Pastor Appreciation Q&A with Kevin Mitchell

Kevin Mitchell is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Pecos. Get to know his background and how you can be praying for his church during Pastor Appreciation Month.

Q: When and how did God call you to be a pastor?

A: I was in high school when God called me to "Preach the Word." God created within me a hunger for His Word and a passion to communicate it clearly. I distinctly remember reading from 2 Timothy 4:1-8 and knowing that these words were God's message directly to me. Yes, they were originally part of Paul's mentorship of Timothy, but God was using them to call me to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; and reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

These verses call God's preacher to warn against heresy and to "do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." I did not run from this call. I jumped forward, like Isaiah saying "Here I am! Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). I have never once looked back. It is an honor and privilege to preach and teach God's Word.

Over the years, I have come to appreciate more and more the importance of shepherding the flock of God, especially in times of personal trial and difficulty — the importance of being there for people and praying with them as they prepare for surgery, or caring for them as they prepare for a funeral. One deacon joked that he enjoyed my funeral messages better than my Sunday sermons. Pastoral care is extremely important in fulfilling one’s ministry.

Q: What is one exciting thing God is doing in and/or through your church right now?

A: Discipleship of all ages is key to helping every Christian to grow in grace to mature to the measure of the fullness of the stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Here at FBC Pecos, we do that in several ways. We have an in-depth Bible Study for ladies and a close-knit Men's Group that both meet on Tuesdays. Wednesday is our community outreach Bible Studies for everyone. Our AWANA program reaches many otherwise unchurched children with God's Word and the love of Jesus Christ. We have separate Bible Studies for Junior High and High School. This past year, right in the middle of COVID-19, our Wednesday night Adult Bible Study grew exponentially and my wife's online Internet Sunday School class has done amazingly well too. Developing teachers and leaders to reach and teach others is key.

Q: How can people pray for your church?

A: Pray God will continue to do a mighty work among us to help us break down barriers and build bridges to more effectively reach people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. God has brought us active families from places like India and the Philippines. Our town is 85% Hispanic and we mirror our community best on Wednesday nights, but things are definitely getting better on Sunday mornings. We recently elected our first Hispanic deacon. His whole family is great at hospitality and outreach. They are key to our salvations and baptisms. Pray that we will not get distracted but will remain focused on making a difference for Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God.