Founder of Atlanta, Georgia, 2819 Church warns of spreading Bible illiteracy

Philip Anthony Mitchell, founder and director of the 2819 Church in Atlanta, has issued a warning about what he describes as widespread illiteracy about the Bible. In comments reported by The Christian Post, Mitchell said, “What we see now is that people love spiritual feelings, a platform of influence, a voice of love for the world, but only the Bibleology, and the ability to read it. We hear the personal views of the earth, but we hear the word of God very little.” The source describes the 2819 Church as one of the fastest-growing churches in the United States and says its mission is to win the soul and change lives.

Mitchell says the problem of “Bible illiteracy” affects Western Christian culture broadly, including large gatherings, worship music, podcasts and social media. Citing several examples, he said, “Look at many specials, the Bible speaks very little; many discourses, the Bible speaks very little; many hymns, the Bible contains very few; many festivals, the Bible is very few.” He added, “We must help this culture to love God’s words again, and no longer be so ignorant of the truth of God.”

According to the source, Mitchell has often urged his congregation not to rely solely on pastors, podcasts or network personalities for faith. He told them, “I have always encouraged you to read the Bible in person, and not to leave all the theological thought to the podcasts, even if I speak, and not to take it blindly.” The source says he sometimes assigns congregants a short passage to read slowly and examine, then compare it with today’s culture. Some, the source reports, have said afterward that they had not known a passage was in the Bible. Checking a teaching against Scripture is a reminder to weigh claims carefully before accepting them (Proverbs 18:17).

Mitchell is also concerned about the direction of American preaching. The source quotes him saying that many pastors are “abandoning the Bible-based sermons, turning the sermons into TED styles, and giving the message of moderation to make the listeners comfortable.” He also said he grieved over leaders living “in a private life of compromise,” which he said had led to scandal before the public. The source states that he sees outside pressures, including secular culture and other religions, as concerns, but he stresses that the most serious threats come from within the church.

The source says Mitchell’s views are shaped in part by a trip to Turkey in January 2024, which he describes as the region of the early churches addressed in the New Testament. He said that seeing a place where the gospel once flourished, now marked by lost Christian influence, weighed heavily on him. He said, “It is possible that history in the east will be repeated here,” and warned that the Western church must not become complacent.

Mitchell is scheduled to publish a new book, *Fighting: Stand Up for Bible Truth and Win the Battle of Hearts*. The source reports that the 2819 Church, which began as a small congregation, now draws more than 6,000 people to worship each day, and that millions more have viewed its services online. The source also says that on holy days, people have lined up long before gatherings begin. Mitchell told the source that his reward comes from Christ rather than from public platforms, saying, “My reward is the crown I can put down at Jesus’ feet because I am loyal to the mission he has entrusted to me, even if it means being misconstrued, persecuted or squeezed.”

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)