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Crime

Youth Pastor in Pajamas Foils Christmas Day Robbery: ‘I Hope You Don’t Have a Gun, I Hope You Don’t Have a Gun’

Dec. 26, 2012 9:00am Jonathon M. Seidl

Jim Stevens got some extra praying in on Christmas Day.

“When he walked out and he was walking towards me, I just kept saying in my head, ‘I hope you don’t have a gun, I hope you don’t have a gun.’”

That’s what Stevens told the local news station KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs on Tuesday about an attempted robbery that he thwarted. Stevens, a youth pastor for Central Church of the Nazarene, got a call from neighbors who saw three people breaking into a nearby home that happened to belong to the church’s children’s pastor who wasn’t around at the time. Stevens and his family were opening presents, so Stevens trotted out to see what was going on — in his pajamas. That’s when he saw one of the crooks.

“He was more surprised than I was,” Stevens explained. “I just kept hoping he didn’t have a gun.”

Stevens said he does have a gun, but didn’t bring it thinking “it was just kids.” He was wrong. He called police and then told the crook — who had an armful of loot — to stop.

“He rushed me, threw all of the stuff at me, hit me in the face and took off running,” he recalled. “It wasn’t a full punch, but he knocked me pretty good.”

Youth Pastor Jim Stevens in Colorado Springs Stops Burglary

Stevens explains where the robber hit him.

KRDO explains what happened next:

Stevens said he detained a woman who was sitting in the car with the engine running by taking the keys. He said he also restrained a second woman coming out of the home.”

“She said it was her house and that she was pregnant,” said Stevens. “I held her arms behind her back and waited for police to come.”

Police said the man remained at large, and credited the involvement of watchful neighbors.

One of the burglars Stevens apprehended.

“It could have ended in a lot of different ways,” Stevens said. “God was definitely watching over us today and protecting us.”

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (45)

mompatriot
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 5:02pm
“Just kids” carry guns these days…and use them. He was foolish not to carry his, especially for such a scenario. Thankfully this had a good ending, but needs to be learned from….

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- Coonshine
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 5:55pm
  Amen and pass the ammunition….
  
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- IWISHIWASINTEXAS
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 12:30pm
  Agreed. We need more people like this man, people willing to confront and apprehend criminals. This could have been a much different story if they had been armed and he’d left his at home.
  
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JEANNIEMAC
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 4:11pm
An elderly woman, in her seventies, has taken weapons training at a school, and is going to get at least a .22 rifle. To start.

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NewCreationDave
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 3:35pm
He goes over to check on a break-in and leaves his gun home? Come on, man! SMARTEN UP!!!

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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 3:52pm
  He thought it was just kids. Not a bad deduction considering it was broad daylight in the neighborhood.
  
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tankyjo
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 2:09pm
In God we trust. Still, my sidearm goes on before my shoes everyday.

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- scott4freedom
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 2:59pm
  God is good all the time!!!
  But I agree with you I never leave home without my 9mm in my holser!!!
  
  Report this comment
- bayoucastine
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 7:10pm
  I’ve taught CCW classes for 17 yrs. I tell my students; ‘If I am dressed, I am also armed – even at home undil I go to bed. Then “it” is ON my bedside table. The ONLY time I am not “armed: is when going into one of the ‘reserved gun shooting galaries’ [gun free zones], then I carry a knife.
  
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bobad
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 2:08pm
That happens to me, the thief is not getting out alive. Merry Christmas ya filthy animal.

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aZjimbo
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 1:11pm
Hey pastor, now you know what guns are for. You could have easily been killled or injured.

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- cemerius
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 1:52pm
  Exactly….have faith in God but bring backup in case he is busy ……..
  
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- sdbonkowski
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 4:01pm
  awesome comment Cemerius i love it.
  
  Report this comment
perry1980
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:09pm
you need to carry your own gun just in case

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TomSawyer
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 10:51am
I would not approach a criminal that might have a gun to protect stuff without a gun. Stuff is not worth your life. Maybe to protect people but that is a different topic.

