News

Pastor Mugged For Phone While Using It To Praise God To Online Flock

This is the moment a South African pastor is robbed of his phone while using it to carry out a livestream for his congregation and describing his trust for God to them.

Douglas Mellish, head pastor at City Hill Church in the city of Pinetown in the South African state of KwaZulu-Natal, was finishing a 15-minute online chat on his phone when a mugger attacked on 14th June.

In the footage, the pastor describes his trust for God to online viewers while standing next to a road as a man approaches.

A pastor was robbed during a livestream sermon, in Durban, South Africa, on 14th June. (Newsflash)

Noticing the figure approaching him from behind, Mellish turns and tells him “here, you can have it” and apparently hands over his phone.

He later explained that he could see the man’s reflection on his smartphone and that he was brandishing a knife.

Mellish told local media that he holds online talks with congregants every Monday evening since lockdowns were introduced last year. However, a power cut forced him to go outside and stand next to a lamppost to broadcast his most recent virtual meeting.

A pastor was robbed during a livestream sermon, in Durban, South Africa, on 14th June. (Newsflash)

He said: “I saw a car stop behind me as I was about to begin my talk. I thought it was a bit suspect because the driver drove and stopped the vehicle, and eventually drove off.

“I was almost at the end of my broadcast when I saw the reflection of a man approach me. He was making a beeline for me and then he started sprinting. I turned around ready to fight if I had to.

“Then I stopped knowing he wanted my phone so detached it from the selfie stick and told him he could have the phone. While this was happening, I thought to myself should I wrestle him because I was bigger than him.

A pastor was robbed during a livestream sermon, in Durban, South Africa, on 14th June. (Newsflash)

“I was about to fight when he pulled out a knife ready to attack. I said you can have it and stepped back.

“I threw it to him and stepped back. I had a selfie stick and knew if he approached me, I was ready to fight.”

He said the man ran to a nearby getaway car with other occupants and fled the scene, adding that it was probably the correct decision to not get involved in an altercation with the mugger as there were others apparently with him.

Mellish also said that he has not yet filed a report with the police as he feels he has learned his lesson and won’t be so obvious when using his phone outside again.

Don’t miss Our New Story!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.