In a harrowing tale of survival, Hans Schmidt, an Arizona pastor, shared his incredible journey of recovery after being shot in the head while preaching on the streets. The incident unfolded on November 15, 2023, leaving Schmidt with severe injuries that doctors initially feared would claim his life.
“It’s a miracle — absolutely a miracle,” Schmidt reflected on his experience, expressing gratefulness for the strength that sustained him through this ordeal. “I should not be alive. Realistically, I should be dead. And because of His grace and His love, I’m still here,” he remarked in a recent interview with local media.
Schmidt, 26, who is also a military combat veteran and a devoted father of two, was engaged in his regular routine of street preaching—a practice he had maintained for over a year. His wife, Zulya, recalled the unsettling moment when Hans returned home, bleeding from an injury that was initially misinterpreted as an accident.
“He just ended street preaching early, and I thought that was odd,” Zulya said, remembering how she hadn’t realized the severity of the situation until much later.
After the shooting, instead of seeking immediate help, Schmidt loaded up his sound equipment and drove to the church. In what can only be described as a remarkable act of determination, he later detailed the moment he realized something was gravely wrong. “I remember falling to my knee, and then, after that, I was like, ‘Oh, something’s not right,’” he recounted.
Once in the hospital, a CT scan revealed the shocking truth: a bullet had lodged in his brain, and he was placed on life support, drifting into an induced coma as family and friends prayed fervently for a miracle. Despite grim assessments from doctors, Schmidt defied expectations and made a recovery that many deemed impossible.
During the initial phase of his recovery, Zulya maintained hope in the face of overwhelming uncertainty. “We’re hopeful, and we’re praying, and we’re contending for a supernatural recovery,” she shared as they clung to their faith.
Now, months later, after extensive therapy, Schmidt is back on the path of rehabilitation, even as bullet fragments remain in his brain, considered too risky to remove. His spirit, undaunted, leads him back to the street corners where he once preached—the very place where everything changed. Schmidt continues to share his message, embodying forgiveness towards the individual who shot him, stating, “I don’t think that holding a grudge against him is going to change anything. I think it’s important to forgive people. And I forgive him.”
As the community comes together to support the Schmidt family, law enforcement is still hot on the trail to apprehend the shooter. A GoFundMe has been organized to help with the substantial medical expenses incurred during Hans’s recovery, showcasing the strong network of support enveloping the family during this challenging time.
Schmidt’s story, marked by resilience and faith, stands as a powerful testament to the unexpected turns life can take and the strength found in compassion and community. People across the nation have continued to lift him up in prayer, celebrating the miracle of his survival with each new day.
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