3 Essentials to Survive an Attack in church: When the Devil showed up Dressed in Red Part 1

3 Essentials to Survive an Attack in church: Part 1

When the Devil showed up Dressed in Red

It was the summer of 2007. The class was General Field Work with Professor Russell Burrill at Andrews University, his last class before retiring that year. Yet is happened so unexpectedly. One weekday, while Pastor Burrill and his wife arrived at the seminary building, he was there waiting to carry out his pre-meditated plan. If being dressed in a red suit is not a sign of the "devil", I don't know what is. (First Clue) The fellow seminarian had mental problems and apparently was disturbed by Pastor Burrill's book, "Revolution in the Church". The book apparently had caused him nightmares while reliving his experience in Europe during a revolution in his home country. He asked to speak to the professor privately, then followed him into his office in the NADEI office floor. He locked the door behind Pastor Burrill and stated, "You are not getting out alive" (Second Clue). Pastor Burrill thought the seminarian was having a bad day, but the fact of that matter was that he was having a bad life! After a heated argument, he asked for prayer. Pastor Burrill conceded and prayed, but the student became more agitated. He seemed very restless and paranoid (Third Clue). After the prayer, the heated argument continued. The seminarian (25-30 years old) punched Pastor Burrill in the face, who was over 65 years old at the time. When Pastor Burrill fell, the student got on top of him and began to choke him. His destiny and fate seemed certain. Death due a mentally ill seminary student. In that split second his life and ministry flashed before him. Yet it was also his desire to live. Finding strength from within his inner being and soul he tried to fend off the attacker as long as he could. He was no match for a young man in prime and vibrancy of his life. Yet a miracle took place. His wife, Cynthia Burrill, and the NADEI secretary heard the heated discussions and cries for help, and scrambled to find a key to the office just in the nick of time. They pushed the would be killer off of Pastor Burrill. The seminary MDiv student, dressed in a red suit, seemed to be in a drunken stupor, and just sat in a chair for a few seconds. When reality hit him of what he has just done, he ran out of the NADEI office and tried to escape running out of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, MI. To his surprise, the Andrews University Public Safety officers where there to encounter him, tackle him, and arrest him. He was taken to jail and to a mental hospital and prison.

I still remember that same day as if it was yesterday.  Dean Dennis Fortin walked in to our 2-5pm class that same day along with Pastor Russell Burrill to notify us of the events that transpired that day. Burrill was there, swollen, black eye and all, to continue to teach fellow pastors and evangelists his heart's passion.

Pastor Burril said to us: "Go out there and do the work!!! Preach as a dying man to a dying group of people. Go and finish the work."

 He came to class that day, and I don't think any of us paid more attention in any other seminary class period than we did that day during our seminary training. We were flabbergasted, in awe, and wonder.

The irony of it all was that it was one of our very own, a fellow seminarian, who had attempted against the life of the retiring NADEI Director. Ron Clouzet was the incoming NADEI director. Burrill's words still echo in my memory: "I have preached all over the world. I have envision perhaps dying of some disease, like malaria or typhoid fever or something while doing the work out there. Never in my wildest imagination, did I ever think, I would die in the seminary building while teaching future pastors" ... with tears rolling down his cheeks. Dean Fortin prayed that day. Jon Paulin's chapel talk that week was, Forgiving our Enemies. What a challenge? Would you forgive someone who was mentally unstable (unknowingly to others), and drop all criminal charges against them, inspite of the fact that they pre-meditated to kill you and would have succeeded if it hadn't been for split second action?

The truth of the matter is that working in the ministry, whether in a church, a seminary, or as a church planter can be a dangerous vocation. How should we survive, and are the risks worth taking, as we seek to serve the Master and King, Jesus?

~ Salvador Garcia

Next Blog:

3 Essentials to Survive an Attack in church: A bullet proof helmet, vest, and an emergency church exit (Part 2)