Our People
No, Megan and I are not going at it alone. In fact, we're not even in charge! So let's meet the real heroes, shall we?
Mitchell Welch, our Lead Pastor
The Leaders
The true pioneers of Antioch Fayetteville are Mitchell and Beth Welch, along with their kids Josiah, Micah, and Arabella. Since graduating from A&M in 2009, Mitchell and Beth have continued to live in Bryan / College Station. Mitchell has spent the better part of 6 years as the College Pastor at Antioch CS, while Beth has led fitness classes and taught at a local private school in the midst of raising their 3 kiddos. And let me tell you, the Welches are amazing.
Under their leadership, the college ministry has literally quadrupled in size without sacrificing an ounce of depth and intensity. If you don't believe me, just ask the nearly 250 college students who went on a mission trip to Southeast Asia this past summer, or the 600+ involved in one of our 30+ small groups.
Thousands have been touched by Mitchell and Beth over the past several years, hundreds have become leaders in their local churches and kingdom-influencers in their workplaces, and dozens have become full-time ministers and missionaries themselves! Personally, the Welches have been Megan's and my primary mentors and authority figures for 6+ years now. And hey, we're doing pretty well!
But praises for Mitchell and Beth are not just local. In March of 2017, they flew to Portland to go through a 'Church Planting Assessment' put on by the independent organization Stadia. Stadia boasts an over 90% church planting success rate for assessment candidates that receive their recommendation, and the Welches passed with flying colors from every angle of evaluation. These guys are the real deal.
Under their leadership, the college ministry has literally quadrupled in size without sacrificing an ounce of depth and intensity. If you don't believe me, just ask the nearly 250 college students who went on a mission trip to Southeast Asia this past summer, or the 600+ involved in one of our 30+ small groups.
Thousands have been touched by Mitchell and Beth over the past several years, hundreds have become leaders in their local churches and kingdom-influencers in their workplaces, and dozens have become full-time ministers and missionaries themselves! Personally, the Welches have been Megan's and my primary mentors and authority figures for 6+ years now. And hey, we're doing pretty well!
But praises for Mitchell and Beth are not just local. In March of 2017, they flew to Portland to go through a 'Church Planting Assessment' put on by the independent organization Stadia. Stadia boasts an over 90% church planting success rate for assessment candidates that receive their recommendation, and the Welches passed with flying colors from every angle of evaluation. These guys are the real deal.
The Launch Team
In addition to connections we already have with people in NW Arkansas, there are 20-30 other Aggies moving with us to help get this church off the ground. And the cool thing is, in a sense, we've already planted a church with many of them.
See, in the fall of 2016, Mitchell had the idea of pulling together a few people (including Megan and me) to start a small group from scratch in the middle of Texas A&M's campus. We had the leaders; we just didn't know if we would have any members! Well, sure enough, people came, and by the end of the school year that one small group became three. By the end of the next school year, those three completely student-led small groups turned into seven!
It's these original small group members that have said yes to coming to Fayetteville after graduation! And not only them, but also a few other close friends, young families, and current students at the University of Arkansas. Honestly, we're loaded! And best of all, the majority of us already have years of history together that include both the ups and the downs that come with close friendship as well as ministry responsibility.
See, in the fall of 2016, Mitchell had the idea of pulling together a few people (including Megan and me) to start a small group from scratch in the middle of Texas A&M's campus. We had the leaders; we just didn't know if we would have any members! Well, sure enough, people came, and by the end of the school year that one small group became three. By the end of the next school year, those three completely student-led small groups turned into seven!
It's these original small group members that have said yes to coming to Fayetteville after graduation! And not only them, but also a few other close friends, young families, and current students at the University of Arkansas. Honestly, we're loaded! And best of all, the majority of us already have years of history together that include both the ups and the downs that come with close friendship as well as ministry responsibility.
