Shawn Mitchell

NFL: PLNU was here

Shawn Mitchell (’83)

The National Football League is more than a professional sports league; it’s a stage where the talents, lives, and decisions of young men are broadcast for the world to see. From glorious victories and acts of great humanitarianism to crushing defeats and harmful life choices, the world of the NFL is public and intense. That’s why having someone to provide guidance and spiritual direction for the players and coaches alike is so crucial. 

And PLNU is there. 

Shawn Mitchell (83) is in his 30th season with the San Diego Chargers, making him the longest-tenured chaplain in the NFL. He has had the privilege of sharing Jesus with thousands of athletes in his career.

Meanwhile, Mitchell is a founder and the senior pastor of New Venture Christian Fellowship in Oceanside, where he shepherds a congregation of more than 4,000.

Mitchell’s passion for sharing the Gospel was ignited in part because of his experiences at PLNU. 

“Because of Point Loma, I studied in Israel and was asked to speak to U.S. servicemen stationed in Europe,” he said. “I was then invited to help smuggle Bibles into Communist countries. We traveled 1,500 miles and brought something like 1,800 Bibles and tapes to Hungary and Yugoslavia.”