Pastor Uses Martial Arts To Fend Off Axe Attack
A California pastor used his martial arts training to protect his church from an axe-wielding intruder on Thanksgiving morning. Pastor Nick Neves was alerted when the church’s alarm system went off and rushed to the scene. Upon arrival at First Family Church in Antioch, he found a man trying to break into the building by smashing windows with an axe. Rather than fleeing, the intruder chose to confront Neves, leading to a physical struggle in the church parking lot.
Neves, who has training in mixed martial arts such as jujitsu and kickboxing, was able to subdue the suspect until the police arrived. He explained that he used his skills to control the situation without causing harm to the intruder, focusing on wearing him out rather than hurting him. “I knew I could outlast him,” Neves said. The Antioch Police Department later confirmed the pastor’s account and commended him for his actions, noting that the struggle was a fight between good and evil.
No injuries were reported in the incident. According to authorities, the suspect was actively using the axe to damage the church when Neves arrived. The police arrested the man on-site. In a Facebook post, the police described the situation as a battle of good versus evil, quoting scripture to emphasize the pastor’s boldness.
Pastor Neves expressed his disbelief at the intruder’s actions, especially considering the church had recently completed a community outreach project to help those in need. “If he had come a couple of days earlier, he would have been cared for,” Neves said, referring to the church’s efforts to provide food and support for the less fortunate. Instead, the intruder chose to break windows and damage church property.
While the suspect’s motives remain unclear, and there is no information about whether he was under the influence of any substances, the church was left with broken windows but otherwise remained intact. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.