In a remarkable spiritual resurgence, an Atlanta church has seen its congregation explode from under 200 weekly attendees to around 6,000 in just over two years, with queues of young adults snaking outside its doors from the early hours of the morning.
The Unlikely Rise of a Viral Pastor
The phenomenon centres on 2819 Church and its pastor, Philip Anthony Mitchell. The church reports that its dramatic growth began after Mitchell, about three years ago, shifted his focus away from actively trying to expand his flock. Now, the scene outside the church each Sunday resembles a major event, with volunteers using megaphones to direct crowds and Christian rap music setting a vibrant, block-party atmosphere.
Inside, the mood becomes more solemn. Attendees, many of them young Black adults, are drawn by Mitchell's intense, animated preaching style and his commitment to presenting the Bible without dilution. Services often see congregants moved to tears during spirited prayer and worship, before Mitchell takes the stage. He typically appears in an all-black outfit, sometimes pausing for quiet contemplation or weeping himself, before launching into a fiery sermon.
His raw, challenging messages—which urge reverence for God and personal betterment—frequently go viral online. The church's influence was starkly illustrated when a recent prayer event, called Access, drew an estimated 40,000 people, overwhelming the capacity of State Farm Arena and a nearby overflow space.
‘Life or Death’ Preaching Resonates with a New Generation
Mitchell preaches with a palpable, physical urgency, crying, shouting, and storming across the platform. He describes his mission with grave intensity. “It is life or death for me,” he told The Associated Press, comparing preaching to being on the front lines of war. “There are souls that are hanging in the balance.” He is driven by the belief that for some in the room, it may be their last chance to hear the Gospel, a conviction tied to his belief in Jesus’s impending return.
The church, which is nondenominational and theologically conservative, takes its name from Matthew 28:19, a verse instructing believers to make disciples. Its beliefs oppose abortion and support marriage solely between a man and a woman. Its growth is particularly notable given that Americans aged 18 to 24 are statistically less likely to identify as Christian or attend services regularly, according to Pew Research Center.
Warren Bird, an expert on fast-growing churches, said the right leader is crucial for such expansion and described Mitchell as “speaking a language” that connects with young people other pastors have failed to reach. Churchgoers attribute his impact to his candid discussions of his own past, which included dealing drugs, paying for abortions, and a suicide attempt, as well as his careful scriptural explanations.
“I’m still a little rough around the edges, right? I still got a little hood in me,” said Mitchell, who retains a regional New York accent. He positions his direct style as a counterweight to feel-good preaching. “I’m preaching without watering that down, without filtering out things that we think might be too controversial,” he stated, arguing that a generation is gravitating towards this authenticity.
Logistical Growing Pains and a Focus on Community
The church's explosive growth has created significant logistical challenges. It recently moved into its own permanent building after outgrowing a high school auditorium, and has already had to add impromptu services due to overwhelming demand. Ministry director Tatjuana Phillips admitted, “We’re constantly tinkering. We’re constantly fixing things.”
Despite its size, 2819 fosters community through small groups called “squads,” which provide about 1,700 people a space for discussion and mutual support. The church also engages with approximately 75,000 weekly online viewers. For many, the experience begins in the long queues, where Ashley Grimes, 35, said she has “met so many brothers and sisters in Christ that I now get to do life with.”
Mitchell, who sometimes feels “ill-equipped” and “undeserving” to lead such a movement, says his preparation focuses on the struggles of his congregation. “I’m thinking about the brokenness of the people in the room, the troubled marriages, the one who is suicidal,” he explained. His large online platform has attracted criticism and threats, and he issued a public apology earlier this year for comments about authority that were seen as dismissive of police brutality.
Yet, for thousands of young adults in Atlanta and beyond, his unpolished message of transformation, rooted in his own story of failure, continues to hold a powerful, compelling appeal.
