‘Hero’ who shot Texas church gunman needs prayers, close friend says

The Christian Chronicle ^ | 7 November, 2017 | Bobby Ross Jr.

[marktwain]

Heroes need prayers, too.

Stephen Willeford — the Texan who confronted and shot the gunman who killed 26 people at a rural Baptist church Sunday — could use a bunch of prayers, his close friend John Wood says.

To many, Willeford’s actions outside the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs made him a hero.

But the hero, who is described as a faithful Christian, was distraught when he called Wood at his Ohio home right after confirming gunman Devin Patrick Kelley’s death.

“I talked to him immediately after it happened, basically before any of the law enforcement arrived,” Wood — a retired Church of Christ minister and Air Force chaplain — told The Christian Chronicle. “He called me and said, ‘I just killed a man.’”

Photo provided by John Wood

Stephen and Pam Willeford on a motorcycle ride in Sutherland Springs, Texas, before the shooting. The First Baptist Church can be seen in the background.

Texas Department of Public Safety Cmdr. Freeman Martin told reporters that an armed citizen, identified as Willeford, shot Kelley in the leg and torso. However, an autopsy indicated that a third shot — a self-inflicted wound to the head — likely killed Kelley. Wood had just gotten home from worship at the Xenia Church of Christ in the Buckeye State when his phone rang.

The longtime preacher said he relied on his training in counseling as he comforted Willeford, who has long ties to Churches of Christ.

Photo provided by John Wood

John and Diana Wood

“You do a lot of listening. You do a lot of encouragement,” said Wood, who conducted the marriage ceremony for one of Willeford’s daughters and has been asked to officiate the other daughter’s wedding next spring. “He doesn’t want to be thought of as a hero — but just kind of like the Good Samaritan, somebody who was willing to step up when it had to be done.”

Willeford was at home Sunday morning sleeping after working late the night before as an “on call” emergency plumbing maintenance man for a San Antonio hospital, Wood said. Sutherland Springs is about 35 miles east of San Antonio.

In an exclusive interview with an Arkansas television station, Willeford described hearing the shots at the nearby Baptist church and rushing into action. KHBS/KHOG-TV anchor Joshua Cole, who conducted the interview, is a graduate of Church of Christ-associated Harding University in Searcy, Ark.

“I didn’t have any time because I kept hearing the shots one after another — very rapid shots, just pop, pop, pop. And I knew every one of those shots represented someone, that it was aimed at someone, that they weren’t just random shots,” Willeford told Cole.

“I grabbed a handful of ammunition and started loading my magazine,” Willeford added. “I’m trying to survey the situation, not knowing what’s going on, and then I saw a man in a black tactical helmet … (and) a bulletproof vest. And he had a pistol in his hand, and we exchanged gunfire.”

‘My God, my Lord, protected me’

Willeford said he stood behind a pickup for cover as he exchanged gunfire with Kelley. Another man, Johnnie Langendorff, was driving his truck near the Baptist church on Sunday morning when he happened upon the confrontation, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported.

“He just shot up the church,” Willeford told Langendroff. “We’ve got to get him.”

The two chased Kelley at a high speed until the gunman lost control of his vehicle, crashed and apparently shot himself in the head.

But Willeford insisted in the TV interview that he’s no hero.

“I was scared for me, and I was scared for every one of them,” he said of the people at the church. “And I was scared for my own family that lived less than a block away. I’m no hero. I am not. I think my God, my Lord, protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done. And I just wish I could have gotten there faster.”

“You are a true hero,” Cole told Willeford. The anchor grew up attending the Oak Hills Church — formerly known as the Oak Hills Church of Christ — and said he has known the hero’s family for “a very long time.”

‘In everything he does, God is glorified’

In addition to those killed, about 20 people were wounded in Sunday’s mass shooting.

Those who know Willeford say they aren’t surprised that he risked his own life to save others.

“He’s the kind of guy who would do that, for sure,” said Chuck Morris, administration and pastoral minister for the NorthWest Church of Christ in San Antonio.

When Willeford’s children were younger, he and his wife, Pam, along with their three children attended the NorthWest church, driving an hour each way. Pam Willeford, a Harding graduate, was active in helping lead the youth group. The couple also was involved with Members of Churches of Christ for Scouting.

Stephen and Pam Willeford

“I called Steve the day after this (the shooting) happened and had a long conversation with him,” Morris said. “I was one of his ministers for a lot of years, and I was just concerned.”

Wood said he first became close with the Willeford family when he was an Air Force chaplain in San Antonio in the late 1980s. He attended the Oak Hills congregation with them. Wood “adopted” Stephen Willeford after Willeford’s parents died in a motorcycle crash with a drunk driver in 1993. Wood had sold the motorcycle to Willeford’s parents.

As Wood decribes it, Stephen and Pam Willeford were heroes long before Sunday: “They worked with teenagers and youth with the church there in San Antonio for years. A lot of kids look up to them. We’re proud of them.

“He has the character of a man,” Wood added, referring to Stephen Willeford. “In everything he does, God is glorified.”

Now, Willeford must learn to live with the aftermath of Sunday’s tragedy.

“That PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is going to be something that’s with him and the whole family for a while,” Wood said. “He is a blessing to many. They need lots of prayers and blessings to get through this situation themselves.”

[Chainmail]

I think that it isn't training that makes men capable of killing another - all training does is make you more efficient.

All of us were young back then and first, you make a lot of noise, firing away at where you think the fire's coming from. Later, that changes after you gain more familiarity with the racket and confusion of a firefight and you see the first of your own dead.

