An innocent group of Christians gathered for Sunday morning worship at a North Carolina church never knew how close they may have come to danger.

Instead, they experienced something else: God’s protection working through alert citizens, prepared security and law enforcement officers who responded within minutes.

William S. Milliken III, 44, of Thomasville, was arrested Sunday morning outside Wesley Memorial Church in High Point after police received a 911 call at about 10:15 a.m. reporting an armed man sitting in a truck in the church parking lot during worship services.

According to the High Point Police Department, an off-duty officer working at the church immediately responded, while additional officers arrived within minutes.

“The officers disarmed the man and took him into custody without incident,” police said.

No one inside the church was injured.

Police said Milliken was wearing a plate carrier, a type of body armor, when he was arrested.

After searching his truck, officers recovered what authorities described as a significant cache of weapons and equipment, including a CO2-powered launcher designed to resemble a handgun, two flamethrowers, two crossbows, more than 500 rounds of ammunition, rolls of black duct tape, three knives and oxycodone pills.

Milliken was charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, impersonation of a law enforcement officer and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. He is being held in the Guilford County Jail.

High Point Police Chief Curtis Cheeks III praised the officers who responded before the situation could escalate.

“Thanks to the quick action of our officers, a man armed with weapons was taken into custody before anyone was hurt,” Cheeks said. “The officers prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating and helped ensure everyone attending church services could return home safely.”

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Cheeks also commended the person who made the initial emergency call.

“We also want to thank the community members who recognized a potential danger and had the courage to speak up,” he said. “As we work to keep High Point safe, it is crucial that we continue to look out for each other.”

Wesley Memorial Church likewise expressed gratitude to those who helped protect the congregation.

“We are grateful for the quick response of the High Point Police Department and our security team,” the church said in a statement. “We remain committed to providing a safe environment for worship and ministry.”

According to The Christian Post, court documents also indicate investigators found a notebook containing addresses of other churches and schools.

Stories like this remind us that faith and wisdom have always gone hand in hand.

When rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls amid constant threats, Nehemiah did not tell God’s people to ignore danger. Scripture says they prayed for God’s protection while also posting guards: “Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night” (Neh. 4:9, MEV).

Jesus taught the same balance when He instructed His followers, “Listen, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16).

Likewise, Proverbs reminds us, “A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished” (Prov. 27:12).

Churches should never live in fear, but neither should they ignore wisdom.

On Sunday morning in High Point, an observant citizen made a phone call; an off-duty officer responded immediately; law enforcement acted quickly; and worshippers returned home safely.

That outcome is worth celebrating.

As we continue gathering to worship despite the enemy’s best efforts, let us pray for our pastors, church security teams, law enforcement officers and congregations across the nation. May God continue to grant His people discernment, courage and peace as we faithfully proclaim the Gospel in every generation.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

What if one overlooked verse in Genesis explains some of the Bible’s most difficult passages—and even the spiritual battles unfolding in our world today?

That’s the case L.A. Marzulli makes. Speaking with Taylor Welch on The Deep End, the veteran author and researcher revealed that Genesis 3:15 is the prophetic key that unlocks the Bible’s overarching story, from the Garden of Eden to the return of Jesus Christ.

“The seed war. Genesis 3:15, the offspring, the seed of the dragon, will be at war with the offspring of the woman,” Marzulli said. “The one coming from the woman, the protoevangelium, will crush the dragon’s head. The dragon will bruise His heel. That’s the whole Bible.”

Marzulli said he didn’t always understand that connection.

As a new Christian reading through the Old Testament for the first time, he found himself wrestling with some of Scripture’s most difficult accounts. The Flood, the Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah and the conquest of Canaan all left him asking the same question.

“I get to Noah, and I have a real problem with that,” he recalled. “I’m kind of going, ‘Wait, why is this God of the Old Testament destroying everybody on the planet except for eight people? Who is this guy? He can’t be like Jesus.'”

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His questions only multiplied as he continued reading.

“Then you get to the Tower of Babel, and you kind of go, ‘Wait, wait, wait. Why is He doing this? Why confuse? What did these people do that was so bad?’ Then you get to Sodom and Gomorrah, and it’s like, ‘Who is this?’ And finally, the conquest of Canaan.”

