A pastor in California took matters into his own hands on Thanksgiving when he successfully defended his church from an axe-wielding burglar. The incident took place early in the morning at the First Family Church in Antioch. Pastor Nick Neves had responded to the church after the security alarm was triggered.
The intruder, whose identity remains unknown, broke a window with an axe and attempted to confront the pastor. Neves, 46, stood his ground, warning the burglar that police were on the way. In a surprising turn of events, the pastor found himself wrestling with the man in the church parking lot.
Neves, who has a background in mixed martial arts, including jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, used his skills to subdue the intruder. He noted, “I like to stay fit,” adding that this training allowed him to control the situation without causing significant harm. The two struggled for around 15 minutes until the police arrived.
According to the Antioch Police Department, the pastor emerged from the encounter unharmed, while the burglar was taken into custody. Neves expressed that he wished the man had approached him differently. Had the intruder come to the church’s front door, he would have welcomed him and offered help, as the church already supports around 130 local families with groceries.
“It’s just ironic,” Neves remarked, highlighting the unfortunate choice made by the burglar. “If he had come a couple of days earlier, he would have been blessed and received care.” The pastor criticized the burglar’s decision to break in and damage church property, emphasizing the impact such actions have on their community work.
One long-time church member, Jeff Strawther, praised Neves’s strength, expressing gratitude for having a pastor who protects the church rather than posing a threat. Strawther reflected, “It could’ve gone in a totally different direction, and we thank God that it didn’t.”