You begin to see the consequences of failing and you get angry that they killed some of the same guys you had breakfast with. Then you begin to find out that you had senses you didn't know you had and you learn to accurately place where the enemy is and you aim very deliberately.

That way, more of your young friends get to go home and fewer of their young men get to kill more of us.

I just think that, given this situation where a madman is shooting innocent, unarmed parishioners and the only thing that can stop him from killing more is good sight alignment and trigger squeeze - do it and don't whine about it afterwards.

[RedMonqey]

He did not kill a man(an autopsy indicated that a third shot — a self-inflicted wound to the head — likely killed Kelley) but he did saved countless lives.

God Bless this man!

[left that other site]

I am praying for this hero right now as we speak.

[zerosix]

Many in that church prayed for God to save or intervene and He heard their prayers.

God chooses and uses many people to work with and through.

None were perfect, for none can be, only Jesus Christ fulfilled that position.

One need not travel back too far into the New Testament to find leaders (some might even call them “hero’s”) God has used to accomplish His Will.

Recall the apostles Peter and Paul; Peter the profane coward, who ran away and denied Christ three times and Paul, known first as Saul, who as an esteemed member of the Sanhedrin, tracked down believers (even children) took them to be tried and convicted and stoned to death!

As Saul, participated in the stoning of Stephen (some say did more than hold their cloaks) and other martyrs, was forgiven and used by God to be the apostle to the Gentiles, throughout the then known world, facing beatings, stonings and prison, to die by the hands of Caesar in Rome.

Saul, now known as Paul, wrote the lion’s share of the New Testament, as dictated, of course, by God, Himself!

So yes, God uses many flawed men (and women) to accomplish His Will!

He also uses non-believers and pagans to carry it our (King Cyrus, in just one instance,)

[Professional]

Well said.

[GreyFriar]

military chaplain ping:

“Wood — a retired Church of Christ minister and Air Force chaplain.” Rev Wood stopped the Southern Springs shooter.

[Psalm 144]

I don’t think it is a courage thing. I think it is an empathy or detachment thing. I think complete detachment is abnormal, perhaps pathological.

An honest call for intercessory prayers, and as you say, he did the right thing.

[Psalm 144]

“... I have never lost a night’s sleep over what I had to do.”

I *think* I would be the same. Never quite had to carry through, but was prepared and willing a couple of times. Actually a couple of the most calm and lucid moments of my life. But I don’t know as I didn’t execute.

S.L.A. Marshall made a career of demonstrating that very few have the ability to carry through.

[M Kehoe]

May the Lord bless him, and keep him.

5.56mm

[Hot Tabasco]

As a kind, God fearing man, you don't go thru an event like this and ultimately kill another human being without feeling guilt and doubts about what you did, what you could have done or what you should have done. You just don't........

I mentioned on a previous thread that this gentleman will need counseling based on his constantly changing moods throughout the interview with Crouder. He even admitted it himself....

Mr. Willeford is indeed a hero but he will pay a mental price for it for the rest of his life. He has my prayers and my gratitude for his bravery........

[AppyPappy]

I just killed a man. Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he’s dead.

[Lazamataz]

You will note that the News Misleadia is careful to avoid mentioning this aspect of the shooting: That an armed private citizen stopped this mass shooter before the woundings could become killings, and he did so with an AR-15.

[Lazamataz]

I just killed a man. Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he’s dead.

Oh no! Your life had just begun, and now you've gone and thrown it all away!

The Fairground Organ version.

[Hot Tabasco]

... the handwringing is unseemly.

I have never lost a night's sleep over what I had to do.

You were not God's model when he created the rest of humanity...get over yourself.

[Chainmail]

S.L.A. Marshall was a fraud - he had zero combat time and he made up a lot of his data.

Here’s what I know: there are three kinds of folks in combat - Killers, Fillers, and Fodder.

In a good infantry outfit, about 20% are Killers. They are experienced or just talented and they are steady and they aim. They are the backbone of the fight.

Another 60% are Fillers - or as we used to call them, “noisemakers”. They put out a lot of fire and most of the rounds go in the right direction. Probably good not to have the new guys behind you though. Eventually, if they survive the first few weeks, they usually gain the skills to become Killers.

The last 20% are Fodder. No talent. They’re the ones that stand on skylines, smoke while on Listening Post, open gates, pick up stuff they’ve been told not to, daydream when on patrol. Sometimes their lack of talent gets the others killed.

Even the worst of them though, are worth more than all the rest of their fellow citizens because they’re there, risking everything they have.

[zot]

Thanks for the military chaplain ping,

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

“Wood — a retired Church of Christ minister and Air Force chaplain.” Rev Wood stopped the Southern Springs shooter.

Not sure you have that quite right:

Stephen Willeford — the Texan who confronted and shot the gunman who killed 26 people at a rural Baptist church Sunday — could use a bunch of prayers, his close friend John Wood says.

[zot]

Thanks for the correction. Rev. Wood didn’t stop the shooter.

[Psalm 144]

What you say is pretty much in keeping with what my dad said. He was a WWII vet, European theater. He said that new guys usually got tagged in their first 72 hours. If they made it past that, they usually made it all the way.

[GreyFriar]

A correction to my earlier military chaplain ping conservatism_IS_compassion :

“Wood — a retired Church of Christ minister and Air Force chaplain.” Rev Wood stopped the Southern Springs shooter.

Not sure you have that quite right:

Stephen Willeford — the Texan who confronted and shot the gunman who killed 26 people at a rural Baptist church Sunday — could use a bunch of prayers, his close friend John Wood says.

Please raise prayers for Mr. Willeford.