Paul Denny Mitchell, Missionary to Cuba

Paul Denny Mitchell was the fifth child of Charles F. and Anna Welch Mitchell.  He was born on the 29^th of August, 1912, in the parsonage at Mangum, OK.

Paul was well-educated.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX in 1934, and then in August, 1936, he received a Bachelor of Divinity degree also from Southern Methodist University.  In 1936 he began pastoring  churches in Duke, OK, and Victory, OK until 1937 when he left in the fall for missionary work in Cuba, where he served until 1945.

Here are portions of two articles in the area newspapers:

An ambition of many years standing was fulfilled last week for Paul Mitchell, son of Rev. and Mrs. C. F. Mitchell, here when he received an appointment as a missionary to Cuba.

The desire to become a missionary had been almost a lifetime ideal of young Rev. Mitchell.  He first volunteered for mission service when he was but 14 years old.  He is now, at the time of the realization of his ambition, only 24.

The major part of his college career was spent at Southern Methodist University, at Dallas.  His five years there brought him distinction in oratory and two bachelor degrees.    Among his biggest accomplishments while at SMU was a first place in an all-school oratorical contest and a second award in a national writing contest, sponsored by the American magazine.

Paul spent the years from 1937 to 1945 in Cuba.  During that time he was pastor of the American Congregational Methodist church and dean of the Methodist Theological Seminary at Havana.  He had many interesting experiences in Cuba which he told about in his book written while he was there, Cuba Calling. 

Difficulties with the language led the list of problems.  In this excerpt from his book, Paul tells of his initial language difficulties:

My experience learning the Spanish language was often ludicrous.  I spent nearly a year in Camaguey as language student and as pastor.  I was appointed as assistant pastor, but within three months the pastor was moved and I was left alone in charge.  I had to prepare and preach two sermons each week.  I would write out a sermon in Spanish, and have my language teacher, a young Cuban teacher at our Pinson College, correct it.  I would then take the manuscript into the pulpit and read it.   I am sure it was most edifying to the congregation!  On one occasion a lady said something to me at the close of the service which I did not understand.  I had someone interpret for me and heard that she had been trying to congratulate me on how well I knew Spanish!

So simple an operation as buying new razor blades was fraught with difficulty.  I looked at my Spanish-English dictionary to discover the Spanish equivalent of “razor blades”.  I found nothing except “blades of

grass”.  I then asked my teacher, who said I should look instead under the word “knife”  since a razor blade was really a  “knife to shave  with”.  I went downtown muttering to myself:  “cuchillo para afeitarse”,  “a knife to shave with”.   When I arrived at the hardware store (strangely enough one buys only drugs at the drugstore in Cuba) I asked the young lady clerk for a “cuchara para afeitarse”.  She smiled and produced the blades.  Then she said, in English, “You really asked for a spoon to shave with.”

(Pp14-15)

In 1945, Paul returned to the United States to be with his father, who was very ill.  He left behind in Cuba a number of young men who were his students during his time there that he called “my boys”, as well as new mission churches which had been started in the 8 years he was there.

After returning to Oklahoma, Paul helped with the care of his father and became the pastor of the Methodist church in Noble, OK.  He was also a language instructor at the high school in Purcell.  He also began working toward a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Oklahoma.

On Friday, August 12, 1949, he and his sister Mary took a small group of children from the Noble church on a Sunday school picnic at the Rollins pond northwest of Noble.   The group had finished eating and a few children were wading by the edge of the pond.  Suddenly, Frances Jeannette Harris, age 11, stepped off into a hole that was estimated to be 15 or 20 feet deep.  Paul was in a boat watching the children when Frances stepped off the ledge into the hole.  Mary Mitchell and others who were close quickly attempted to make a human chain, but Paul saw they could not reach her and jumped in.  He was an excellent swimmer, and he reached the child and was bringing her to the bank when he was evidently seized by a cramp and went under.  They disappeared under the water and did not surface. The Norman fire department immediately sent equipment, but it was two hours before the bodies were recovered as the hole was so deep.    Services for both victims were at the Noble Church on that Saturday, and then on the following Monday additional services were held for Paul at Weatherford, OK, and he was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in the family plot.

In November of 1949, Paul’s brother Charles received a letter from Cesar Benitez, the pastor of the Methodist Church in Herradura, Cuba.  Part of his letter, just as he wrote it, follows, and shows the high esteem in which Paul was held by his students in Cuba:

Dear Brother,

I don’t know how to write this letter.  My little inglish  is insufficient to express what is my feeling about the disappear of that saint man Paul D. Mitchell.  I wrote a article in “El Evangelista Cubano” about his brilliant life.  All the ex students of him in Cuba cry the death of a father that  went to see the Father in  Heaven. 

Please, I want that you express to all the family the most deep manifestation of love in the name of all the youth preacher (Mitchell’s boys) in Cuba.

Other purpose of this letter is to ask you a good picture of Mr. Mitchell (the best one).  The idea is that we the fellow students of him will dedicate a big picture of his radiant person in the new  Union

Seminary (Seminario Evangelico de Teclogia) in Matanzas.  That occasion will be during the celebration of the Annual Conference to be held in the first week of January in that city.  I am encharge to see the artist in Havana for the development and others works.  We want to have it finish for December.   You and all the family are cordialy invite to that  memorial act.

The inauguration of one rural chapel in my circuit will be in December or January.  Will be dedicate “Mitchell Memorial” in the memory of one that his life was in fellowship with the Master.

                                                                                                Yours in the love of Christ,

                                                                                                (signed) Cesar M. Benitez

With all the changes that have taken place in Cuba since Paul left, the family sometimes wonders if any of the buildings and memorials are left.  Even if there are none left standing, Paul’s work and spirit are still being felt through the lives of the people he touched and the truths that he passed on to “Mitchell’s Boys.”


Maggie