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kenneth45
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 10:14am
Only idiots would bring religion into this story. Should they not say he was a mechanic if was a mechanic. Ou people are so pathetic. Get a life while your waiting for the Lake of Fire.

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- repairsea
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 11:48am
  It’s a nice story about faith and trust in the Lord on Christmas. Let it go.
  
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- COFemale
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:04pm
  Did you miss the part he is a Youth Pastor. In some cases, this is his job. By the grace of God the kid did not have a gun and the Pastor was able to thwart his thievery. The two women glad he was able to detain them.
  
  What is it to you, that religion was brought into the story. It should not matter. Go whine to people who care, like Media Blathers. This was in my backyard, I am glad the trio was stopped.
  
  Report this comment
- OldSurfRat
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:20pm
  Repairsea and Cofemale
  
  Thank you!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- snufy
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 1:59pm
  You call other what you are-an idiot. I think it’s nice to know that a pastor was involved in apprehending criminals stealing Christmas presents. What’s your problem, Kenneth? Get back in your crib and take a nap before your mother finds out you’re on her computer.
  
  Report this comment
- trtmntdude
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 2:17pm
  Why are you so full of hate?
  
  Report this comment
diverdan
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:53am
While this ended without anyone getting injured, it was a potential tragedy. Please read an article on http://www.usacarry.com which discusses the mental aspect of a person committing a criminal act. In this case you have three people breaking into a home, with close neighbors, in daylight. This act alone indicates the perpetrators are irrational. The second point raised is “If you have a gun, is this incident one in which you should use it”? NO! My wife and I both compete in defensive pistol competitions and have taken a number of courses on the subject. The first rule is to avoid injury to yourself and your loved ones. This means you evaluate the risk BEFORE doing anything. In this case, although meaning well, Mr. Stevens took an unnecessary chance which could have resulted in his death. Which leads to the second aspect of the “avoid injury” rule: avoid physical conflict (hand to hand, knife or gun fight) if possible. If you want to see how quickly you could get killed, grab a couple of paint ball guns and act out some scenarios.

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- MONICNE
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 10:16am
  DIVERDAN, what a refreshing post. Between your advice and the wisdom of DOUGHUFFMAN, there is a measured and mature perspective presented that is not the usual rhetoric that seems to mimic Batman movie scripts and Call to Action storylines.
  
  Say a prayer for your local First Responders for the New Year.
  
  Report this comment
- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 3:50pm
  That’s way too politically correct. If I see someone breaking into a car it’s my business because someone else will be the next victim. Could be me, so I just assume it’s me right now. Because people are attuned to look the other way, you just end with an endless cycle. 99% of crimes are committed by the same small numbers over and over and over again.
  There isn’t as much danger as you think. Criminals are pitifully stupid most of the time. There are weapons and tactics all around you.. As gar as criminals being stupid, look no further than obama pelosi and reid. It is the one glaring attribute that criminals share.
  
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SanDiegoCountyCitizen
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:47am
He must live in an HOA neighborhood. In my little country town, just outside of suburbia, the neighbors show up to reported trouble with shotguns and rifles, and that’s not only socially acceptable, but at this point, welcomed and expected!

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- COFemale
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:14pm
  That area of town is not HOA trust me. It is low income style homes.
  
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Jezreel
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:26am
There is no such think in the bible as a “youth pastor”. Another so called “office” made up by the religious system. I guess in today’s modern church, you need all kinds of gadgets and novelties to make people want to come to your fellowship. Anything but the power of God.

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- nonwinger
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:35am
  I agree with you, but was that necessary in light of what this story was about? There are times and places for these kinds of debates; was this one of them, really?
  
  Report this comment
- HollyRye
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:42am
  I read your petty comment out loud to the young adults in my household. One noted that Jezreel is so close to Jezebel that it deserved response. So here you go. Have a blessed New Year and a light spirit. You seem to need it.
  
  Report this comment
- Smokey_Bojangles
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:48am
  Isnt that kind of like bringing up “Term Limits” when praising Daniel K. Inouye’s 50 years in the senate?
  
