Psalm 23:4 reads, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." And that verse has never rung more true than this past Sunday when, during a church service in Braddock, Pennsylvania, a man pulled a gun on the pastor mid-sermon and pulled the trigger. In what can only be a sign of the Lord’s protection, the gun miraculously jammed, saving the pastor's life.
The gunman, Bernard Polite, entered Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church on Sunday morning during Pastor Glenn Germany’s weekly address. Polite walked to the altar, pulled out his gun and aimed it directly at Germany.
“I was like, this is not happening,” Germany recalled, according to CBSNews.
But when Polite pulled the trigger, no shot was fired thanks to his jammed gun.
“Only God stopped and jammed this gun,” Germany said.
Miracle! A pastor survives shooting attempt after handgun jams and doesn’t fire.pic.twitter.com/YIKwSliq3h
— MRCTV (@mrctv) May 6, 2024
The whole incident was caught on video, which showed church Deacon Clarence McCallister leaping up and tackling Polite to the ground while Pastor Germany worked to get the gun out of Polite’s hands.
Germany called McCallister a “hero” and said they were able to keep Polite “subdued until police arrived” to take him into custody.
Related: Tennessee Bill Allows Teachers to Possess Concealed Handguns in Class
The pastor also indicated that what brought him to tears the most was that his 14-year-old daughter was sitting in the pews while this whole situation played out.
“I still had to be strong, because I had to be strong for her, but I couldn't take it, and just seeing her, that's the part that's hard for me to digest," he said.
Germany, in speaking with police, noted that Polite “was just dealing with spirits” and he “came in and wanted to shoot somebody.” Germany confessed that he believed Polite was suffering with a form of mental illness and noted that he had “voices in his mind,” CBS News wrote. Germany, being the man of faith that he is, said he has already forgiven Polite after the gunman apologized to him.
The pastor hopes to use the story to stress that mental illness is real and to point to the ultimate protector: God.
Follow us on Twitter/X:
How Columbia University Would Advertise If They Were Honest
— MRCTV (@mrctv) May 1, 2024
Don't worry; this ad is satire, even if everything we said here is true. pic.twitter.com/dpqScHiODl
