A street preacher in Arizona survived a gunshot to the head while sharing his faith. He returned to his ministry just months after doctors thought he wouldn’t make it.
Hans Schmidt, 26, was shot on November 15, 2023, while preaching on a street in Glendale, Arizona. He’s a father of two and works at Victory Chapel First Phoenix. At first, people thought someone had hit him. Schmidt drove back to his church after it happened. His wife, Zulya, saw he was bleeding but thought maybe someone threw a bottle at him.
Schmidt told KNXV-TV, “I remember falling to my knee. Then I knew something wasn’t right. I picked up my gear, put it in the car, and drove back to church.”
When he got to the church, Schmidt tried to talk to his wife but couldn’t speak. Worried, Zulya and her brother took him to the hospital right away. On the way there, Schmidt started having seizures. He wasn’t responding when they got to the hospital.
Doctors did a CT scan and found something shocking – there was a bullet in Schmidt’s brain. The doctors and police thought he wouldn’t survive. Zulya said, “The brain surgeon said there was nothing they could do. The detective said we’d know more after the autopsy. That’s when it felt real. There was no hope.”
The hospital put Schmidt on machines to keep him alive and in a deep sleep. Zulya said those days felt very long. She was afraid she’d never hear her husband talk again. But as time passed, something amazing started to happen.
Zulya prayed hard for her husband to get better. A local news station, ABC15, told Schmidt’s story, and many people started praying for him. One month after the shooting, Schmidt looked at his wife and spoke for the first time.
Zulya remembers, “He said, ‘It’s fine.’ I was so surprised and happy he could talk!”
In January, just two months after being shot, Schmidt went home to his wife and kids. He told KNXV-TV, “It’s a miracle, no doubt about it. I shouldn’t be alive. I should be dead. But because of God’s love, I’m still here.”
Schmidt is doing better, but it hasn’t been easy. There are still bullet pieces in his brain. The doctors said it was too risky to take them out. Every day, Schmidt goes to therapy to help him with his speech and daily tasks.
Even with all he’s been through, Schmidt’s faith is still strong. He’s already gone back to the street corner where he was shot to share his story. He said, “I don’t think being angry at the shooter will change anything. It’s important to forgive people. And I forgive him.”
The police are still looking for the person who shot Schmidt. But this hasn’t stopped Schmidt from telling others about his faith. His wife, Zulya, told CBN News that Schmidt often preached on the street. “He’s been doing it for over a year. He usually preaches for 30 minutes before our church’s evening service,” she said.
Let’s keep praying for the Schmidt family as Hans continues to get better. We should also pray for the person who shot him, hoping they might come to know God’s love and forgiveness.
It’s important to remember that what happened to Hans Schmidt isn’t an isolated event. Many Christians around the world face cruel persecution for their faith. In some countries, it’s extremely dangerous to talk about Jesus or even own a Bible.
Believers often have to hold church services in secret. They meet in homes or hidden locations to avoid arrest or violence. Bibles are smuggled in and transported covertly. In many countries, owning a Bible is a crime. People caught with one may face jail time or even harsher punishments.
Missionaries and local Christians risk their lives daily to spread the gospel. Sadly, most of these incidents don’t make the news. We rarely hear about the harsh realities these brave people face. As fellow believers, we should keep them in our prayers.
Let’s ask God to protect those sharing His word in dangerous places and give strength to those enduring persecution. We should pray for people everywhere who suffer for their faith in Jesus. Our prayers can make a difference in their lives and in the work they’re doing for God’s kingdom.
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