Marzulli said his frustration reached a breaking point.

“Literally, I have the Bible, and I’m looking at the wall. I’m ready to throw the Bible against the wall and walk out of the room. Jesus, I get [it] because I’m born again, Spirit-filled. Jesus, I get. This other stuff… who is this guy?”

Years later, everything changed.

“Finally, someone explained Genesis 6 and Genesis 3:15. The seed war.”

That moment, Marzulli said, unlocked the rest of Scripture.

“The rest of the Bible unfolds. Then Genesis 6 makes sense with the Flood. Then the Tower of Babel makes sense. Then Abraham… the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Oh, I get it. Because, you know, they want to have sex with the angels that go in. Why is that? They want the power… And then finally, the conquest of Canaan.”

According to Marzulli, Genesis 3:15 is the gateway to understanding the Bible’s grand narrative, yet it remains largely absent from many churches.

“That’s the gateway, in my opinion,” he said. “Most people in church have no idea what it is. None. It’s not taught.”

Marzulli believes that recovering this biblical framework changes how Christians read some of the Bible’s most controversial passages, particularly Genesis 6.

“If a person holds the Sethite view, with all due respect to all you Sethites out there… the sons of God are the bene ha’Elohim, the fallen angels creating a hybrid being known as the Nephilim.”

He also believes the same conflict introduced in Eden continues throughout Scripture.

“The conquest of Canaan is the culmination of the seed war on some level because the dragon knows that someone is going to crush his head,” Marzulli said. “The dragon knows, ‘Aha, it’s going to be from that seed,’ but he doesn’t know what tribe yet.”

The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories but one continuous account of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ and the battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.

“The seed war… that’s the whole Bible,” Marzulli said. “It’s not taught.”

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Christian singer Jeremy Camp is encouraging believers to look beyond packed stadiums and exciting events and remember where genuine revival truly begins.

According to Movieguide®, Camp recently shared a message on Instagram challenging the idea that revival should be measured by attendance alone.

“The other day I was actually kind of scrolling through Instagram and seeing all these posts that were saying stadiums are packed out all over America — ‘Revival is happening,’” Camp said. “It kind of didn’t sit with me great for a couple reasons.”

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He explained that while large gatherings can be encouraging, they are not the true measure of spiritual renewal.

“One is to judge revival off mass numbers is not what it really means,” Camp said. “Revival actually begins in your heart, so it’s saying, ‘Hey God, I want to start with me on my face, going here I am broken before you, realizing that your love and forgiveness are so great.’”

Camp pointed believers back to repentance and a daily dependence on Christ.

“It is recognizing our desperate need for Jesus constantly. His revival begins with a personal conviction — repentance. And from there I do believe, yes, there can be mass numbers that happen, but just numbers doesn’t mean revival.”

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He said lasting transformation—not crowd size—is the evidence of God at work.

“Revival starts with a true, changed heart and lasting fruit of your family, your community, and if it spreads out, that’s what we love. It starts with you,” Camp said.

The message echoes the biblical call to humility and repentance found throughout Scripture. It is also the heartbeat behind Camp’s recently released song, “Revival.”

“My prayer is that God would start with me, that He would bring repentance, forgiveness, humility and transformation to my life,” Camp said. “And when that happens, it spills into our families, communities, schools and churches. May we never confuse numbers with fruit. True revival is seen in changed lives that look more and more like Jesus.”

Camp’s reminder offers an encouraging challenge for all of us: before we pray for revival in our nation, we should first invite God to revive our own hearts.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

The Vatican has formally declared the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic organization, to be in schism after it consecrated four bishops without the approval of Pope Leo XIV.

According to the Associated Press, the Vatican’s doctrine office issued a decree Thursday declaring the society in schism and announcing the excommunication of its bishops and priests after the consecrations took place during a Mass in Switzerland despite the pope’s request that they be postponed in the interest of church unity.

The SSPX is known for celebrating the traditional Latin Mass and rejecting many of the reforms adopted by the Roman Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.

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The Vatican said Catholics who “formally adhere” to the group could also face the church’s most severe canonical penalties.

