In a matter of days, Mitchell, 15, has gone from a quiet country boy to a teenager hailed as a hero on national television and in his hometown.
Mitchell was with classmate Ben Ownby just minutes before Ben disappeared Jan. 8, after getting off their school bus in this rural Missouri community. Mitchell spotted a white pickup fleeing the scene, and his detailed description led police in suburban St. Louis to spot the truck Thursday.
A day later, Ben was freed from an apartment where he was held captive. More astonishingly, so was 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck of nearby Richwoods, who disappeared in the fall of 2002. Their alleged captor, Michael Devlin, 41, was arrested and charged with kidnapping.
During a surprise ceremony honoring Mitchell at Union High School Tuesday, investigators said they never could have broken the case without him.
"It all comes down to the assistance and support from the public," said FBI special agent Roland Corvington, who helped lead the hunt for Ben.
Corvington handed Mitchell an FBI baseball cap, and said the youth's eagle eyes might come in handy again some day.
"I hope that as you grow older, you would consider law enforcement as a career option," Corvington said. Mitchell smiled sheepishly.
In typical fashion, Mitchell didn't talk a lot during the special assembly. Dressed in a camouflaged jacket and jeans, the only statement he made came from one of his favorite comedians, Larry the Cable Guy.
"Git 'er done!" Mitchell cried into the microphone. The crowd of students and teachers in the school gymnasium roared with applause. Mitchell got several standing ovations from the crowd of students, who hollered at the top of their lungs almost every time his name was mentioned.
Back at home with his family Tuesday, Ben said he hasn't had a chance to talk to Mitchell,, but he was grateful for his vigilance.
"I'm glad for the description he got of that truck," Ben said with a smile.
Mitchell said he was amazed his tip led not only to Ben's rescue, but the Shawn.
Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke said Mitchell's description of the white Nissan pickup was remarkably detailed. Friends and family say that's because Mitchell is a truck fanatic.
"He was so accurate in what he told us, we kind of wondered if he made it up," Toelke said. "So we interviewed him until about 2 in the morning. He got to know us pretty well."
Mitchell's parents, Michael and Sheri, said all the attention has been a little overwhelming. The phone has been ringing off the hook and Mitchell has done numerous television interviews.
Mitchell isn't too long winded when it comes to talking about his role in bringing the boys back home.
Has he had a chance to think about the impact of his actions?
"It's all going on. It's crazy."
Does he think he might go into law enforcement, as Corvington suggested?
"I might."
How does it feel to be hailed as a national hero?
"Good."
photo courtesy AP & story semissourian.com/news, 01/16/07
Hebrews 11:1
By Faith
11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:32-40
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the quality needed to be a hero in God's sight?
Hebrews 11 has often been called the Bible's "Hall Of Fame". The names listed have one quality in common - FAITH IN GOD! These heroes were not super in their own right, but only because they trusted the supernatual God to lead them and empower them!
Basically they were ordinary people doing extraordinary acts because their faith pointed to the Almighty God! Our world today is in need of God's kind of hero. It needs to see ordinary people letting God do something extraordinary through them...
...like 15-year-old Mitchell who proved that you don't even have to talk much to rescue a friend.
It starts with faith. Within ourselves, we don't have what it takes. We must ask God to give us the faith we need to be able to believe Him for Who He is and what He wants to do in our lives and through our lives.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Read Hebrews 11:1-31 for more stories of God's "heroes".
- Pray every day for God to help you live by faith.
- Spend a couple of minutes in prayer.... Thank God for the stories of faith He has provided in His Word. Ask Him to use these examples to show you how to live by faith. Thank Him and praise Him for the extraordinary ways He has worked in your life. Let Him know that you're willing to honor Him by serving Him even in the "ordinary" details of life.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to the lives of others?
- Remember that this whole 3Story way of living will become more and more natural for you as consistently make yourself available to our extraordinary God. He will lead you into opportunities to build relationships with people who need to know Jesus. Focus on knowing Jesus and you'll get to know Their Story.
- Look for a weekly opportunity to be a "hero" in someone's life by helping them in some way that seems very ordinary to you. Your faith in God may seem quite extraordinary to them!
- Use today's story about Mitchell helping rescue the kidnapped boys to have a conversation with someone in your storysphere who needs Jesus. Ask if they heard about Mitchell's story? Ask if they ever think about the idea that everyone in life is in need of being rescued? Listen....remember that you don't even have to talk very much to help rescue someone.
