Josh Mitchell

Operation 513 Leaders > Josh Mitchell

Josh Mitchell

* Operation 513 Overseer
* Gold Coast team leader

I was born in New Zealand in Auckland in 1982. My parents brought me to Australia when I was two, with my sister Charity. I grew up in a large family of seven kids. My parents held strong conservative Judaeo-Christian values. I was raised in Independent Baptist churches. I was taught many scriptures, and understood a lot about how a church works, and watched evangelism activities and so on.

Back tracking a bit, when I was five years old I had a dream that I was being chased by something large. It was dark and creepy and I was very scared. This thing was chasing me hard and I was running, and nervous. Then I just fell and kept falling. I woke up multiple times with this dream afraid really afraid.

I went and chatted to a family member, who began to explain to me that I was going to hell, because I was a sinner, and I needed to ask Jesus to forgive my sins. I really didn't want to go to hell. It was a very scary thought for me, and I felt very fearful about this place. I considered my dream and in the emotion of the fear I felt, I carried the same feelings into my understanding of Hell. I did not want to go there.

So I prayed and asked Jesus to forgive me sins. I didn't feel anything, but I was taught a lovely hymn. When the Roll is called up yonder I will be there! I loved that song and used to sing it often to reassure myself.

At the young age of five having learned that a fellow ought to get baptized, when he gets saved. I began to harass the preacher at the local church to baptise me. He was a bit hesitant but he eventually permitted me to be baptised. My father was hesitant, but permitted the same. This was possibly due to my tenacious request, for a believer's baptism. I really harassed the guy.

Not long after baptism, I remember being mean to my sister Charity, and my mum strongly rebuking me. I clearly recall her specifically saying, "If I was a real Christian I wouldn't do such a thing".

My pride was deeply offended by this news. I felt that I was indeed a Christian and was mostly mad that I couldn't vent feelings of anger on some unsuspecting person if I wanted to. Life went on and in my teenage years I started to discover Women's day magazines with half naked pictures of women and began to chase the pleasures of this world like a blind fool.

Pretty soon I was trying to get my hands on Surfing mags which were more explicit and then into computer soft pornography from a friend, and then into hardcore pornography and chatrooms in my later high school years. I studied a diploma in Theology from Moore Theological College, while at High School. I was passing the doctrine tests with good marks, all the while I was involved in being drawn away of my lusts into pornography and explicit chats on the internet.

What a joke? All this time I believed I was a Christian going to heaven. I believed that I was saved from my sins, and because I was saved I could still sin and be ok. What a lie from the devil!

I was a bad tree, producing bad fruit. I was a worker of iniquity. Unbeknownst to me I was proving my way into hell, while believing my way into a false hope. As time progressed, I left school and entered university by correspondence. Time went on and my lusts and passions grew. Pretty soon I was meeting women and getting involved in things that I would rather not mention.

Needless to say I broke all the ten commandments during this time. The year was 2003, and God chose in his mercy and compassion to visit this filthy carcass called Josh Mitchell and brought strong and deep conviction to my heart. Every time I read the bible I only seemed to find condemnation for adultery. I became afraid, and fearful. My stomach would tie in knots and I began a process of hating myself for the wicked things I had done. I felt guilty. I was under the convicting power of the Spirit of God.

Finally after many struggles and arguments with my conscience, I admitted my guilt to God and begged his forgiveness. While I felt a little better, I still had not given up my pornography addiction and my filthy thoughts.

I struggled to get rid of them, and while attending church and bible study I still enjoyed this sin that made me sick. Finally I yielded again to God and gave up my vile addiction. I was a dog. I gave up pornography and fled to God for holiness. I repented and gave up my life.

From that time forward I have been ever so thankful for what Christ did for me at Calvary 2000 years ago. I am ever greatful.

I was born again by God's spirit and became a new creature with new desires. Today I enjoy the high call of God, in preaching the gospel to poor sinners, and teaching the bible to saints of highest degree. Whom I am honoured to serve. Today if you asked me, if I am a good person I would respond something like:

No friend, I am wicked, vile, offensive to God by my wicked works. I have broken all of God's good laws. I have hated, I have lied, I have committed adultery, I have taken God's name in vain. I deserve the very hottest flames of hell for my offences against the God who gave me life and all the good things I enjoy. I don't deserve heaven, I don't even deserve the grace of this life. In the words of a theologian, "I have an alien righteousness". It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, that I have on my account before God.