Philip Anthony Mitchell is the founder and lead pastor of 2819 Church in Atlanta, GA, the fastest-growing church in America. According to a recent magazine profile, they’ve gone from 200 congregants in 2023 to more than 6,000 today.
His church is notable for people arriving as early as 5:30 in the morning to secure a seat to hear the fiery preacher, who has made a name for himself as a firebrand who doesn’t shy away from preaching about sin, repentance, and the Great Commission. (His church is named after Matthew 28:19.)
Along with his duties as lead pastor, he also has a side project: the Street Preachers Podcast, which he does with Celebration Church pastor Tim Timberlake. According to the promo material:
Street Preachers is a raw, unfiltered podcast from Philip Anthony Mitchell and Tim Timberlake—two bold voices committed to making sure everyone hears the Gospel of Jesus. From street corners to stages, they bring truth with conviction, passion, and power—because revival doesn’t wait for a microphone. It starts wherever the Word is spoken.
To get the message out, they have taken their podcast on the road, hitting major cities throughout September and October with nearly sold-out live shows.
However, Mitchell and Timberlake have recently come under fire from critics for charging $69 for general admission and another $200 for VIP tickets, the latter of which includes reserved seating, a copy of their book, and a meet-and-greet. Some of the aggrieved are saying charging a fee to attend their show is akin to charging for the gospel, something the bible prohibits.
During his sermon today, Mitchell responded to his critics, calling them a “brood of vipers” and blasting them for their immaturity and financial illiteracy.
Mitchell begins by explaining that, first of all, the year before, they held an Access rally at State Farm Arena, which people attended for free and which cost them almost $2 million, and that they didn’t even take an offering. Furthermore, he announced that they are holding a similar rally on October 10 for 80,000 people, which will also be free and will likewise cost them millions.
Now, I also have a podcast I’ve never talked about on this platform because my podcast is separated from 2819. It is my own ministry outside of the church with my partner Tim Timberlake.
Now we have decided to go on a tour to take the gospel to cities and because that’s not funded by 2819, and it’s not funded by Celebration Church, Tim and I gotta do that with our own pockets. It’s why there is tickets. We have to pay for venues and security and productions and staff from our own pockets.
For all you ignorant people, and for all of you that want to tear me down in public for having a $60 ticket, and a VIP for me to,-all right-
Mitchell reveals that a miracle happened at one of their previous meetings after he prayed for healing for a baby boy, and then asked, “And you want to complain about a 60 ticket?”
So hate on! How do I respond to all of your hate and your ignorance? I pray for you and tattoo it to my heart. ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven.’
If we was money men, we would charge you more than that! How do you expect us to put on a tour and get to these cities? Where are going to get the money from? That’s not funded by my church. We gotta come out of our own pocket to make it to these rooms. Brood of Vipers!
Editor’s note. Of course, Mitchell is completely justified in his frustration.
2 responses to “‘You Brood of Vipers!’ Philip Anthony Mitchell Of ‘2819 Church’ Blasts Critics of His Podcast Tour”
No, you don’t charge $60 admission for people to hear the Gospel. Absolutely not. That is the stated purpose of the tour, is it not? If the Lord wants you to go on the tour, then He will provide. If He hasn’t provided, then you don’t go. Plain and simple. To distrust the Lord from the start, is to act counter to the Gospel in the first place. Is not the Gospel all about trusting Him? Isn’t that what it’s been all about since the very beginning? How are you going to share the true Gospel if you yourself are acting counter to it?
If they believe they’re called to go on such a tour, then they need to ask for donations, in accordance with 1 Cor. 6:7. Paul and the Apostles set the example. They asked for donations cheerfully and freely given, not under compulsion. They did not charge admission.
Can you imagine Jesus charging admission for the Sermon on the Mount?
What did He have? He was homeless. He had nothing but food and clothing, and no place to lay His head.
As I said on the article from a few days ago, it is very difficult these days. And Mr. Mitchell needs to understand that there may be reasons God may not provide. If mankind is under judgment, for example, the Lord may be purposefully withholding His hand. We do not know the mind of God. We do not know or understand why He does what He does. And Mr. Mitchell should not overreact and defensively and defiantly take it as a personal attack on himself or his ministry. It has nothing to do with him personally.
I’m a lot poorer than Mr. Mitchell. A lot poorer than the poorest in his entire ministry. I can guarantee him that fact. It has nothing to do with bashing him personally, and he should not be taking it as such. Sure it can be justified by a spreadsheet. Everybody understands that. But God doesn’t answer to spreadsheets. He can and does make ways that we never imagined possible, and He does so on purpose so that we will depend on Him, and so the glory will be His and His alone. And if He doesn’t make a way, then it isn’t His will. Plain and simple. That’s been foundational to the Gospel since the very beginning in the Garden. It’s all about trusting Him.
Imagine John the Baptist talking about his podcast.
The bizarre thing is that most professing Christians in the West today wouldn’t even think twice about that.