A Conversation with Stan Mitchell

We were incredibly honored to host guest speaker Stan Mitchell recently. Stan, who dedicates his life to supporting pastors and religious families navigating complex issues, including a child’s coming out, shared a message that has had a profound impact on our community. Drawing from the powerful narrative of John chapter 9, where Jesus heals a man born blind, Stan illuminated a crucial distinction in how people are seen. He emphasized that Jesus saw a human being, a person deserving of respect and love, free from condition or category. In contrast, his disciples and the religious authorities of the day immediately sought to categorize the man as a theological problem, focusing on blame rather than possibility.

Stan highlighted the painful reality that this ancient story resonates deeply with the experiences of marginalized individuals today, particularly within religious institutions, referring to the healed man as a “patron saint” for those who have been abstracted, blamed, and pressured to deny their reality. He shared poignant stories of families grappling with their faith and their child’s identity, often facing immense pressure and fear of losing their place within their religious community, just as the man’s parents did in the biblical account.

However, the message concluded with a powerful reminder of God’s heart, revealed not just in ancient texts but in the living, breathing lives of individuals. Stan pointed to the radical act of Jesus seeking out the man after he had been cast out by the religious system and even abandoned by his parents. Jesus met the man where he was, affirming his beauty and wholeness. Stan’s message serves as a call to Harvest to continue being that place where Jesus brings those who have been jettisoned, where they are celebrated, find family, and are seen as beautiful and whole, just as they are. This is the heart of the gospel and the mission to which we are called.