Jennifer’s Story
Power in Imperfection
As a former Disney Princess, Jennifer spent years trying to find security, love and significance in the eyes of others. Chosen by Disney for her “flawless” outer beauty, Jennifer worked overtime to hide her imperfections, battling crippling feelings of inadequacy. Soon, her childhood dream of being a princess turned into a nightmare. Jennifer found herself caught in a cycle of destructive behaviors including an eating disorder, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Helpless, she opened her imperfect heart to a perfect God who began to fill the painful, insatiable places. Life for this former princess has never been the same.
Today, Jennifer speaks to thousands of women in churches and conferences across the country and each year is invited into more than 200 public schools to speak candidly to teen girls about self worth. Her mission: That every woman — from 10 to 110 — realize her true beauty and the destiny God has for her right here, right now.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2, KJV
THE LITTLE GIRL
Jennifer was born and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida. The fourth of five children, she was raised in an incredibly loving, close-knit family. Jennifer has fond memories of family vacations and each kid having their own designated “sleeping bag spot” in the back of the family station wagon as it zigzagged cross country. One trip that holds a special place in Jennifer’s heart was the family’s trip to Disney World when she was seven. Jennifer, her sister Shelley, and her mom loved to watch The Main Street Electrical Parade. It was the perfect summer night. As the music started and the excitement spilled onto Main Street, the crowd went wild. Then Jennifer spotted her — Cinderella in her magical stagecoach. Incredibly, Jennifer snapped a photo of the princess just as she lifted her hand to wave directly at her! To this day, Jennifer insists that in that moment time stopped, the crowd parted and all eyes fell on the two of them. Jennifer stood in awe, then looking up at her mother, said, “That’s what I want to be when I grow up, Mommy. I want to be a Disney Princess!” She was the ultimate dreamer. But then again, is there a little girl on the planet that doesn’t secretly dream of someday being a fairy princess?
THE “GOOD” CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL
Jennifer’s dad was full of wisdom. One of his family rules was that no matter where you were at suppertime, you were to get yourself home because, “a family that eats together stays together!” Another wise family rule was that the family attend church together every Sunday morning without exception. Jennifer and her siblings were raised Catholic and attended Catholic school. Her brothers were altar boys and she even entertained the notion of becoming the very first “altar girl” at one time. Jennifer enjoyed going to church with her family, but attending Catholic school was often unbearable as she endured extra abuse from the “mean girls” in school.
THE ATHLETE
Since Jennifer came to despise school so much, she immersed herself in sports at a very young age. She played volleyball and basketball, but her true passion was girls’ softball. A natural born short stop, Jennifer played almost year-round from the time she was five years old. Her brothers taught her at a young age how not to throw like a girl, so she soon developed a throwing arm that could rival the older boys in the neighborhood. During her high school years, she helped her team, The Lady Gators of Palm Beach Gardens High School, win several consecutive 4A Class State Championships. She played nearly year-round on traveling All-Star teams. But upon graduation, she chose to hang up her cleats to concentrate more on studies and a career outside of softball. It was during this time in her life that Jennifer suffered one of the greatest losses in her life. Her father, Darryl Mitchell, passed away at the age of 50, after a very courageous battle with cancer. Her mentor and biggest fan was suddenly gone, creating a tremendous void in her heart at a very fragile age.
THE ENTERTAINER
While pursuing a degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, Jennifer also began pursuing her dream of working with The Walt Disney Company. During her freshman year, Jennifer auditioned and was hired by Disney part-time to do “character work” on weekends, which still allowed her to focus on school during the week. She instantly loved her job and the excitement that came with it. Then, after several months working at what was then Disney’s MGM-Studios, Jennifer gathered the courage to go out for the company’s big audition and was chosen out of thousands of girls to be a full-time “face character” for Tokyo Disneyland! And the position she was hired for? “PRINCESS!” She was hired to perform as Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, and even Mary Poppins! Walt Disney was right — she thought to herself that night as she drifted off to sleep — dreams really do come true!
After deferring college for her eight month entertainer’s tour to Japan, Jennifer found out an amazing fact: The Main Street Electrical Parade stagecoach — the very one that Cinderella was sitting in when she waved at Jennifer so long ago — would be the same stagecoach that Jennifer would sit in as Cinderella in Tokyo Disneyland! To many, this piece of trivia may have sounded insignificant, but to a young girl with big dreams, it was a sign of a very bright future. Jennifer felt like this was everything she could ever want and more!