The dispute traces back decades. The society was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in opposition to Vatican II reforms and was previously at the center of a similar conflict in 1988 when bishops were consecrated without papal approval. Although previous popes sought reconciliation through various concessions, the latest consecrations prompted the Vatican to declare a formal schism.

According to Catholic canon law, consecrating bishops without papal approval carries automatic excommunication. The Vatican’s latest decree also reverses concessions made under Pope Francis that had recognized certain ministries performed by SSPX priests.

The development marks one of the most significant internal divisions within the Roman Catholic Church in recent years and underscores continuing tensions between the Vatican and some traditionalist Catholic groups over church authority and doctrine.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

There was a time when the world understood symbolism.

We watched Carmen walk into a saloon full of demons, draw his six-shooters and send the forces of darkness running. We didn’t leave thinking Christians should start gunfights. We understood the message. The battle wasn’t against people. It was against evil.

And we loved it.

That is exactly what the internet seems to have forgotten.

A short video clip from Vacation Bible School at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, exploded across social media after showing a group of “Commandos for Christ” pretending to eliminate a figure dressed in black representing the Devil. Children could be heard cheering as the skit concluded, yelling “Take him out, blow him up!” prompting critics to accuse the church of promoting violence.

The outrage spread far faster than the truth.

Pastor Dewayne Walker responded by explaining what anyone willing to look beyond a few seconds of video would have quickly discovered.

“It’s a character called the devil,” Walker said.

That should have ended the conversation.

Instead, critics began claiming the church was encouraging children to kill people who disagree with Christianity. Walker responded with understandable disbelief.

“They’re saying this is killing people that don’t believe like us. All I can say is, ‘What?'”

Exactly.

Walker explained the viral clip represented only a tiny portion of a Vacation Bible School program the church has presented for more than three decades.

“That little snippet is not even close to what we’re about,” he said.

He also made the church’s position unmistakably clear: “If you ever hear that Mount Olivet Baptist Church has a Vacation Bible School that’s for killing people, you heard it wrong or something’s badly wrong.”

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Could the presentation have been dramatic? Certainly.

Walker even admitted as much.

“You may think we went over the top. You may think it was a little bit extreme, and maybe you’re right.”

That honesty deserves credit, not condemnation.

What deserves condemnation is a culture that refuses to distinguish between symbolic spiritual warfare and actual violence. The apostle Paul wrote, “For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12, MEV).

Christians are not at war with people. We are at war with sin, darkness and the Devil himself.

Walker echoed that biblical truth when he said, “I hate sin because of what it does to the sinner. I will not hate sinners. I’m a sinner saved by God’s grace.”

That is the heart of the Gospel.

The real danger is not a church using creative storytelling to teach children that Satan has already been defeated through Jesus Christ. The real danger is a society so conditioned to manufacture outrage that it can no longer recognize the difference between fantasy and faith, between symbolism and reality.

Christ has already won the victory. Our job is to stand firm, put on the whole armor of God and remind the next generation that the enemy has been defeated.

As Carmen declared years ago, “Satan, bite the dust.”

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell of 2819 Church encouraged Christians facing hardship during a recent message on TBN, reminding us that Christ remains faithful even when life feels overwhelming.

“I want to speak to you, my brother and my sister, who’s going through a very difficult season,” Mitchell said. “Maybe you’re dealing with persecution. Maybe you’re dealing with betrayal. Maybe you’re dealing with something that has just crushed you down to the floor. And all you know right now is pain and tears and hardship.”

Drawing from his own testimony, Mitchell recalled how God transformed his life after he cried out to Him in desperation. He later shared how Proverbs 3:5-6 became a defining passage in his walk with Christ.

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. And lean not on your own understanding. But in all of your ways, acknowledge me. And I, here comes the promise, will direct your path,” Mitchell quoted. He added, “Trust God even when you can’t trace him.”

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Mitchell urged believers not to carry the burden of trying to understand every circumstance on their own.

“Don’t try to figure everything out on your own,” he said. “There’s some things you will go through in this life you cannot figure out on your own.”

Instead, he encouraged Christians to pursue a close relationship with Jesus, trusting that He will reveal His purpose in His timing.

“You know what you’re supposed to be doing? Developing an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And He will lead you into everything He has already called for you to do and purposed for you to do.”

