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Camarillo Community Center

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Camarillo, CA 93010

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RAISING UP THE NEXT GENERATION

Journey Kidz and Arise Junior High teaches kids and students about how to live a life that is honoring to God, how to grow their relationship with Him. 

SCRIPTURE BASED TEACHINGS

We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. We believe that Jesus is the ultimate Leader, redeemer, and foundation of the Church. We believe we are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to love, grow, and serve by loving the world one person at a time.

WHAT WE BELIEVE  

Cultivating Community in Church Leadership w/ Pastor Joakim Lundqvist Modern Church Leader

• Christianity

Pastor Joakim Lundquist joins us to recount his remarkable journey in ministry. His narrative is a testament to personal change and the influence one can wield when leading with conviction and purpose. Pastor Joakim's church, Word of Life, has left a global footprint with over 900 churches, and at the epicenter is their Bible school, molding future leaders and expanding the gospel's reach. This episode peels back the curtain on the strategic approach that's been pivotal in their growth, from embedding their church's ethos into their young congregants to adapting their outreach to various cultural landscapes.  We hope this episode sheds light on the enduring legacy of a movement that's as much about community as it is about faith. Join us for an enlightening look at the intersection of faith, leadership, and innovation. -- 00:06 Swedish Church and Pastor's Journey 07:32 Global Church Planting and Missionary Strategy 18:30 Impact of Secularism on Christianity 23:53 Love Overcomes Fear in Sweden 35:36 Global Church Tech Advancements and Challenges -- For more information on Pastor Joakim Lundqvist, visit PastorJoakim.com For more information on Word of Life Church, visit Livetsord.se For more information on Tithely, visit Tithely.com -- LIKE and SHARE for more resources on how to grow your church with Modern Church LEADER. FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE to stay up to day with our lasted episodes from Modern Church Leader.

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Sydney church stabbing that left 4 including bishop hurt deemed 'terrorist' act, sparked riot

A mass stabbing at an Assyrian church in Sydney that left four people injured including its bishop was an act of terrorism, Australian police announced Tuesday morning.

The knife-attack took place Monday about 7 p.m. local time at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the city suburb of Wakeley, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said during a press conference .

The incident marked the second mass-stabbing in Sydney in less than 72 hours, proceeded a riot in which police said officers were injured and left the local community on edge.

"After consideration of all the material, I declared it was a terrorist incident," Webb said during the press conference, adding a counterterror investigation team was being formed to investigate the crime.

Mass attacks in Australia are rare and the country has strict gun laws. For example, it is  illegal  to “intentionally” import firearms without approval there. Violators face up to 10 years in prison.

See timeline of the Slender Man case: Woman who stabbed classmate in 2014 won’t be released

Sydney attacker struck during church's live-streamed service

During Monday's press conference, police reported that church Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed when a teenager lunged at him with a knife. Viral video shows the teen , donning a black sweatshirt, approach the leader who is behind a pupil and attack him.

Webb said police arrested the teen at the scene in connection to the stabbings which left four people with non life-threatening injuries. As of Tuesday the boy had not been publicly identified.

Australian mass mall stabbing: Sydney knife attacker shot dead after fatally stabbing 6 in Australian mall

Police attacked by crowd during riot outside church following stabbing

As police responded to help the injured including the suspect, Webb said, a crowd formed outside the church and began to turn on police, using bricks, concrete and missiles to assault them.

Several officers were injured and taken to hospitals overnight, Webb said, 20 police vehicles were damaged and 10 were destroyed by rioters.

"That is unacceptable," Webb said. "Police attended the incident in Wakeley last night to assist that community... and the crowd turned on police."

Those involved in the riot can expect to be prosecuted and expect "a knock at the door." Webb said. "We will find you and we will come and arrest you."

Webb said the agency will increase police presence across the city.

'Jezebel spirit': Pastor kicked off stage at Christian conference in Missouri

Sydney mall stabbing took place less than three days earlier

Three days earlier, police fatally shot a man identified by police as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi , after he fatally stabbed six people at a busy shopping mall in Sydney's beachside suburb of Bondi.

Reuters reported the attacker's father said Cauchi suffered a history of mental illness and "frustrations with women."

"He wanted a girlfriend and he has no social skills and he was frustrated out of his brain," Cauchi's father said in comments reported by The Australian .

On Sunday, Webb said authorities did not believe the mall attack was terrorism related and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said officials were investigating the killer's motive.

Webb said it appeared the offender focused on women and avoided the men saying, "The videos speak for themselves."

