries (SMM). Today SMM is impacting people both nationally and abroad.
During the summer of 2022, sensing God’s promptings to continue to reach a new generation of men and women and boys and girls for Christ, Next Chapter Church was born. A ministry that espouses that all of us are “made for more.” Following NCC’s 5 Pathways to Peak Performance, Faith, Fitness, Fulfillment, Fellowship, and Enjoyment. Next Chapter Church is impacting their community and beyond through this dynamic, loving , and growing ministry.
Shawn Mitchell’s long illustrious ministry career, now spanning many years has deeply impacted and influenced people from all walks of life. He doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon and continues to inspire future generations for Christ through Next Chapter Church.
Pastor Shawn caught in an unawares moment.
In 1989 when Shawn and his wife Laurie, moved to Oceanside. What began with a burden to reach his neighbors, grew into a vision for the kind of church to reach them, becoming a passion and eventually a “calling” on his life. This started with just 7 people, including Shawn, his wife Laurie, and 5 others. Within 7 years, Shawn’s and others untiring efforts, ultimately caused the church to be ranked as one of the fastest growing churches in the nation, by the Church Growth Institute of America, with nearly 4000 weekly attendees calling New Venture Christian Fellowship their church home.
It is said that God puts obstacles in our paths to test even His staunch and strongest believers. On March 9, 2008, while preaching at New Venture, Shawn struggled to control his balance. He initially thought it was just fatigue, but after being driven home he collapsed and was eventually admitted to the emergency room of the nearby hospital. The CT scan revealed a hemorrhage from a broken blood vessel on the brains left side. He was told if the bleeding did not stop on its own, Shawn would not live to see the morning. God had other plans for him and by God’s grace the bleeding eventually stopped, and Shawn miraculously survived. In just 5 months, he was back pastoring, speaking, and accomplishing the tasks the Lord had for him without any signs of ongoing impairment or illness.
Pastor Shawn was the Founding Senior, and recognized leader of New Venture Christian Fellowship for an extraordinary 33 years (the average stay for a Senior Pastor at present, is 4 years). In this time, thousands of lives came to Christ through the years and were baptized. Tens of thousands attended services and were touched by God’s love.
Feeling led to impact high achievers in life, ministry, and business, Shawn in 2022 founded Shawn Mitchell Ministries (SMM). Today SMM is impacting people both nationally and abroad.
During the summer of 2022, sensing God’s promptings to continue to reach a new generation of men and women and boys and girls for Christ, Next Chapter Church was born. A ministry that espouses that all of us are “made for more.” Following NCC’s 5 Pathways to Peak Performance, Faith, Fitness, Fulfillment, Fellowship, and Enjoyment. Next Chapter Church is impacting their community and beyond through this dynamic, loving , and growing ministry.
Shawn Mitchell’s long illustrious ministry career, now spanning many years has deeply impacted and influenced people from all walks of life. He doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon and continues to inspire future generations for Christ through Next Chapter Church.
Faith and Football, a winning combination for Pastor Shawn
as NFL Chaplain – a record setting 29 years.
Shawn and Laurie Mitchell with their special friends, Baile and Bree!
