A Texas pastor has averted a potential tragedy and led his congregation to safety after a crazed man with a gun entered his church.
Christian Today reports that Rasheed Abdul Aziz walked into Corinth Missionary Baptist Church announcing he was “a man of Islam.” Aziz avowed there were demons chasing him and that God had authorized him to kill Christians and Jews.
"Every hair on my neck just stood up," said the Reverend John D Johnson III, the church’s pastor. "It was almost like you could just like feel the presence of just negative energy."
Fortunately, Johnson was a former parole officer and had training in verbal de-escalation. Aziz entered the conference room in which Johnson was working, so Johnson attempted to calm him down before Aziz could enter another room where church members were meeting.
“Immediately, just like clockwork, it kicked in,” Johnson said, referring to his former training.
Aziz calmed down due to Johnson’s efforts, but when Johnson noticed the gun in Aziz’s pocket, he made an excuse and left the room to alert his church members that there was danger.
"We got a problem. Get everybody out," he told them.
All of the members, including Johnson and his wife, exited the church to safety and averted a possible tragedy.
Johnson was thankful that everyone was safe and a crisis had been averted."We can get another church," he said to his wife as he drove away with the members. "We can get more walls, but we cannot get new people."
Aziz was later found by Smith County Patrol deputies. He was still armed. He was charged with felon in possession of a firearm and was taken to the county jail.
Police report that Aziz has a criminal history, including convictions for possession of marijuana and aggravated robbery.
Photo courtesy: Wikipedia
Publication date: September 18, 2015
