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TX Pastor Keeps Cool When Armed Islamist Comes for ‘Infidels’
Rasheed Abdul Aziz was still wearing camo, tactical gear and carrying a gun when deputies found him. (Photo: Smith County Sheriff’s Office)
A potentially deadly situation at a Bullard, Texas, church Sunday afternoon ended without injury thanks to a pastor who calmly talked down a man who entered the church with a gun and went on a rant about killing infidels.
When Rasheed Abdul Aziz entered the Corinth Missionary Baptist Church several hours after the Sunday morning worship service was over, he was dressed in camo and tactical gear, carrying a concealed gun, and immediately sent shivers down the spine of Rev. John D. Johnson II.
“Every hair on my neck just stood up,” Johnson told the Tyler Morning Telegraph the day after the incident occurred. “It was almost like you could just like feel the presence of just negative energy.”
Aziz was obviously agitated and talked about Islam, the slaying of infidels and what God had called him to do, but also indicated that he was torn about what he should do.
“He said, ‘People are going to die today,’ that’s what he said to me,” Johnson recalled.
But before Johnson had become a pastor, he was a parole officer with prior training in verbal de-escalation and crisis prevention. He also had experience in dealing with mentally ill individuals, and “immediately, just like clockwork,” Johnson said his training kicked in. The pastor talked calmly with the man, all the while positioning himself between Aziz and the door that led to the rest of those still in the church, which included several young children.
“I never gave him the power of feeling that he was in control, that I was frightened,” Johnson said. “I just continued to engage, but I was very cautious not to raise my voice or make any quick moves.”
The situation intensified when Johnson noticed what appeared to be the outline of a gun in Aziz’s pocket, but the pastor continued to remain calm and asked the man to have a seat so they could continue to talk. As Aziz sat down, Johnson patted his shoulder – a move he used to get a closer look at Aziz’s pocket and confirm that it was, in fact, a gun in his pocket.
After Aziz sat down, Johnson told him he was going to take care of him and get the man what he needed, but before doing so, he needed to quickly tend to the children. Johnson used the opportunity to warn everyone to get out of the church. In the end, Johnson made the decision to leave as well, and by that time the police had already been called by a member of the church.
Authorities believe Rasheed Abdul Aziz returned to the church Sunday after the incident and left this note. (Photo: Smith County Sheriff’s Office)
Johnson said as he and the rest of the congregation drove away from the church, he saw Aziz exit the building a flash a peace sign in his direction. The following day, a deacon discovered Aziz left something behind – a note thanking the church for their kindness.
“That note was in stark contradiction to what he did in deed and statement,” Johnson said.
The note read, in part, “You helped me at a time of need, this house is blessed by God and all faiths.”
Nonetheless, Aziz had already made threats to those inside the church and Smith County deputies caught up with him Sunday night, still armed with a pistol and dressed as he was when he entered the church. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Meanwhile, Johnson, along with his entire congregation, are thankful for the way things played out.
“I just think it’s by the grace and mercy of God that we are not on the other side of history, the other side of tragedy,” Johnson said.
The post TX pastor keeps cool when armed Islamist comes for ‘infidels’ appeared first on Guns.com.
Source: http://www.guns.com/2015/09/16/tx-pastor-keeps-cool-when-armed-islamist-comes-for-infidels/
So are the pastor and deacons going to visit this guy in prison ? He stated you helped me in a time of need . And how did he threaten the others within the doors that the pastor stood between them ? Only the pastor was in threats of death . Had he pasted through the doors to the others then he could truly be charged with their threats . Other wise it is the pastors words against his . Not saying this man was right in what he was about to do . But as a Christian where is their compassion ? Fear stops short actions God requires to complete the plans of mercy need to forgive this man of his sins . The thing I don’t understand is why as a religious man he feels those worshipping God need killing first . If they are wrong then show them the evil of their ways . If truly seeking God then they would be open to advice . But decerning whether it is of God or not . Those doing nothing with God and blankly sinning against God should be in his mind the true infidels . Religion goes to the soul and spirit . It can trap and control individuals or it can set them free . Many wars were fought over beliefs of religion . In the old testament God warned Israel and Judea of their wrong ways , not once but many times . Then warning shots over their bow . If continued then the next action Was taken . Then strike 3 you are out . They are blantly defying God . What I am trying to say is this man has realized something was wrong with his beliefs . He said he was in a time of need . He will be open to change . Now is the time to prove that the mercy they preached is real . If not it was all a show anyway for them . Not saying that others are not real . God allows test that test the true values of what individuals really believe . If it is not really there it will show forth that the individual was a fake all along . By their fruits ye shall know them . This man is waiting to see if their fruits are real . The church is not supposed to live in fear , but by power , love and sound mind . The world is watching to see what they do from here . Then the world will judge them as fakes or real . Only the righteous can forgive and move forward . But keep in mind they are human too . But if they are of God then He will guide them and when they make mistakes He will let them know this is not the way . But if the insist and push onward in wrong directions then they will stand by themselves to face the world . After the world has tore them apart , He will still be waiting with open arms when the admit they have been wrong and will help them back on their feet . God still believes in Free Will ! But it’s your choice , right or wrong ?