I n the faII of 2010, the Institute for Church and Family received a new name and a new face. Renamed the Carl and Frankie Mitchell Center for Leadership and Ministry, the Center opened its doors to students of every major and career choice in order to prepare young leaders to serve God even in their most ordinary moments. Both Carl and Frankie Mitchell dedicated many years of service to Harding.The Mitchells were long-time missionaries in Italy before joining the university and in 1980 came on staff to help set up Harding University in Florence. In 1989 Mitchell returned to Searcy to serve as dean of the College of Bible and Religion and later became the personal advisor to the president. Meanwhile, Frankie served as director of human resources. "The Mitchells are truly Harding treasures," President David Burks said. "Their strong commitment to world missions and their joyous optimism have made them highly influential advocates of many good causes. Chief among these has been Carl's dedicated promotion of the 'priesthood of all believers,' which led him to craft and promote the vocational ministry major in the College of Bible and Religion. Consequently, it is most appropriate that the office which has the primary responsibility for housing this major should now be called the Carl and Frankie Mitchell Center for Leadership and Ministry." When Mitchell first found out the Center was named after him, however, he was embarrassed. "What immediately came to mind was Jesus' warning that if you received praise in this life, you wouldn't receive it in heaven," Mitchell said. According to Mitchell, the main purpose of the Center was to prepare those who were not on the church's salary to serve the church. "The church is the body of Christ, and each body part has to be in the correct position to make a contribution," Mitchell said. "Each part has a function and was created for that function." Along with the physical changes, the center also housed a new major, vocational ministry, which was intended to train people of all professions to serve Christ in their line of work. "My research opened my eyes to how essential this is," Mitchell said. "[Throughout the] NewTestament, individual Christians were driven out by persecution. The way the church has grown best is when ordinary members were scattered." In an effort to better serve the community and world, the center underwent reorganization.Vice President of Spiritual Life Dr. Bruce Mclarty held the position of director of church relations. Andrew Baker continued to serve as director under the new name so that the Mitchell Center continued to work with Uplift,TC Magazine, the Encouragement Foundation and the new leadership and rro.inistry second major. "Dr. Mitchell is li,..part of a group who advocated for vocational ministry throughout his Elf!ti~ career," Baker said. "Now we're doing that with an emphasis on studeQ.t~.5o that they can see how faith plays itself out in the markets, whether ii'.c;-education communications, business or the health fields." -.. Mitchell said the only name he wanted students to recognize when it came to the Center's work was that of Christ. "I appreciate the coverage not of us, but of the priesthood of Christians, and to get individual people to share the gospel in the individual work they choose," Mitchell said. "There are all kinds of opportunities to work overseas: lots of churches around the world have been started in that way. I appreciate the coverage because of the concept." Moeoon Paxton
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