  Report this comment
- Hotrod25
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 10:54am
  I have to disagree with your view of “youth pastors”. Just because the bible doesn’t say anything about youth pastors doesnt mean it doesn’t believe in them or they have no place in church. They are not there to attract more attendance to the congragation. They are there to explain the bible to young people and kids that may not have the vocabulary skills to understand some of the comlicated and outdated lanuage that is found in the bible. Only someone that has no idea what they are talking about would say youth pastors have no place in the church just because there is no mention of them in the bible.
  
  Report this comment
- MoseyAlong
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 11:11am
  @ Jezreel
  
  Look, I get your cynicism. However, who among us can judge the man? What has he done to earn your censure or derision?
  
  My take: Youth pastor=an individual that specializes in sharing the Good News with youth. I’d say that is a pretty darn good thing to have based on this upcoming generation.
  
  Report this comment
- COFemale
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:12pm
  So how long have you been this bitter Jezebel? Have you sought mental help with a psychiatrist? Do we need to check to see if you own a gun and might hurt yourself or others?
  
  In your anger you worth “think” rather than “thing”. Perhaps you need to relax that pea brain of yours and “think” about what you write before you write it. Proof reading works.
  
  Report this comment
- SWB
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:30pm
  IF!, the term they had used was youth bishop, or youth priest, or youth pope, then you might have some sort of valid point. None of those terms are Biblical in connection with a New Testament church. While the “youth” part is a designation which is not delineated in the Bible, there is ample latitude in allowing for individual Churches to have “pastors” of all sorts. The Bible does say that God gave us “pastors, and teachers, and preachers…”", I find it very unusual that there are hardly any churches in America where “The Preacher”, and “The Pastor” are NOT the same person. In most cases they may be good preachers, but lousy pastors, or vise-versa. I think that in most cases, they should give one of those jobs to someone who is capable of it. You strike me as being the kind of person who holds Biblical application of dogma so narrowly, that (in my opinion) if you followed the Bible as strictly as the impression you give, then the ONLY way you should ever pay your taxes is to ‘go fishing’!
  
  Report this comment
- nesmond
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 2:23pm
  @ COFEMALE: “In your anger you worth “think” rather than “thing”. Perhaps you need to relax that pea brain of yours and “think” about what you write before you write it. Proof reading works.” You “worth” think? LOL. Yeah, you should try a little proofreading yourself.
  
  Report this comment
- Tractorboy
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 3:45pm
  @JEZ, Jesus loves all praise, is not what the youth pastor is doing a act of praise?~ Matthew 21:14-16…14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
  
  16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
  “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
  “‘From the lips of children and infants
  you have ordained praise’[g]?”
  
  I for one don’t wish to be like the teachers of the law, who Jesus admonished, God Bless friends
  
  Report this comment
- smv803
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 10:13pm
  Thank you hotrod25……that was perfect.
  
  Report this comment
- saved4ever
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 4:28pm
  The word “Rapture” is never used in the Bible; however, it will be a real event! Does it really matter that the term “Youth Pastor” is never mentioned? Unless you attend a very small church, one man cannnot effectively direct the whole ministry of a church!
  
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tboltdon
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:23am
Remove

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TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:21am
Good neighbors will desperately need each other as criminals are emboldened by lawlessness, especially the lawlessness blatantly displayed by our leaders in Washington…stealing from the American people has been made a joke while families suffer thanks to a bloated federal leviathan.

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piper60
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:15am
Sometime just being caught “with your hands in the cookie jar” is enough, I guess. Kudos to this guy for step pig up.

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kickagrandma
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:15am
Way to go!

We always, ALWAYS are carrying now days. Don’t leave home without our back ups, even if they do have four paws!

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DougHuffman
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:14am
Unfortunately the good guy will likely face unlawful arrest and battery charges and/or civil torts.

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- chicago76
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 11:12am
  Better to judged by twelve than carried by six.
  
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- COFemale
  Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:20pm
  No, there is such a law as citizens arrest, plus it was his home they were breaking into. No charges against the pastor will happen. Citizens of COS will ensure that never happens.
  
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