THE ADDICT
Shortly into Jennifer’s contract in Japan, the pixie dust began to wear off as she found herself bombarded by fierce competition and the constant demand to look perfect at all costs. The entertainment world revealed itself as anything but pretty. Eating disorders, forced vomiting, and starvation were just a few of the things Jennifer found herself getting involved in just to stay thin and employable. Feeling disgusting physically and emotionally, and mentally battered, Jennifer soon found herself looking for love in all the wrong places in an attempt to feel some sense of self worth. By day she was a beautiful princess but by night Jennifer could barely look at herself in the mirror. She was addicted to “self,” as she describes it, and became more miserable and lonely each day.
THE DISCIPLE
It’s a day forever inscribed on Jennifer’s heart: January 14, 1994. Though she recalls it as one of her worst days physically and mentally, friends urged Jennifer to go with them to a Billy Graham Crusade at the Tokyo Dome that night. Reluctantly, she joined the group without a notion of what was in store. Christ saved Jennifer that night from herself — from sin — when she asked Him to come into her heart and take over the debris of her life. Until that night, she had been taught religion, but her decision marked the start of a relationship with Jesus Christ. To know that Jesus loved her enough to die for her regardless of who she had become was a message Jennifer’s heart could not ignore. It didn’t take long for Jennifer to recognize that she wasn’t sent to Japan to become the perfect Disney Princess, but rather, to discover that her true worth and beauty could only be found in the reality that she was God’s cherished Princess.
THE PREACHER
After her salvation experience life didn’t instantly get easier. In fact, Jennifer struggled daily to fit into her new self. Still, Jennifer knew that while God hated her sin, He still loved her. It was during those three years of floundering in her newfound faith that Jennifer met a gentleman named Anthony Beckham. Anthony was an evangelist and a true man of God. Within eight short weeks of meeting, Anthony and Jennifer were married and began seeking God’s purpose for their life together. Anthony was already in active ministry and Jennifer was fully prepared — and even excited — to serve in the ministry’s background supporting her husband any way she could.
Then one morning, early into their marriage, Jennifer awoke with a thought on her mind she felt compelled to write down. Ten pages and several hours later she realized that it was more than just a thought — God had poured out a sermon! Never imagining herself as a speaker, Jennifer naturally assumed that God had intended for her to give the sermon to Anthony to preach. But it turned out God had different plans. Before long, Jennifer was standing in front of her home church ministering that very message. The day marked the start of a very dynamic ministry.
Anthony and Jennifer have spent the past 13 years traveling extensively — both together and independently — ministering throughout the U.S and Canada.
Jennifer has had the wonderful opportunity to minister in more than 18 states including Alaska and has been blessed to appear as a guest on the television broadcasts TCT Alive in New York, 100 Huntley Street in Canada, 100 Huntley Street Full Circle, and The Paula Today Show with famed evangelist Paula White.
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
For the last five years, Anthony and Jennifer have also been serving as motivational speakers and “character educators” in public schools throughout the U.S and Canada as part of the Power Unlimited Team that Anthony founded in 2004. The “strength ministry” team is comprised of world-class, all-natural athletes who use amazing demonstrations of strength to open dialogue to speak with students about the very serious life issues they face every day.
Speaking for organizations such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Title 1, Students Warring Against Tobacco (SWAT), Family Connection, Safe and Drug-Free Schools, and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Jennifer and the Power Unlimited team speak at “drug-free” assemblies, encourage students to stay in school, inspire them to exercise self-discipline, teach them how to cope with peer pressure, and ultimately, empower students to choose what is right during critical moments.
In the year 2008, Jennifer and Anthony had the privilege of speaking into the lives of more than 150,000 students in more than 120 public schools nationwide. In 2009, they are slated to be in more than 200 public schools. To date, more than 10,000 people have accepted Christ in connection to this very special ministry.
Jennifer began serving as a keynote speaker for Power Unlimited when the team recognized the pressing need to minister to girls. Bringing a fresh, female voice to the arena of power and strength ministry, Jennifer’s heart is for girls who have been hurt, rejected, and scarred by their past. Each week she speaks to girls candidly about the tough stuff such as promiscuity, eating disorders, cutting and low self-worth. It’s her anointing to help women of all ages step into the power and purpose of their true destiny!
WIFE & MOTHER
As God continues to pen her story, Jennifer says her deepest joy comes from her role as a wife and mother. What’s life like juggling a growing ministry, nurturing a home and being there to kiss the boo boos?
“Like most moms, I start and end each day on my knees,” laughs Jennifer. “Some days I’m on my knees praising God. Other days, I’m on my knees begging for mercy to survive the next 12 minutes. Real life takes real faith. I’m loving every minute of this crazy life God has blessed us with!”
Anthony and Jennifer reside happily ever after in Jacksonville, Florida with the real super stars
—son Cole and daughter Jordan Paige.
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