Sodium Balls

Sodium Balls chronicles Rev. Robert P. Mitchell's Jonah-like odyssey to the pulpit.


From the cradle on, music drove Rev. Mitchell's life - both to Christ and away from Him. Someone once told him that he is "existentially tied into his singing." Torn between opera and faith, Christianity and Judaism, Sodium Balls takes the reader on a wild journey from dangerous Halloween (sodium balls) pranks to the opera stage to corporate board rooms to his first pulpit.

About the Author

Originally from central Pennsylvania, Rev. Robert P. Mitchell, M. Div. earned a B. S. in Voice and Opera at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. Afterwards, he pursued a 30-year business career with Scholastic Inc., working his way up to Manager of Marketing Information. In the meantime, he sang opera at night and on weekends. He partnered with his wife Joan in singing and parenting two boys. Before retiring, the couple entered seminary and became ordained ministers, serving their first church as co-pastors. In 2014, his book Tales of a Tenacious Tenor was released, the story of his astonishing singing career. The Mitchells now live in eastern Pennsylvania and enjoy their grandchildren.