Pastor J.T. Mitchell
(1922-2003)
Obituary printed in the British Church Newspaper
John Turnbull Mitchell (as he once signed my passport photograph) went
to be with the Lord on Friday 14th March, 2003. Mr Mitchell was born
into a Christian home in Glasgow in January 1922. His father was a
noted gospel singer and greatly used of God in conferences among the
Plymouth Brethren. Reared in the gospel, Jack Mitchell came himself to
Christ when a lad of 14 years. By the obvious help of God, he became a
preacher of the gospel and was in great demand all over Scotland and
further afield, including Northern Ireland. He left his employment in
Pickering and Inglis printing works in January 1966 to take up the
pastorate in the Iron Hall Assembly in east Belfast. He ministered
there for nearly 22 years before later becoming an elder in the newly
formed Olivet Assembly where he still continued to preach. In the last
years of his life, he was nearly blind and finally died of a massive
stroke. He was conscious up to the last, discussing Ephesians 1:7 with
his friend Pastor Byers just a few hours before his death. He is
survived by his wife and three married sons along with grandchildren.
THE PREACHER
Jack Mitchell was a great preacher of the word of God. He engaged the
expositional method and went systematically through many books of the
Bible, as well as many exciting series on various themes e.g. the great
crimes of the Bible. He was dispensational in his theology, but never
had one string on his harp. Like fellow Scotsman, John Knox, he was
fearless and sometimes blunt in his preaching. The twinkle in his eye
usually disappeared when sin had to be named and denounced. The Monday
night Bible studies in the Iron Hall drew hundreds of believers,
including pastors, from all over the province. He was very effective in
his use of the personal anecdote, often drawing from his experiences in
pre war Glasgow or his days in the RAF during the war. He told us that
when asked to join the Masons and "stand on the Square" he simply
replied that "He was standing on the Rock!"...complete with the rolling
"R" of the Glaswegian. It was all riveting stuff. I remember the late
Pastor Willie Mullan pay public tribute to him, not only as a preacher,
but also in his character as a man.
THE CONTENDER
Jack Mitchell was a great contender for the faith. He took an early
stand on his first night in the war time barrack room of the RAF. In
fear and trembling, he quietly knelt at his bedside to pray before the
lights went out. He became aware that some mischief was afoot, but was
greatly relieved to hear the voice of the most ungodly man in the room
threaten any one who dared interfere with him. He was not ashamed to be
identified with the Protestant cause and was a good friend of the Free
Presbyterian Church. At the time of the Papal visit to Britain in 1982,
he preached a series of messages on our Reformation roots and publicly
denounced Norman St John Stevas MP as "nasty Norman" for the latter's
desire to imprison any evangelical protestors. He introduced his
messages on Romanism with vivid illustrations. One was from a deadly
snake which enthralled its victims with it dazzling and beautiful skin
before striking with its poison. In another, he spoke about visiting a
man in a mental hospital who believed that he was God Almighty and drew
the not so subtle comparison with the Pope who describes himself as
"another Christ on earth" He loathed modernism and admired those
fundamentalists who believed the Bible. It was he first who made me
aware of the name of Arthur Pink. He would speak too of the Covenanters
with pride, although from a different theological strain.
THE PASTOR
Jack Mitchell had a real pastor's heart. He was well known and
respected in the neighbourhood around the church. He loved young people
and once turned up at a Young People's Fellowship weekend in his kilt.
He was a praying man and in public often made the great words of
Hebrews 13:20-21 the benediction as he closed the meeting. He was a
perfectionist in all that he did, always punctual, for example, for any
engagement. He would always reply to his mail on the day of its
arrival.
THE SINGER
Like his father, Mr Mitchell loved to sing. He was a master at leading
congregational singing. Although he struggled with asthma, he seemed to
defy it to lead the singing of the old hymns. He led the congregation
like a general leading his people into battle. It seemed as if he sang
and we all followed willingly in his train. He sometimes sang solo as
preach in the open air. I can still hear him sing: "I was drifting away
in life's pitiless sea" at our open air at a busy road junction in
Belfast. He always sang with passion and conviction.
Several hundred people attended his funeral in the Olivet Hall on-
Thursday 20th March. Pastor Gordon Caldwell preached at the funeral,
while tributes were brought by Pastor Carson, Cecil Boyd and Jim Shaw.
Jack Mitchell was buried in Ballygowan Free Presbyterian Church
cemetery where Rev McIlveen from Sandown Free Presbyterian Church
preached at the graveside. Truly a great man has gone from us. No
wonder Balaam of old desired to die the die of the righteous! (Numbers
23:10) He is survived by his wife and three sons and his
grandchildren.