A Memphis, Tennessee, pastor is now fighting for his life after trying to stop thieves who were stealing the car of a Sunday School teacher at his church. The horrific incident occurred on Sunday, February 25, at about 9 a.m., which was just before the Sunday morning service.
The New Zionfield Baptist Church, where Clemmie Livingston Jr., 70, preaches, posted about the incident in a Facebook post in which it noted that Pastor Livingston had been shot at church and that the doctors were performing surgery in an attempt to save him. The post also called for those who saw it to pray for the wounded preacher.
In the post, the church wrote, “Keep Pastor Clemmie Livingston Jr In Prayer He Was Shot At Our Church This Morning… Right Now He Is In Surgery May God Touch The Doctors Hand …. My Dad Has Always Been A Fighter And I’m Praying He Keep On Keeping On……”
Commenting on the frantic post, people left messages of prayer and support. “Praying For You Pastor, Your W Memphis, Members Love You,” one commenter said. “I’m praying for Pastor Livingston he is a good man of God. Pastor Livingston we’re praying for you,” another added. “Lifting Pastor Livingston and your entire natural and spiritual family up in prayer. God be with you all,” said still another.
The Memphis Police Department added more details than the New Zionfield Baptist Church. Speaking to local news outlet Fox 13, the department said, “The victim was shot when he came out of the church as the suspects were stealing a 2019 silver Chevrolet Corvette. As the suspects fled the scene in the stolen vehicle, they fired shots, striking the victim.”
Continuing, the department described how an armed bystander intervened and fired on the suspected car thieves and attempted murderers. It said, “A second person who was outside of the church at the time the car was stolen returned fire after the suspects shot first. The victim was in stable condition at the last update. The vehicle has not been recovered at this time. This is an ongoing investigation.”
Further, Pastor Livingston’s 17-year-old grandson, Kavion Woodin, spoke to Fox 13 and described what the community should learn from this horrific tragedy. Woodin said, “My grandad got shot in the mouth. This should be one of the things that wakes up Memphis to show that nobody’s safe. A church is one of the safest places you should be at.”
Woodin spoke to another local media outlet, WREG, as well. Describing what precipitated the shooting, he described how his fearless grandfather confronted the robbers. He said, “Somebody tried to take one of the church member’s cars, and my granddaddy stepped up. He feared no evil. He came out the church to protect a car because he feared no evil.”
Woodin added, “He was a man of giving, willingness, kindness, compassion, and he was a man that never did wrong towards nobody.” He then said, “Honestly, I’m sick and tired of losing people to gun violence and cars. I’ve lost seven friends due to gun violence. I’ve lost two friends to cars, and I’m nothing but 17. It’s time to stop the violence. It’s time to stop the robbing, stop the killing. It’s time to put the guns down.”
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