Pastor Shot During Street Preaching On Recovery Path

 

By Staff Reporter 

An Arizona pastor, Hans Schmidt, 26, who was shot in the head while passionately preaching on the streets is recovering well. 

The incident occurred in early November as Schmidt promoted Victory Chapel First Phoenix Church.

 Surveillance footage from the Nov. 15 shooting shows a white Nissan crossover near Schmidt, but police remain uncertain if the shooter was inside the vehicle.Initially in critical condition, Schmidt, a husband, father, and former military combat medic, is now conscious, as confirmed by his wife, Zulya Schmidt, on social media. 

Zulya expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and called her husband a "living miracle" in a recent post.

The 26-year-old has been transferred to a long-term facility within the hospital for his recovery, according to Schmidt's father, Eric Schmidt, as reported by ABC 15 in Arizona.

 However, he cautioned about the delicate condition and hopes for continued positive progress.

As the outreach director for Victory Chapel, Schmidt plays a vital role in a church with an average attendance of around 100 people weekly, as per Arizona Central. 

Zulya Schmidt, in an interview with CBN News, shared the family's thankfulness for the outpouring of prayers, emphasizing their belief in God's plan throughout the challenging journey.

Despite the ongoing investigation and a $10,000 reward offered by the police for information leading to the shooter's arrest, Officer Gina Winn emphasized the importance of community cooperation during a Nov. 16 news conference. 

She urged those with knowledge of the incident to come forward, stating, "We believe there is somebody within the Valley that does know something about what happened."