Rev. Dr. David D. Mitchell

The Rev. Dr. David D. Mitchell was born in Thomasville, Georgia. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Theology and Ethics from Claremont School of Theology. At Emory University, Dr. Mitchell won the John Owen Smith Preaching Award. He was the first African-American to do so.

Dr. Mitchell wrote a published book entitled Black Theology and Youths at Risk, which was used as a textbook at Emory University. It critically examines the problems and conditions facing youths today and prescribes proactive and innovative ministries that churches and communities can adopt to help youths away from destructive activities and toward a future of hope and fulfillment.

{mosimage}Dr. Mitchell has 25 years of experience in the ministry. He was the Pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Cornelia, Georgia, then served as a Chaplain in the United States Navy. He served as the Senior Pastor of Congdon Street Baptist Church in Providence, Rhode Island. He has delivered numerous sermons, lectures, and speeches in 16 states and 17 countries. Currently he is the Senior Pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina.

He has extensive training as a counselor and is a certified Prevention Relationship Enhancement Program Instructor, a certified Neurolinguistic Programming Counselor, and a certified Meyers-Briggs Personality Test Administrator.

Dr. David D. Mitchell has designed and implemented religious education curricula for bible studies, Vacation Bible Schools, marriage preparation/enrichment, and after school tutorial programs. He wrote the curriculum for a spiritual development program and developed the courses on spiritual growth, financial management, career planning, cultural awareness, women’s issues, men’s issues, and self-esteem. He trained a team of professionals to assist in training over 1,200 people.

Dr. David D. Mitchell is a community activist; he serves on numerous boards in Rhode Island. He is an active participant in and supporter of his local denomination, the American Baptist Churches of Rhode, Island (ABCORI). He organized and established the first NAACP chapter in Cornelia, Georgia. He organized a local peace council that brought African-Americans and European-Americans together for community development and cooperation. He instituted the first interracial and interfaith ministerial association in Cornelia, Georgia. He founded the Northeast Georgia Baptist Ministerial Alliance of Cornelia, Georgia, an organization of African-American Baptist ministers. He served on the Concerned Black Clergy Ministers’ Alliance of Atlanta, Georgia. He served as a member of the Board of Directors and as the National Chaplain of the National Naval Officers Association (NN0A). He spearheaded an annual city-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. ecumenical service and march for peace and justice; over 1,000 people of diverse backgrounds participated.