The Mitchell Excellence in Pastoral Ministry Award, established by Dr. Virgil Mitchell and his wife Mary, is presented annually by the Division of Religion of Southern Wesleyan University. This year's recipient is Mike Hilson, senior pastor of New Life Church in La Plata, Maryland. The church has grown from 100 members when he began in 1999 to over 5,000 in weekly attendance at over a dozen locations and online opportunities.
