Marquaello Futrell: Missouri pastor makes robbers flee by asking churchgoers to pray for them during tense service broadcast
FERGUSON, MISSOURI: Armed robbers were prevented from terrorizing a Missouri church after the pastor got suspicious about them and asked the churchgoers to pray for them. According to local KSDK, Marquaello Futrell, a former police officer and pastor of All Creation Northview Holiness Family Church in Ferguson, Missouri, made sure that the Sunday morning service on February 12 was not disrupted by the four would-be robbers.
The incident was set in motion when a man carrying two bags entered the church and began questioning the director of children's services. Futrell told KSDK, "I immediately just had the hairs [stand] on the back of my neck. I'm like, 'OK, something's about to happen.'' He further added, "Me being a former police officer, I immediately noticed their waistbands. I'm like, 'There's something there.'''
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The terrifying encounter on February 12 was captured on video as Futrell broadcast his services online. Futrell directed his media team to focus their cameras on the four men sitting near the back of the church. A member of the church witnessed one of the individuals in the group dropping a firearm, according to the outlet. Instead of causing panic among his congregation, Futrell then called for prayers from the assembled people and authorized church workers to close the doors and call the police, as reported by DailyMail.
'Holy Ghost turf'
Futrell can be heard telling the men that they were on "Holy Ghost turf," before telling them that "God's changing the plot", all while gospel music is played live on a church organ in the background. He then moved over to where the group was sitting and began questioning them through the church's microphone.
Futrell asked them, "Who sent ya'll here? Just saw the church and decided to come? Talk to me." He targetted the group and said, "Let's praise God for them coming. I said praise God that God sent them here!" Futrell warned them and said, "Don't you play with me - I still got a cop anointing and I still know what's going on and I still know what's about to happen." At last he said, "God is about to change the plot of the enemy. Lift your voices and shout unto God for what he's about to do!"
He asked members of his congregation to surround and pray for the men after summoning the courage to speak with them, with some even placing their hands on their heads and shoulders. Futrell said, "Would you guys permit me to pray for you? Do you mind if I pray for you?"
The gunmen bowed their heads silently
The gunmen bowed their heads silently as the entire congregation sang and prayed earnestly. Police are still looking for the men, who stayed in the church for 20 minutes before leaving in a black Dodge Charger with tinted windows, according to the local outlet. The investigation is reportedly continuing.
On Monday night, Futrell told Fox News that he knew that something wasn't quite right with the group.The pastor stated that his congregation was grateful for how he handled the extremely fragile situation. He said, "A lot of people really didn't know what was going on. Many did and we had our children's ministry on lockdown and so many of the congregants were just thankful those able to navigate them through that process with the help of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost."