GAITHERSBURG, Md. — It started out as an average Sunday evening at Tri-County Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 3. Seventeen preschool and elementary-aged kids in the church’s “Sunday Night BLAST” program were busy in their classes. But then everything changed quickly. At about 6:40 p.m., Pastor Travis (T.J.) Johnson was in the sanctuary when he heard a huge noise in the foyer.
“I heard a crash and thought, ‘What fell over?’ When I walked into the foyer, I realized it wasn’t something that had fallen. It was a whole car.” A man drove a black Corvette into the glass front church doors, which buckled inward.
“Thankfully, there were no kids in the foyer,” Johnson said. They were in their classrooms. A few people were in the foyer and quickly moved out.
Nathan Clemons, a church deacon, approached the driver, asking if he was OK, but he wasn’t.
“The driver was clearly not doing well mentally,” Clemons said. “He backed his car up, and at full speed, he crashed into the wall of the sanctuary. We were really concerned. This was not an accident. This was an intentional action to drive the car into the church.”
Several people immediately headed to the children’s area. They secured the kids in a locked classroom and then, as the situation progressed, moved them outside to an area that was more secure.
“We didn’t know what he intended to do or if he was armed,” Johnson said. Clemons continued to talk with the man until the police arrived quickly to subdue the driver. “Thankfully, there were no weapons, and he didn’t become violent after he exited the car.”
Johnson said he was proud of all who were there.
“All the leaders worked together, and the kids listened very well and were respectful,” he said. “They didn’t scream or panic, though there were a few tears.
“One of the kids’ grandparents took all the coats off of the coat rack and ran them to the kids so they could keep warm. Everyone was thinking and caring for one another in beautiful ways. It was a real blessing to see the church that way under a strenuous circumstance.”
Leaders called parents and told them what had happened and assured them their children were fine. A deacon stood outside to greet the parents and lead them to where they could safely pick up their children.
The church, now boarded up in the front, is working with insurance adjusters, assessing damage and determining the next steps.
Referring to photos of the accident, Johnson said, “Did you notice the cross stayed on the wall?”
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Sharon Mager is communications specialist for the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. This article originally appeared at bcmd.org.)
