MITCH
Evangelist and co-founder of Crown Jesus Ministries
Born in 1973, Mitch grew up in Belfast during what was known at the time as ‘The Troubles’. This was a heartbreaking time of conflict in Northern Ireland that saw escalating violence across 3 decades and over 3,500 people, mostly civilians, lose their lives.
At 13 years of age his father died, leaving his mum to look after three teenage boys of which he was the youngest. His teenage years were happy but the pain of his father’s death would often manifest itself in bad choices and a ‘deep knowing’ that he was incomplete and broken. By the age of 18 and unemployed, he already knew that the nightclubs, raves, and parties were not the answer and he began to reflect upon more important questions: who am I? Who is Jesus? How should I respond?
On the 5th October 1992, he went to a meeting in Albertbridge Congregational Church. His brother Phil and Steven Baxter shared their testimonies and Evangelist Roger Carswell preached a message entitled, ‘You must be born again’. Sitting at the back of the church, God’s Holy Spirit began to convict him of his need for forgiveness and to make Jesus Lord of his life. That night, at the end of the meeting, he took a booklet called ‘Journey into Life’ by Norman Warren, and in the quietness of his own bedroom prayed a simple prayer inviting Jesus into his life.
The next day he found the courage to tell a christian friend and then, over the next few days, he shared the good news with others. Six weeks after his conversion he was asked to share his testimony in a youth fellowship and used the story of the prodigal son to illustrate his journey. A few weeks later he shared again in a church, months later he was on a 3 month mission trip and the following year, a young adults’ leader in his home church. During this time he found employment as a fitness instructor and on the 24th July 1995 entered the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade as a whole-time Fighter.
His life was radically transformed and in 1994 he encountered the Holy Spirit in a way that he describes as ‘a supernatural anointing of oil and baptism of fire’. Mitch was now sharing his faith with others in a new and powerful way that he hadn’t experienced before; there was an expectation that God would back up His word with signs following.
On the 23rd May 1999 at a Fire Conference in Germany, Mitch’s life was changed forever. Under the ministry of Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke and Steve Hill he received a clear vision and calling as an evangelist in Ireland and on Pentecost Sunday, Reinhard Bonnke laid hands on Mitch and commissioned him to Ireland.
Afterwards, along with two friends (Philip Kerr and Stephen Thompson, now both Pastors), they tried to put this calling into words and settled on this statement: ‘To see the people of Ireland, Crown Jesus Lord of their lives’. Crown Jesus Ministries was birthed, a ministry passionate about Revival.
Crown Jesus started with no budget, just a calling: to communicate the Good News of Jesus in a clear and compelling way. Their first registered office was in Mitch’s home, then a church office at Ulster Temple where they operated for 3 years with 1 full-time and 2 part-time staff before moving to 147 Albertbridge Road in 2006. On 11 October 2013 Crown Jesus moved into their existing HQ at 7 Calvin Street, Belfast and 8 months later opened a second property, a mission centre in Monaghan.
Today Mitch leads a vibrant team of 15 staff including his wife and fellow evangelist Amanda who joined the team in September 2020 as C.O.O. Together the ministry reaches thousands of people each year with the Good News as well as training hundreds more through their School of Evangelism.
Mitch is author of Snatched from the Fire (IVP), Director of Compassion Ireland, a weekly contributor to Christian radio station UCB Ireland and an Associate Evangelist of Canon J.John. He holds a MA in Applied Theology, and studies Apologetics with RZIM online and previously at Oxford Christian Centre of Apologetics.
As an evangelist you will find him spending much of his energy on 7 things:
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His own personal study and walk with God.
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With his family.
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Preaching/communicating the Gospel in very plan language and being invitational. (In the pulpit, on social media, cafe’s and regularly on the street.)
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Exploring and creating ideas and ways to try to reach lost people.
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Equipping the church and the Crown Jesus team in evangelism.
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Praying, leading prayer meetings, praying for the sick.
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Personal fitness.
BOOK
If you would like to book Mitch to come and speak at your event you can do so by contacting info@crownjesus.org
STAY CONNECTED
You can also follow Mitch on his blog here: Mitch's blog
and keep up to date with both Mitch and Amanda on Facebook here.
Twitter: @mitchbelfast
Instagram: @mitchbelfast
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Below is the text from the prayer he prayed the night he become a Christian.
You can pray the same prayer now and invite Jesus to save you.
Why? Because, as Roger preached that night, you must be born again.
“Lord Jesus Christ, I know I have sinned in my thoughts, words and actions.
There are so many good things I have not done.
There are so many sinful things I have done.
I am sorry for my sins and turn from everything I know to be wrong.
You gave your life upon the cross for me.
Gratefully I give my life back to you.
Now I ask you to come into my life.
Come in as my Saviour to cleanse me.
Come in as my Lord to control me.
And I will serve you all the remaining years of my life in complete obedience.
Amen.”
