After three years of focusing less on church-growth tactics, Atlanta pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell has overseen rapid expansion at 2819 Church, where young adults now line up outside the building for Sunday worship, sometimes arriving early to get a seat. The nondenominational, theologically conservative church says its weekly attendance has grown to about 6,000, after reporting that it drew fewer than 200 weekly in 2023.
Outside 2819, the scene begins like a street celebration, with Christian rap and contemporary music playing as volunteers greet newcomers, including those who start waiting as early as 5:30 a.m. to secure space for Sunday worship. Inside, the atmosphere shifts toward what regulars describe as more serious worship, with prayer and raised hands beginning as the service—called a “gathering” by the church—officially starts.
Mitchell’s preaching style is central to the draw. Some churchgoers say he speaks with an urgency rooted in scripture, including his belief that the time to respond to the Gospel may be limited. Mitchell told The Associated Press he sees preaching as a matter of life and death, saying, “It is life or death for me,” while adding that “there are souls that are hanging in the balance. … I think about the fact that in that room somebody might hear the Gospel, and that might be their last opportunity.”
The church’s worship experience also relies on its sound and movement before Mitchell preaches. Congregants describe music and prayer as setting a tone before the sermon begins, and they say the service includes emotional reactions, with tissue boxes placed at the ends of aisles and people crying or shouting during worship.
Mitchell has said he leads his sermons from the Book of Matthew and that he sometimes preaches without prepared notes, after describing a personal transformation. Church members say his messages are often “unpolished” and include challenges to reverence God and live differently, and some describe the sermons as counterweights to what they see as softer, feel-good preaching. In one example, Mitchell said he preaches “without watering that down, without filtering out things that we think might be too controversial,” and he added, “I think that there is a generation that is gravitating towards that authenticity and truth,” with “lives being radically transformed.”
The church’s appeal also appears to connect with Mitchell’s personal testimony, according to people who attend. Church members and visitors said Mitchell carefully works through scripture and speaks candidly about his own spiritual transformation, which he has described as including past drug use, paying for abortions and an attempted suicide. Mitchell also said he still feels rough around the edges, telling The Associated Press, “I’m still a little rough around the edges, right? I still got a little hood in me,” and that he speaks with a regional New York accent.
Religious experts who track fast-growing churches say the leader matters, alongside factors such as continued support and church growth work. Warren Bird, an expert on fast-growing churches, told the AP that Mitchell’s style helps him “connect with young people who other pastors haven’t reached,” and he linked the growth to the right leader plus God’s help.
As the church swelled, 2819 moved to handle the logistics of crowds. The church recently moved into its own building after outgrowing the charter school where it had held services, and it also added additional gatherings when crowds exceeded capacity. Church leaders described similar challenges during Access, an October prayer event that the church estimated drew about 40,000 people, forcing it to manage overflow locations when State Farm Arena filled to capacity.
Despite the size, the church emphasizes community-building, including small groups called “squads.” The church says staff also engages with about 75,000 people each week who watch gatherings online, and members say the lines outside on Sundays have created opportunities to meet others and form relationships that extend beyond the service.
Mitchell, who has faced public scrutiny online and issued an apology earlier this year for comments in a sermon about obeying authority that were seen as dismissive of police brutality, has also described feeling affected by criticism while continuing to preach with a sense of urgency. In one description of his own mindset, Mitchell told the AP he is sometimes “ill-equipped,” adding, “I shed a lot of tears because I feel often ill-equipped, undeserving,” and describing the thoughts that come to him when preparing to speak.
His approach has helped 2819 become a destination for young adults, according to congregants who say the messages touch on real-life issues and require a response. Some residents said the church’s stronger, harder messages may upset some people’s feelings, but they view that discomfort as part of what makes it different—and they point to the idea that spiritual change begins with telling listeners the truth they want and need to hear.