In this episode, Dr. G shares a simple moment that reveals a profound truth about mentoring, legacy, and spiritual parenthood. John and Mary Mitchell were never able to have children of their own — a fact that could have been marked by loss or silence. Instead, it became the backdrop for one of the most beautiful definitions of family Dr. G ever witnessed. At a beginning-of-the-year social gathering, a new student — unaware of the Mitchells’ story — asked an innocent but potentially awkward question: “How many children do you have?” Before John could respond, Mary Mitchell gently answered with a smile: “Oh, thousands.” In that moment, everything became clear. The students shaped, discipled, loved, and sent into ministry over decades were not metaphorical children — they were family. That young woman instantly understood she wasn’t just enrolled at Multnomah; she had been welcomed into a lineage of faith, mentorship, and spiritual inheritance. Dr. G reflects on how that single sentence captured the heart of John and Mary Mitchell’s lives. Their influence wasn’t measured by biology, but by generations of students who carried the Word of God, the love of Scripture, and a passion for ministry into the world. Thousands of sons and daughters — and counting.

In This Video
• A revealing moment at a Multnomah social gathering
• How John and Mary Mitchell understood spiritual parenthood
• The power of mentoring beyond traditional family structures
• What it means to belong to a legacy of faith
• A definition of success measured in lives, not numbers

About This Series
This video is part of a collection celebrating the story, ministry, and legacy of Dr. Garry Friesen (Dr. G), honoring the heritage of Multnomah School of the Bible / Multnomah University and the continuing work God is doing through new ministries around the world.

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If these stories encourage you, feel free to like, subscribe, and share with others who knew and loved Multnomah — and with believers growing in faith in Rwanda and beyond. Videos are also available at https://www.youtube.com/@ABCMultnomah.

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The production of thesevideos was provided by the Multnomah Family Team, if you wouldlike to help sponsor more videos like this, please contact us here.