A Missouri pastor is crediting a miraculous prompting from God for saving him and his family from potential carnage during Monday’s shooting at the Kansas City Chief’s victory celebration.
Timmy Hensel, pastor of River Church Family in Raytown, Missouri, and the Central Southeast Regional Pastor for the Foursquare Church told CBN News he and his family were on the parade route before the shooting and decided to go to the rally at Union Station.
“We were sitting there and listening to the rally go on [and were] super excited to be celebrating, feeling just this community, camaraderie, and joy,” he said.
But then Hensel said something surprising happened: they felt God telling them it was time to leave — a prompting that came just moments before bullets rang out, killing one woman and injuring more than 20 children and adults.
“We just get this prompting that it’s time to leave before … our favorite players are about to speak,” he said, getting emotional as he recalled the moment.
Both he and his wife, Tisha, experienced the same feeling, with his wife asking if it was time to go.
“[We] just felt that sense to go and so we started walking back,” Hensel said. “And, all of a sudden, in a little bit, we’re getting texts, ‘Are you OK?'”
Just moments after the couple and their two children left, the shooting unfolded in the exact spot where they were sitting. Hensel said he later looked at aerial shots and saw blood on the ground in the very location.
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The preacher said he’s grateful for the “promptings of the Holy Spirit” and the ability to “recognize His voice and tone.” In addition to his gratitude, though, he is also feeling pain as he continues to process what unfolded Feb. 14.
“I’m also feeling a lot of brokenness and sadness for those who are hurting,” Hensel said. “My city is hurting right now … they’re scared, and angry, and [wondering], ‘Why do things like this keep happening?'”
But it is gratitude that continues to stand out in his mind and heart, as he now recalls how he had an internal battle in his head that led him to nearly stay in that location.
For Hensel, the incident reinforced the need to trust God’s voice.
“It’s not just Sunday,” he said. “It’s every moment, and so he is speaking all the time and [we need] to train ourselves to know the tone of the Shepherd’s voice, to know that He is speaking, He is guiding, and I’m really grateful for that.”
Hensel continued, “I would encourage others to practice listening. We do a lot of talking. We do a lot of praying, which is good, but listening is just as important, because He has something to say.”
The pastor said he’s continuing to minister to others in his community during this difficult time while balancing his own emotional and spiritual needs.
Please continue to pray for the victims and the entirety of the Kansas City community.
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