Meet Our Elders

John Mitchell, Pastor

Hi, this is Pastor John and I thought I would take this space to share a little about myself. As you can see in the picture to the right, God has blessed me with a wonderful wife and three incredible kids. I grew up in a Christian home and came to know Jesus as my personal savior at an early age. I graduated from college with a degree in Civil Engineering and have been working as a project manager for over 20 years. I am still working as a project manager, only on a part-time basis.

Even before college, I sensed God's call on my life. God cultivated my love for teaching His word while attending a Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Silver Spring and I eventually started part time at Capital Bible Seminary in Lanham. After cramming the 3 year program into 10 years, I graduated Seminary in 2003 and in November 2004 was invited to become the pastor of New Life Community Church, the church I had been attending for 5 years. Since then it has been my privilege to serve Christ and his people as pastor at New Life Community Church. My passion is to serve God by equipping people for the work of the ministry and reaching out to those who are lost without Christ. As such, in my teaching I strive to share what God is teaching me in a way that takes the truths recorded centuries ago and shows their relevance for us today.

When it comes to recreational time, I enjoy spending time with my family and all of the regular things that entails (such as wrestling or playing board games after dinner), playing ball, going on family bike rides, hiking, etc. We have a couple of favorite bike routes that happen to also include a stop at Rita's Italian Ice or something like it. Like many parents in the area, I have spent several hours coaching youth sports and it looks like I am going to need to learn a little about soccer too! If I can squeeze out the time, I like to go bike riding, play basketball, jog, camp, hike and do just about anything outside. In 2007 I did my first "sprint" triathlon which was a lot of fun - I just need more time to train. My wife, Missy, is a wonderful helpmate. She keeps me straight and helps with a lot of the administrative items at church. She is a graduate of Baptist Bible College in PA and works with our Children's ministry. Missy also home schools our three boys, Caleb, Nathan (Nate) and Stephen (Steve).

I hope this helps you get to know me just a little. If you have the chance, please come and visit with us at New Life Community Church, I would love to meet you.

(P.S. for my "work" life, the Washington Post has written an article on one of my projects. For the curious, you can click here to link to that July 2009 article).

Kunle Ojewale, Special Ministries Assistant

We are the Ojewales - Adetoro (the only mosquito in my net!), Ayo-Oluwa (aka 'able Abel'), Oluwadamini (not exactly lean, but mean and only thirteen), Eri-Oluwa (he knocks e'm down) and last and most probably the least, Oluwakunle (the name that makes men fear, not because it is hallowed but because it is, well it is hardly pronounceable! I dare you to try!!

But my name is pregnant with meaning (as indeed are the other names in my clan) and, since I am the least of these and God's kingdom operates the 'upside down' principle, I have decided to put myself in charge!!!

The name, "Oluwakunle" literally means, the Lord fills the house and I will forever be grateful to God for the lips that first spoke that name into my life.

I am, by birth, Nigerian, by citizenship, British and by migration, American resident. I am 48.

I was raised by a praying, born again mother and a religious father but my own journey "in the way" began in Nov.1979 when, after listening to a song by Wanda Jackson I asked Jesus to come into my heart. He did and has also given me the privilege of serving at various levels of responsibility across three continents. In 1996 I was ordained a pastor in a Ministry whose beginnings had strong affiliations with the US Embassy in Nigeria.

My addition to the New Life Community Church staff was nothing short of serendipitous. While in England an International Ministry with about 50 parishes here asked me to help them start a Youth Ministry at their Bowie Parish. Two years and a bit later they changed their mind.

Not knowing who to turn to or where to go the Lord led us to New Life and what a new life it has been!

Whatever else this Church may lack, they certainly do have this thing called LOVE down and I nurse no doubts whatsoever in mind that whoever comes to this Church will find in it a fair parallel to Paul's description of the Macedonian churches (II Cor.8:1,2).

I, together with my family will forever bless the day we made the acquiantance of both John and Michelle ('Miss Missy') and eventually the entire body of Christ at NLCC.

God bless his heritage.

John Mill, Elder

Hi, I’m John Mill. Thanks for visiting our website. We have a warm and friendly congregation at New Life Community Church, and I hope that you will see this as you browse through our website. I know you will experience it if you have an opportunity to visit us.

One of the many blessings that God has given me is my family, Laura, my wife, and our three children, Lindsay, Meredith, and Davis. Spending time with my family is important to me, whether it’s eating dinner together, going on family vacations, participating in church activities, playing games, or taking a road trip to visit family members living outside the area.

As a small church, New Life Community Church provides us all with many opportunities to serve God and others. It has been an honor for me to serve the Church as part of a great team of elders. I also participate in the music ministry, playing the accordion (yes, the accordion). Also, our children all participate in the children’s programs, and I’ve also been able to help in this area. If you’re interested in getting involved, New Life Community Church is the place to be.

Before moving to Maryland in 1998, our family lived in Jacksonville, Florida. I was saved while living in Jacksonville at Mandarin Christian Church. While I had a spiritual background, being raised as a Roman Catholic, it was at Mandarin Christian Church that I placed my faith in Christ.

I hope you will visit us at New Life Community Church. If you do, you will hear God’s Word, and I know you will be greeted by a friendly group of people. I look forward to meeting you.

Jay Outland, Elder

Hi, my name is Jay Outland I'm one of the elders at New Life Community Church. My wife Sue and I and our four boys have been attending NLCC for eight years. I was saved in 1982 at an Episcopal church in Catonsville,

Md. I have been serving in many different areas of ministry at NLCC including Sunday School teacher, youth group, and Deacon prior to becoming an Elder. I believe the love of Jesus Christ has enabled me to serve others through this local church. My prayer is that His love will be evident in all we do at NLCC and that our desire to serve Him will

help others come to know Jesus as their personal savior. One of the things that my family and I really like about NLCC is the people are real and open. My family felt a sense of belonging and unity the first time we attended NLCC. I hope you will come and visit to experience this

for yourself. The teachings on Sunday and the interactive bible studies during the week have helped my family and me grow in our walk with the Lord. As a husband, father,and local small business owner, I have been able to apply these teachings and studies in all areas of my life. The friendships my family and I have made at NLCC have truly enriched our lives. In addition to church activities and ministries I also enjoy sports, camping, and helping my wife home educate the boys. Having four boys keeps me pretty busy taking them to swimming, lacrosse or baseball.I hope this has helped you to get to know me better and look forward to seeing you at NLCC.