A pastor in Antioch, California, displayed remarkable courage and skill last week when he confronted an axe-wielding intruder attempting to break into the First Family Church during the Thanksgiving holiday. This incident unfolded on November 28, 2024, after the church’s alarm system alerted Pastor Nick Neves, prompting him to investigate the situation himself.
Upon arrival at the scene, Pastor Neves discovered a man aggressively smashing windows with an axe in an apparent burglary attempt. Rather than retreat, the suspect chose to confront Neves, leading to an unexpected physical confrontation in the church’s parking lot. Fortunately, Neves, who is trained in various mixed martial arts disciplines including jujitsu and kickboxing, sprang into action.
In a moment of adrenaline-fueled determination, Neves managed to tackle the assailant and held him down until law enforcement arrived. “I shouted at him to stop, and that police were on their way, and he ran and I grabbed a hold of him, and we ended up wrestling in the parking lot of the church,” he recounted, underscoring the immediacy of the situation. His martial arts background allowed him to control the intruder without inflicting serious injury, focusing instead on wearing him out until help could arrive.
The Antioch Police Department later validated Neves’ version of events, referring to the incident in a Facebook post, stating, “When the burglar saw his wicked deeds had been discovered, he decided to fight with the pastor instead of repent.” The post cleverly alluded to scripture, stating, “But the righteous are as bold as a lion,” further emphasizing the pastor’s role in this encounter of good versus evil.
No injuries were reported, but the church did sustain damage from the broken windows. The police apprehended the suspect at the scene, although it remains unclear what motivated the attack or whether the individual was under the influence of substances during the incident. Interestingly, Pastor Neves noted that had the intruder visited the church a few days earlier, he would have received assistance through a community aid project the church had recently completed.
“If he had come a couple of days earlier, he would have been blessed and get some food and be cared for,” Neves reflected. “But he decided instead to smash windows and desecrate property and do something that’s going to hurt the ministries.” Despite the damage, the church community remains intact and resilient, grateful for the pastor’s decisive actions during a potentially dangerous situation.
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