Mitchell also reflected on one of the most painful seasons of his ministry, sharing that he nearly walked away because of the weight of hardship and criticism. Looking back, he said he now realizes how much would have been lost had he quit.

He reminded believers that Christ is our refuge in every trial.

“You and I serve the one who is a strong tower,” Mitchell said. “You can run to Him in the middle of what you’re going through, and there you will find comfort, and you will find strength, and you will find guidance, and you will find answers.”

Mitchell closed with a reminder that no follower of Christ has to face suffering alone.

“So my brother and sister, don’t try to go through this alone another day. I want to encourage you to run into the arms of the one who loves you and who is to you and I a strong tower.”

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

John Bevere reveals how one question should shape every believer’s understanding of the Second Coming:

How should we live if Jesus could return today?

That was the central theme of Bevere’s appearance on Bryce Crawford’s podcast, where the bestselling author and Bible teacher urged Christians to move beyond endless prophecy debates and instead prepare their hearts for Christ’s return by living in faithful obedience.

Rather than encouraging listeners to speculate about dates or headlines, Bevere challenged them to examine their daily walk with Christ.

“Here’s what I firmly believe. I live like He’s coming back today,” Bevere said. “The Lord could want me home tomorrow. He could want me home tonight.”

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He explained that this mindset affects every area of the Christian life, including resisting temptation, pursuing holiness and keeping an eternal perspective.

“Have you put off the Lord’s coming in your heart?” Bevere asked. “Do you ever wonder why it’s so hard for you to stay away from pornography? Do you ever wonder why it’s so hard to stay away from that substance?”

For Bevere, the Second Coming is not primarily about decoding prophecy but about preparing to stand before Christ with confidence.

He argues that the return of Jesus “was meant to awaken our faith, sharpen our purpose, and prepare us to stand confident at His appearing,” adding that the most important question believers should ask is, “How should we live in light of Christ’s imminent return?”

Bryce Crawford echoed that emphasis during the conversation, steering the discussion away from sensationalism and toward practical discipleship. He highlighted that the conversation was not intended to produce fear, but to help Christians understand how the reality of Christ’s return should shape everyday faithfulness.

Throughout the podcast, Bevere consistently returned to the same conclusion: followers of Christ should not become consumed with predicting timelines. Instead, they should live every day ready to meet their King.

His message serves as a reminder that the doctrine of Christ’s return is not merely about future events. It is about present obedience. For Christians, the question is not simply whether Jesus is coming again, but whether we are living in a way that reflects that we truly believe He is.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

A 92-year-old North Carolina man is proving that serving others has no age limit.

According to original reporting by WECT News 6, Gilbert Martin, affectionately known as “Mr. Gil,” has spent the past six years serving customers as a dining host at a Chick-fil-A in Wilmington. While many people retire decades earlier, Martin continues working full time with a joyful attitude and a heart for people.

Martin said his daily responsibilities are simple, but his greatest priority goes beyond keeping the restaurant clean.

“I make sure the tables are clean, the floor is clean,” he said. “But the main thing is I take care of people out here first.”

Before joining Chick-fil-A, Martin spent decades in the natural gas industry before retiring. He later worked as a greeter at Sam’s Club for more than 12 years until the position was eliminated.

Rather than settling into retirement, Martin said he quickly realized he still wanted to serve.

“After two months, I got bored and put in an application,” he said.

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That decision has become a blessing not only for Martin but also for countless customers who have come to know him.

“If you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not work, and I look forward to coming in,” Martin said. “It’s crazy, isn’t it?”

His impact has not gone unnoticed.

“He’s a great person, you don’t come across too many people like that,” Chick-fil-A owner and operator Mike Perdue said.

Perdue also recalled the response when Martin missed a couple of days because of a cold.

“People were so concerned, it was crazy, ‘Where’s Mr. Gil? Is he okay?'” Perdue said.

For Martin, however, the most meaningful part of every shift is the opportunity to minister to others.

“I get a lot of people that are coming in, just been to the doctor, and got bad news,” he said. “I’m able to be an encourager; the Lord gave me that.”

Martin said he has no plans to retire and welcomes customers to stop and say hello if they see him at work.

