In what can only be described as a modern-day story of faith and courage, a pastor in California, United States, used his martial arts training to defend his church during a Thanksgiving break-in.
Pastor Nick Neves of First Family Church in Antioch responded to an alarm early Thursday morning, finding a shattered window and a door ajar. A man had broken into the church, wielding an axe to gain entry. Armed with his faith and years of Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, Pastor Neves confronted the intruder carrying stolen church goods.
In Western Kenya, where churches are pillars of hope and community, such an incident underscores the sanctity of places of worship. Imagine if this happened at a local parish in Bungoma or Kakamega—how would one respond to protect the spaces that hold our collective prayers and dreams?
When the intruder tried to flee, Neves acted swiftly, restraining him despite a physical struggle. His goal was clear: protect the church and ensure justice without unnecessary harm. The tussle ended when police arrived to arrest the man, who now faces burglary and robbery charges.
“It was never my goal to hurt the man or to do him harm,” he said. “I was just hoping to keep him from getting away so that justice could be done and our church could be protected.”
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