David George, pastor of Oakville Assembly of God, has come forward as the pastor who took down the Walmart shooter on Sunday.
Before he intervened, though, George had led his congregation in a prophetic prayer, according to the Chicago Tribune:
He concluded with a passionate prayer: “Lord,” he said to his congregation in the town of about 700 people, “don’t let us be content as men to just let life go by, to see the world around us burn. God, instead, help us to get involved.” …
His words of prayer were in an entirely different context, helping others find the path to God, not the road to a Walmart where the lives of frightened people were on the line.
But in hindsight, they seem prophetic, a true case of a clergyman practicing what he preached and getting involved.
And if there was a miracle to be had that Sunday, it was that fate dropped into such a hazardous position—with lives at stake—a man so well prepared to save them.
George said he had wanted to remain anonymous, not out of shame or regret, but to maintain the “dignity and integrity” of his ministry.
“I acted on Sunday to protect my family and others from the gunman and his display of obvious deadly intent. This is in accordance with both by training as an emergency responder and calling as a pastor, husband, father and grandfather,” he said during a press conference after he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
“I am grieved that the shooter’s reckless actions endangered and hurt numerous individuals and demanded that he be stopped before doing more harm. My family, my congregation and I are praying for the gunshot victim’s full recovery and for all those that are suffering as a result of Sunday night’s tragic events, including the shooter’s family.”
