Atlanta church draws young adults with fiery sermons and vibrant worship

Video Description

(6 Dec 2025) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4622442 ASSOCIATED PRESS Atlanta - 16 November 2025 1. Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell preaching at 2819 Church 2. Various of churchgoers worshiping during a 2819 Church service ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip Anthony Mitchell, Lead Pastor 2819 Church:  “I honestly believe that what is happening right now with our ministry is a divine, sovereign movement of God.”   4. Mitchell preaching 5. Churchgoer worshiping 6. Mitchell preaching 7. Churchgoer worshiping ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tatjuana Phillips, Director of Ministries at 2819 Church:  “We went from 180 people to like 5, 6 thousand very quickly.” 9. Various of people lined up before dawn at 2819 Church 10. Welcome team member giving high fives 11. Churchgoers waiting in line for service 12. Welcome team members interacting with churchgoers in line 13. Various of 2819 and Mitchell on social media platforms ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Nyriyah Hullman, Welcome Team at 2819 Church:  “How I found this church was from TikTok. And I decided to stay because I prayed on it and asked God if this was the church he wanted me to attend.”  15. Various of Mitchell being filmed during service for online viewers ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 16. SOUNDBITE (English) Barmel Lyons, Digital Engagement at 2819 Church:  “Pastor has a heart for digital disciples. He wants to wrap his arms around them digitally and let them know that they are loved. There’s thousands online every Sunday.”  17. Camera crew filming Mitchell and worship team 18. Churchgoers waiting in line for service 19. Various of churchgoers singing to Christian music in line 20. Various of welcome team members engaging with churchgoers entering the church ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 21. SOUNDBITE (English) Debra Sever, Attendee of 2819 Church: “I get up at 3:30 every morning on Sundays to come to worship, to come for community.”   22. Churchgoers entering the sanctuary 23. Various of prayer team members leading churchgoers in prayer before service ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 24. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip Anthony Mitchell, Lead Pastor 2819 Church:  “Sometimes I don't know why my preaching is reaching the various people groups that are being reached. I really don’t know. I think there are times when I’m still shocked myself.   25. Mitchell participating in worship 26. Mitchell covering his eyes during worship 27. Mitchell preaching ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 28. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip Anthony Mitchell, Lead Pastor 2819 Church:  “I was raised in the hood. I don't have a seminary degree. I'm still a little rough around the edges. And I think for me, sometimes, I stand up on Sunday and I'll turn my back to the church and I'll just cry staring at the screen. When I see the beauty of what Jesus is doing.”  29. Various of churchgoers standing during service 30. Mitchell preaching ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 31. SOUNDBITE (English) Barmel Lyons, Digital Engagement at 2819 Church: “Pastor Philip isn’t a buttoned-up preacher, he’s himself and I think that’s why he connects with so many people.”  32. Mitchell preaching ++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED++ 33. SOUNDBITE (English) Brooklyn Marshall, Welcome Team at 2819 Church:  “He gets his preaching straight from the word. He don’t care about nobody’s feelings. He’s going to tell you exactly how it is. If it hurts your feelings, it’s going to hurt your feelings. He don’t sugarcoat anything at all.” 34. Various of Hullman and Marshall praying with other church members 35. Churchgoers in line for service Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/385be8cc8ea54648a8602e778457ed48