A Thanksgiving burglar got more than he expected early Thursday morning when he broke into a church in Antioch, only to be confronted by its pastor, who is skilled in martial arts.
“I shouted at him to stop and told him the police were on their way. He ran, but I caught up to him, and we ended up wrestling in the church parking lot,” said Pastor Nick Neves.
Unbeknownst to the burglar, Pastor Neves has a martial arts background.
“I like staying fit and have trained in jujitsu, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts,” he shared. “That training was helpful in grappling with this man without causing him serious harm.”
After wrestling for 12 to 15 minutes, the intruder became exhausted as police arrived.
“I managed to pin him to the ground, though he tried to escape several times. My goal was to wear him out because I knew I could outlast him,” Neves explained.
Jeff Strawther, a longtime member of Family First Church, expressed his gratitude that Pastor Neves was unharmed.
“It could’ve gone a completely different way, and we thank God that it didn’t,” Strawther said. “He’s powerful, and we’re so grateful to God that he’s our pastor and not our adversary.”
The 46-year-old pastor highlighted the church’s dedication to helping those in need. Just days earlier, they had provided groceries to 130 families. Neves noted that the intruder didn’t need to resort to theft.
“It’s ironic. If he had come a couple of days earlier, he could have been blessed with food and care,” Neves said. “Instead, he chose to smash windows, damage property, and harm our ministries.”
Pastor Neves expressed hope that the burglar would turn his life around and choose a better path.