Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitchell Lavender.
Hi Mitchell, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
This photography business is the embodiment of character growth I’ve had happen to me over the past year. I say it has happened to me because I can’t take credit for it. Glory goes to Jesus, that’s who I believe is responsible for helping me mature. I didn’t have the strength or awareness to make the decisions that initially lead me here. I’m trying my best. I’m a minister by trade, I started ministry in 2011, and my current studies are at Western Seminary for a Master of Divinity.
I began photography just over 5 years ago to serve people I knew and help them celebrate milestones. Photography was just a hobby for me. Well, in 2020 my wife and I reached the height of our burnout from ministry work. Mix that burnout with internal team miscommunications, philosophical differences, the suicide of a friend, and a lack of maturity in myself, and the situation became too unhealthy for me to stay in.
The result was my wife and I deciding that the best decision was to step down after 10 years of ministry work (6 years together) so we could fight for a balanced life, not cause division in our church, nor lose the love in our relationships. Shortly after, we decided to step away because we realized we needed space to heal and recollect ourselves. Turns out it’s very difficult to quit your job and still go to your job. We found it very difficult to navigate all the social spheres we were in. On one hand we were employees, on the other brothers, sisters, sons, daughters. Being shifted back and forth between those relational pressures and expectations was challenging. We ultimately decided we would go and worship with family and friends and take some time in solitude to heal.
Over the last 8 months, we have decided to go to therapy, read many books, journal, pray, and seek counsel from professors, friends, fellow ministers, family, and of course God. We’ve been taking life day by day and developing a family rhythm that helps us stay anchored in our faith as well as connected to God and each other. We’ve recently found a place here that resonates with our faith and convictions to the point where we believe we can worship there and be a part of their faith community.
Stepping back out into a church took us a while because of the lack of desire to trust people again. We were very hurt and disillusioned. With time, we realized no matter where we go, church, work, etc. There will be issues, miscommunications, troubles, mistakes, trials, frustrations, injustices, oversights, marginalized communities, etc. because people are there, and we are there. Therefore, I’m convicted to be someone who helps redeem what God is trying to redeem, starting with what he’s doing in me, my wife and future child, then our neighbors.
I spent about 6-7 months in solitude away from all social media. I went from being available to too many people in my church to having zero contact. Having solitude helped me to quiet the noise in my head and get back to hearing God and my own voice. This was key because I lost myself in ministry. I lost touch with my temperament, personality, and creativity. I even lost touch with what I loved and was passionate about.
I basically conformed to my boss and his preferences because of my lack of awareness and healthy boundaries. The time in solitude helped me recollect what I gave up and helped me remember who God designed me to be. Namely, and pastor/teacher who is an artist and communicator.
By default, I enjoy helping people and having a good time together. I enjoy supporting and believing in people’s dreams, efforts, and holistic health. I lost this to a degree in my previous career, but I’m rediscovering myself before God again.
My sister once told me that true humility is taking up the space you’re supposed to, not more, and not less. I’m learning to fill my space for who I am now, having been someone who shrunk back to keep people comfortable.
Thus, I decided to start a photography business because I love the art, I love helping people, and I love building relationships and making connections. My heart is that of a minister and shepherd first. My plans are to serve those I connect with excellent photography and to bear God’s image in my relationships with them. With all my brokenness and stumbling through life, I can be a testimony that Jesus is real and works through broken people like me.
I ask myself often why not plant a church? I don’t know. I may, but God hasn’t made that clear to me yet. The goals are for this photography business to help my wife and I keep a balanced life between work and rest, to pay for Seminary, provide extra income to support our family as we have a newborn on the way, and to serve the local community while building a strong network of bonds with my city.
I also ask myself will my business keep running if I move. I have no idea. I’m going run it with excellence and integrity through my seminary career. If at the right time God opens a door for me to step into a role to help lead a church or plant one somewhere, then I’ll go that route, but likely I’ll run my business and serve.
I’m desperate to help build a powerful alternative to what I don’t see working. I believe ministry starts in our hearts, homes, and neighborhoods first, then if I’m blessed to serve somewhere that’s the right fit for me, maybe I’ll do that next. However, I truly believe as God’s people we have a lot of work ahead of us and a lot of growth we need to undergo so that we honor God’s name, freeing it of stereotypes and prejudices, which are based on our own human failings.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This has been the most difficult challenge we have faced in our lives.
We were challenged by being faced with choosing to do what is right and what was best even when the people we love wouldn’t understand.
We were also challenged by losing our connection with our social support system.
We are challenged today in waiting expectantly on God to continue to guide us each day while not trusting our own dysfunction. Since we don’ know what tomorrow holds we’re trying to be faithful to him as best as I can that day.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a writer, I have a book called Journey that I’m working on which is all about marital guidance and hope. I’m hoping to get it published by October this year.
I also have a few fun ideas coming within the next year regarding some theological curriculum, cohorts, and pastoral support teams. I can’t say too much about that just yet though.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
I think that risk is a state of mind. We all take risks every day. Even actions and inactions involve risk. When we think about who we are becoming over time, risk takes on a new meaning. I don’t want the risks I’m taking to turn me into someone my family hates or who has no meaningful relationships.
I’ve taken what felt to me like major risks in my life.
Deciding in 2015 to quit my job and step into a full-time ministry role without having any Seminary education was a huge risk, and it had its consequences both good and bad.
Deciding to go to Seminary when only a few people in my circle believed it to be necessary was a huge risk, and even being someone in Seminary is somewhat frowned upon in some of my circles. Deciding to step down from my ministry position, losing my salary, my role, my reputation, and many relationships, was a huge risk.
I think we all take risks, and maybe no two risks are the same. However, if we allow ourselves to be changed and grow through our experiences, I think we can become more human, more mature, and closer to God.
I’m learning that with my risks, I need to grieve my losses, because risks come with losses. I wasn’t great at grieving, but I’m now seeing that grieving is a key to being made whole by God and staying whole as I grow as a person. My times of grieving help me become a more empathetic person. Since loss is an inevitable side of any risk, I now have experienced that a key part of risk taking is first taking inventory of what we are already risking, then recognizing what we are already losing or gaining by what we are risking. After that, I can look to see if gaining or losing those things will be worth their impact on what I value the most.
In my previous job, somewhere, I began risking my walk with God, my mental health, and the health of my marriage. Those things are never worth risking, but I had to learn that from experience. That’s the challenge, right? We grow from our losses and our gains. So, risk taking isn’t about being perfect, it’s about growth. I want to grow, so I’m going to take some risks. But I plan to keep evaluating myself to make sure I’m not sacrificing the things that matter the most, namely, my walk with God, my marriage, or my family.
Pricing:
- Basic Portrait $150.00
- Business Portrait $275.00
- Family Portraits $500.00
- Engagement shoots start at $1000
- Brand Photography starts at $1500.00
Contact Info:
- Website: Mitchelllavender.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlavenderphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlavenderphotography
