A pastor is crediting God for helping him find an abducted girl in Texas.
Jeff King, pastor at Bear Creek Bible Church in Keller located an 8-year-old girl abducted in Fort Worth, Texas.
King tracked down Salem Sabatka after she was kidnapped by Michael Webb, 51, while she was out with her mom in Fort Worth.
Video footage shows the girl’s mother jumping desperately into the grey Ford 500 trying to save her daughter before being shoved out of the vehicle by Webb, who then drove off.
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Another childhood friend of Salem’s parents, who had heard about it, began searching the streets of Fort Worth for the suspect’s car with a friend.
King said, that he was at home with his wife when a friend texted him and said that their mutual friends’ daughter had been kidnapped.
King began thinking of where to search for the girl, and he said detectives told him, “the best places to check are hotels, apartments, and parks.”
The two men began searching for the girl and it was past midnight when someone told them that they should check out a hotel in Forest Hill.
After searching the car park at the area, they found no sign of the car.
But after pulling into the Wood Springs Suites hotel, they spotted a car that fit the description.
King said that it was God who led them to that place. They never planned on going there, they just drove by, but it was 100% divine intervention, which led them there.
King then called the cops, who found Salem in the hotel miles away from where she had been kidnapped.
“It was a crazy moment. I asked police, ‘Did I hear that right? Did they find her? Is she safe?’” he said. “Then finally one officer said, ‘Yes sir, they have her.’”
The police then allowed King to call Salem’s parents and let them know that their daughter was found alive and safe.
“I feel like God allowed me to be a tool,” the pastor said.
Bear Creek Bible Church celebrated her rescue by writing on Facebook: “The Lord is so faithful!”
King, who is being hailed as a “hero” by local media, led a prayer meeting at a press conference in her neighborhood.
“Thank you, Father, that she’s alive and she’s with us still and that she has a wonderful life to live ahead of her, Father,” he prayed. “I can’t thank You enough for the redemption and grace You show us all the time. I can’t thank You enough for the death of Your son on the cross as a substitutionary atonement in our place. Father, I can’t thank You enough for last night and being able to locate that vehicle. Thank you, Father, for guiding us every step of the way.”
A part of the abduction was captured on the doorbell camera of a neighbor.
The camera footage showed the card speeding off before Salem’s mother dialed 911, to inform the cops about her daughter’s kidnapping.
The police swiftly began searching for the girl and sent out alerts with photos and details of the car.
Webb, who has a long criminal history, with aggravated and sexual assault in April 2018, got arrested 8 hours later and was booked for aggravated kidnapping.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price urged residents, “Those of you who have camera doorbells, keep them going,” she said, “They were a huge help in getting this settled.”