Willard Gerald Mitchell, aged 84, of Moose Jaw, SK, passed away on Saturday, February 1st, 2025.

His funeral service will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 10:30 am.

Hillcrest Apostolic Church

1550 Main Street N. Moose Jaw, SK

This service will also be live-streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/0Qpqj9zlo4g?si=4p4K8_LwnUON_2s1

Read Willard’s Obituary

PLEASE NOTE: This tribute, written by ACOP President, Wes Mills, was requested by Willard’s family as a tribute to his lifetime involvement with ACOP.

Prelude:

From his earliest days in the little church in Rouleau, SK (an offshoot from the Regina Ap), to the day of his death, Dad was associated with the ACOP (Apostolic Church of Pentecost). He went on musical tours, led VBSs and camps, played saxophone solos, and sang in quartets—he even filled in for the senior pastor at the Regina AP for a month when he was TWENTY—and that was all before he even went on staff at the Bible School.

Because so many people came through the Bible School over the years, and they all knew our dad, we felt like we could pop our heads into a church almost anywhere in Canada. If we said we were Willard Mitchell’s kids, we were sure to find a warm welcome and a story.

Wes Mills, President of ACOP, has sent a few words in acknowledgement of the ways Dad served ACOP over the years…

Tribute:

It is a great honor for me to share this tribute to the life and ministry of Willard Mitchell.

From the cradle to the grave—is how I would describe Willard Mitchell’s association with the Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada.

When Willard was an infant, his family took him to a small Apostolic Church in Rouleau, Saskatchewan, (better known to this generation as Dog River—the home of Corner Gas). The little church in Rouleau didn’t exist for very long, but on several occasions, Willard told me about a significant number of people from that little church, who had gone on to some form of Christian ministry. Willard said even though it was small, and some might consider it a church planting failure, it had an impact for the Kingdom of God.

The Michell family moved to Regina when Willard was 7 years old, they became part of the Regina Apostolic Church. Willard always spoke fondly about growing up in that vibrant church community, and how this local church provided him with a foundation for Christian living.

When Willard was 20 years old, and a student at FGBI, he applied for ministerial credentials with the Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada—which in those days was known as a “workers’ license.” One of the questions on the application at that time was: “Can you honestly answer to the qualifications of I Timothy 3:1-7?” (This of course is the primary New Testament passage about the qualifications of elders.) Willard’s answer was “By the grace of God—Yes.”

Willard loved the message of the grace of God—and knew that it was by grace and through faith that he was saved, but he also knew that grace was the empowering presence of God that enabled him to be who God called him to be.

Willard was granted credentials with the Apostolic Church of Pentecost in 1961, and maintained his credentials for the next 64 years! Although Willard would have qualified for ordination with ACOP, he declined to be ordained and always felt that the Lord wanted him to make his contribution as a Christian layman.

In 1967 Willard began his long-term ministry association with FGBI, now Eston College. Willard served in many different roles at the College over the next 48 years. On more than one occasion Willard told me that “Eston College needs ACOP, and ACOP needs Eston College.” Of course, he didn’t mean this in an “exclusive” way, but he recognized the symbiotic relationship between Eston College and ACOP.

Over the 48 years that Willard served with Eston College, he traveled from coast to coast promoting the ministry of the College, but also in an informal way he represented ACOP as well. Over his years at the College, Willard was likely in every ACOP Church in Canada.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point, he talks about “Connectors.” Connectors are people who have a vast network of acquaintances and are adept at bringing people together. Gladwell describes Connectors as “sociable, gregarious people who naturally excel at making and maintaining friendships and acquaintances.” Willard Mitchell was a Connector for both ACOP and Eston College.

Willard didn’t just promote Eston College because he was employed by the College—he was genuinely passionate about bible education—so he gave much of his life to the cause of Eston College. He believed that every young adult should attend at least one year of bible college to ground themselves in the scripture and equip them for whatever ministry the Lord had for them whether it was in their local church or as a global worker. Today, there are hundreds of people serving in their local churches because of a nudge from Willard Mitchell to attend Eston College.

ACOP went through a restructuring process, in 2000, and made provision for Trustees At Large—so that laymen and women could use their gifts to help guide our Fellowship. Willard became the first Trustee at Large to serve our Fellowship, and because he had visited nearly every ACOP church at one time or another and because of his role with Eston College he was an ideal candidate for a trustee at large. Willard served in this capacity for 10 years and always brought a positive and thoughtful contribution to the ACOP Board of Trustees meetings.

During his time in Eston, Willard served as an elder at the Eston Full Gospel Church. In more recent years he was engaged as a faithful member of Hillcrest Apostolic Church here in Moose Jaw. For 84 years Willard was a part of ACOP Churches, not just as an attendee, but actively engaged in the life and ministry of each local church.

I remember on several occasions when Willard was leading a church service—he would lead in the old hymn—”Trust and Obey.” The first verse says:

I don’t know if this was Willard’s favorite hymn or not, but he certainly embodied the truth of it in his life.

On a personal note—my first introduction to Willard Mitchell was when I was 6 or 7 years old, and he was the Children’s Camp Director at Kedleston Gospel Camp. That was the beginning of a relationship that would last more than 60 years. Over the years Willard was an example, a leader, a mentor, a friend, a colleague, an advisor, and a prayer partner to me.

Some people keep a gratitude journal where they record the things that they are grateful for. Willard was a walking gratitude journal! Willard lived with an attitude of gratitude—always grateful for how the Lord was working in his life, my life, the life of a mutual friend, or a church, camp, and the Bible College. Because Willard lived with an attitude of gratitude, it was always encouraging to spend time with him. One of the New Testament Apostles was nicknamed Barnabus—which means “son of encouragement;” Willard was a Barnabus to me. He would often give me a call or send me an encouraging email.

In November I underwent knee replacement surgery, and even with his health deteriorating—he sent me this email on December 3, 2024:

Hey Wes,

Been thinking about you and prayed for you. Trust surgery went well and healing is in progress.

We appreciate you man! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit!

~Willard

My life was richer because of Willard Mitchell and his influence. I believe that is true for all of us here today.

Arlene, Cam, Karen, and Debbie—we love you and are praying for you. Today you feel the sting of death, but may your sorrow be tempered by resurrection hope.

God Bless you!

Rev. Wes Mills—President of ACOP