Police have charged a man who allegedly threatened to kill everyone attending a live nativity event in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Central Ministries Church was holding the nativity celebration, that included live animals, in the church parking lot on Saturday, Dec 7, 2024.

Approximately, 100 members of the congregation including children were still at the event that had come to an end, WPTA-TV reports.

As church members were dismantling the scene, a 40-year-old man, Tyler Leavitt, drove up in a truck with a passenger, that court documents stated was his wife.

An off-duty police officer who was working security at the function approached Leavitt and his passenger. At this point Leavitt allegedly pulled out an semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at the officer, and shouted that he wanted to kill everyone.

It’s alleged that Leavitt then tried to drive further into the event where family and children were still milling about. Fortunately, security and others stopped the truck from entering the crowd.

At this point, Leavitt decided to leave and crashed his vehicle into a ditch, where a police officer along with security restrained him.

Though two people were injured during the confrontation, the injuries were not life threatening CBN reports..

CBN added that during the Sunday morning service the next day, the church’s senior pastor, Jeremy Helmuth, provided more details of the event.

“Heroes ran into danger to prevent evil,” said Helmuth. “People in our flock, in our church, people that risked their lives for the sake of other people. They ran into danger.”

But it was an interesting week, as on Dec 4, 2024 police also announced they arrested a 20-year-old man allegedly connected to several shots that were fired at the home of Pastor Greg Locke on Sept 3, 2024.

Locke who pastors Global Vision Bible Church in Mt Juliet was not home at the time the drive-by shooting took place. According to one report, between 30 to 40 bullet casing were found at Locke’s home.

On advice of police, Locke moved his family to a new home in Lebanon, as a result of the incident.

Though surprising, these type of altercations should not be unexpected. Jesus warned His disciples that we enter the days leading up to the Lord’s return, there will be increased attacks on Christians, because of their faith.

““Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” (Matthew 24:9-10 NKJV)

One thing that sticks out in Christ’s warning is that many people will be offended (GK skandalizō). In other words, these will involve personal vendettas, as a result of unresolved hurts and offenses that people have picked up over the years. Many of these offenses will not even be church related, as people will simply be mad at God.