A pastor used the power of prayer to stop a possible armed robbery and shooting by four suspects sitting in the pews of his church.
Pastor Marquaello Futrell, who previously worked for the police force as a St. Louis police officer, was in the middle of his Sunday service at All Creation Northview Holiness Family Church in Ferguson, Missouri, earlier this month when he saw four men wearing masks enter the house of worship.
Noticing that they had guns in their waistbands, Rev. Futrell’s prayers crossed his path with his police instincts as he used the power of divine intervention to prevent what he believed could be a biblical-scale crime.
‘I immediately just had the hair (stand) on the back of my neck. I’m like, ‘OK, something’s about to happen,'” Futrell said KSDK.
“Being a former police officer, I immediately noticed their waistbands. I’m like, “There’s something there.”
During Sunday service on February 12, former St. Louis policeman turned pastor Marquaello Futrell saw four masked men enter the church with guns in their waistbands
Pastor used his police instincts and the power of prayer to stop four wanted men from committing a possible armed robbery
The pastor questioned the men through the church’s microphone and convinced them to remain seated while the congregation prayed for them and keep everyone safe
Futrell, who streams his services online, had his media team turn the cameras on four men sitting at the back of the church, while also calling on the congregation to pray for the group.
He also ordered the staff to lock the doors to the church and to call the police.
Incredible scenes see the Reverend telling the men they’re on ‘Holy Ghost turf’ before informing them that ‘God is changing the plot’, all to the rousing sounds of gospel music played live on a church organ in the background.
After noticing the suspicious-looking foursome, the pastor made his way to where the group was sitting and began questioning them through the church’s microphone.
‘Who sent you here? Just seen the church and decided to come?’ Futrell asked. ‘Talk to me.’
Members of the congregation pray for the foursome who bowed their heads
Pastor Futrell, a former St. Louis police officer, recognized the potential danger and used his police instincts and the power of prayer to avoid a crime.
Pastor Futrell joined the clergy in 2009 after serving time as a St. Louis police officer
‘Let us praise God for their arrival. I said praise God God sent them here!’ Futrell proclaimed as he encouraged the congregation to applaud.
While not everyone in his seat knew what was happening, the pastor wanted the men seated in the church, but also made it clear that he knew exactly what they were up to.
“Don’t play with me – I still have an agent anointing and I still know what’s going on and I still know what’s going to happen.” God is about to change the enemy’s plot. Raise your voice and call upon God for what he is about to do!’ said Futrell in a rousing tone.
After working up the courage to talk to the men, he had members of his congregation surround the men and pray for them—some even placing their hands on the individuals’ heads and shoulders.
‘Would you allow me to pray for you? Do you mind if I pray for you?’
Bowing their heads in silence, the archers sat while the entire congregation sang in earnest and offered their prayers.
The pastor wanted the men to sit in the church, but also let them know that he knew exactly what they were up to
After working up the courage to talk to the men, the pastor had members of his congregation surround the men and pray for them
Some members of the congregation had no idea what was happening behind them
“Look, that wasn’t too bad, brethren,” Futrell told the men. Thank you all for letting us pray for you. And we are thankful that the Lord, for whatever reason, has brought you all here. That when you walked on the ground, you walked on the turf of the Holy Spirit.
“We are thankful that the Lord has brought you here for whatever reason, and I believe you will never be the same again,” Futrell said to the applause of his congregation.
The men were in the church for 20 minutes before leaving.
The reverend’s instinct was right all along: they were indeed wanted men and the police are still looking for them.
“I just heard the Lord say, ‘This is what happens when you enter illegally,'” Futrell said as a final thought during the service.
Speaking Fox news on Monday night, Futrell said he realized early on that something wasn’t right with the group.
“They entered the church. We thought they were up to no good. I just had that instinct and I just started maneuvering trying to run the service to keep people calm,” he said
During his Monday night speech, Futrell said he realized early on that something wasn’t right with the group
Pastor Marquaello Futrell is pictured next to wife Kanesha. They have been married for 19 years
The incident took place at All Creation Northview Holiness Family Church in Ferguson, Missouri
“They entered the church. We thought they were up to no good. I just had that instinct and I just started maneuvering trying to run the service to keep people calm. We eventually found out later that one of those guys dropped his gun on the floor before I even went to pray for them and then the police were alerted.
“We found out later that they were wanted in connection with two convenience store robberies,” Futrell explained to Laura Ingraham.
“We believe they intended to rob us, harm us, but we believe God is the greatest power and we cannot be defeated, so I had those instincts. I engaged them and we prayed form and they knew they were being taken.
“I had my media team set up the cameras, knowing that police might be on their way. We later found out that hours before, one of the boys had robbed a convenience store.”
The pastor said his worshipers were grateful that he was able to navigate an extremely delicate situation.
“A lot of people really didn’t know what was going on. Many did and we had our children’s ministry on lock down and so many church members were just thankful that they were able to navigate that process with the help of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost,” Futrell said.