“I don’t know what 92 is supposed to feel like, but I feel great,” he said.

Mr. Gil’s story is a reminder that God can use willing hearts in every season of life. Whether serving in a church, a workplace, a neighborhood or a restaurant dining room, faithfulness is not measured by age but by a life lived in service to God and to others. His joyful example demonstrates that opportunities to encourage, love and reflect Christ never expire.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Archaeologists excavating biblical Shiloh in Israel say newly uncovered ruins may strengthen the case that they have identified the location where the Ark of the Covenant was once housed.

The Daily Mail reported that researchers with Associates for Biblical Research recently uncovered the southern wall of a monumental Iron I period structure, allowing them to reconstruct its full dimensions for the first time. The building’s east-west orientation and proportions closely resemble the biblical description of the Tabernacle.

“The discovery of the southern wall now enables our researchers to reconstruct the full dimensions of the building and better evaluate its function and significance,” excavation director Dr. Scott Stripling said in a blog post cited by the Daily Mail.

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Researchers emphasized they have not discovered the Ark of the Covenant itself.

Excavators also uncovered worship-related artifacts in and around the structure, including altar horns, ceramic pomegranates and murex shells. The shells were used to produce the blue dye associated with priestly garments described in Scripture.

In another part of the site, archaeologists uncovered additional walls from Shiloh’s northern fortification system, providing new insight into the city’s defenses and urban layout. The team also discovered three large Canaanite storage jars containing charred olives, wheat and lentils. Researchers plan to conduct radiocarbon testing to establish a more precise date for the destruction layer where the jars were found.

“These discoveries provide an important window into the earliest occupational phases of Shiloh and help us better understand the site’s history before the Israelite settlement,” Stripling said.

While the Ark of the Covenant remains one of history’s greatest mysteries, archaeologists say this excavation season has produced new evidence that appears to align with the biblical record surrounding ancient Shiloh.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

A downtown Austin, Texas restaurant server has been charged after police said he stabbed a Catholic pastor multiple times during an apparent targeted attack while the pastor was dining with friends.

FOX 7 reported that 45-year-old Edward Koubek was charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following the June 27 incident at Bob’s Steak and Chop House.

The victim was identified as Jairo Sandoval-Pliego, pastor of San Jose Catholic Church in Austin.

The attack unfolded around 10:30 p.m. at the restaurant on Lavaca Street. Austin police responded after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting a stabbing.

When officers arrived, they found Sandoval-Pliego suffering from a neck wound. An officer immediately rendered aid by applying pressure to the injury before the pastor was transported to a nearby hospital.

According to witnesses, Koubek recognized Sandoval-Pliego when the pastor entered the restaurant with a couple. As the meal came to an end, Koubek approached the table again. The witnesses initially believed he was embracing the pastor before realizing he was repeatedly stabbing him, FOX 7 reported.

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Officers later located Koubek inside a closed room of the restaurant with blood on his hands and clothing. He was taken into custody without incident.

Sandoval-Pliego told investigators Koubek had attended the church to pray in the past but had not been there for several months. The pastor said they spoke politely before the attack and described the assault as unprovoked.

Hospital staff told police Sandoval-Pliego suffered approximately four to six stab wounds to his back and shoulder area. Medical personnel said that “without medical intervention,” he could have died from his injuries, according to FOX 7.

During questioning, police said Koubek told investigators he had attended the church since 2018 and occasionally went to confession. He claimed he believed Sandoval-Pliego “would snicker” after hearing his confessions.

Police said Koubek told investigators seeing the pastor at the restaurant upset him because “he is still holding a grudge” against Sandoval-Pliego.

According to court documents cited by FOX 7, Koubek admitted retrieving a knife from the restaurant’s kitchen before pacing for about 10 to 15 minutes ahead of the attack.

When investigators asked about his intent, police said Koubek responded, “in the moment, to kill him.”

Koubek’s bail was set at $18,000. Court records show he was ordered to have no contact with Sandoval-Pliego and to stay away from both Bob’s Steak and Chop House and San Jose Catholic Church.

As Sandoval-Pliego continues his recovery, we join in praying for his complete healing and restoration. May God strengthen him, comfort his loved ones and church family, and bring His peace in the aftermath of this violent attack.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.