Five of six people killed were women and eight, including a 9-month-old baby, were taken to hospital with stab wounds, officials said. Most of the 12 injured, Webb confirmed, were also women.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

Mobile teen gets life-saving kidney transplant

MOBILE, Ala. ( WALA ) - A local teen is recovering at UAB Hospital following a life-saving kidney transplant. We’ve been following Devin Smith’s health journey for nearly two years. He now has a big smile as he focuses on recovery and getting ready for his upcoming senior year!

“I feel good. I feel better. I just feel... I just feel like I have more energy,” said Devin.

Devin lived with kidney failure his entire life. The Murphy High School junior has been on the donor list since last July. He and his mom have made the trip to UAB three times for a possible kidney -- only to be called off at the last minute.

“They told us no three times -- and the 4th one was a yes. It was very emotional. Very emotional. It was a very emotional roller coaster. Because you get excited -- they tell you to come here and we’re five hours away -- we would think we would get the surgery. But no -- it doesn’t work like that,” explained Erica Watson, Devin’s mom.

With 16% kidney function -- Devin’s mom -- Erica -- says he narrowly avoided dialysis and says the call that came last week -- came just in time.

“Erica: That night -- we received a phone call around 7 o’clock p.m. And they felt like it was a for sure yes -- I guess because they saw how I was crying -- and they seen how I would come here... And the answer would be no. But they told us to come on and we came. We had to be here by 12 o’clock -- midnight -- on that night. Lee: Everything is packed -- when you get the call -- it’s like get in the car and go. Erica: Yes, just get in the car and go -- you have to hurry -- you have to get here in a certain amount of hours.”

While Erica was concerned -- Devin -- was ready for surgery and says he can’t wait to get back on the basketball court.

“Devin: I was happy -- I knew it was going to be a success. I don’t know how to explain it. It was just like a great day. Lee: What are you looking forward to doing? -- Devin: Probably like hooping -- playing basketball. Lee: #1 goal? -- Devin: Yes sir.”

With post surgery checkups twice a week -- they plan to stay in Birmingham for the next 3 months. Erica is just relieved they’ve had no setbacks.

“I’m excited because Devin has a bright future ahead of him -- he’s doing so well. Even the UAB doctors and nurses -- say they’ve never seen anyone heal like Devin is healing,” said Erica. “I really truly believe -- that this was a perfect match for Devin. And I advise anybody -- if you are on a mission and you are unsuccessful for the first few times -- don’t get upset. Because when you get that final ‘yes’ -- it’s going to be well worth all of the tears you have cried and all of the setbacks you have faced.”

If you would like to help the family on Devin’s road to recovery click here for a Gofundme account .

Copyright 2024 WALA. All rights reserved.

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Stabbing that injured bishop as Sydney church being treated as terrorism

The stabbing of a bishop by a 16-year-old boy during a livestreamed service Monday in Sydney is being treated as an act of terrorism, authorities said.

Police arrested the boy Tuesday after the attack at Christ the Good Shepherd Church. Authorities had said the boy was 15. New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the suspect’s comments pointed to a religious motive for the attack.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed during a livestreamed sermon, and another priest was injured. Both are expected to survive.

The New South Wales Police Force said earlier in an update on X that it responded to a call from a church in Wakekly, a suburb west of Sydney, at 7:10 p.m. local time (5:39 a.m. ET) Monday, where there were reports that "a number of people were stabbed."

Hundreds of angry people rushed to the scene, and some clashed with riot police, with vehicles damaged. The church and local leaders pleaded for calm.

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Andrew Holland commended the congregation for subduing the teen before calling police. Asked whether the teen’s fingers had been severed, he said the hand injuries were “severe.”

More than 100 police reinforcements arrived before the teen was taken from the church in the hourslong incident. Several police vehicles were damaged, Holland said.

“A number of houses have been damaged. They’ve broken into a number of houses to gain weapons to throw at the police. They’ve thrown weapons and items at the church itself. There were obviously people who wanted to get access to the young person who caused the injuries to the clergy people,” he said.

Emmanuel and priest Isaac Royel, as well as the teen and at least two police officers, were hospitalized, Holland told journalists.

A video shared widely on social media appears to show a priest being stabbed repeatedly, while delivering a sermon, by a man in a black T-shirt who is then tackled by members of the congregation. The church routinely livestreams its services and events.

Holland commended the congregation for subduing the teen before calling police. When asked if the teen’s fingers had been severed, he said the hand injuries were “severe.”

A subsequent video taken by a churchgoer showed people helping the bishop as he lay on the floor.

Police said the incident took place on Welcome Street, where Christ the Good Shepherd Church, which follows Assyrian Orthodox Christianity, is located. The church advertised an "Assyrian Bible Preaching" event Monday night with Emmanuel .

The church said the bishop and a senior priest were in stable condition at a hospital and asked for people’s prayers. “It is the bishop’s and father’s wishes that you also pray for the perpetrator,” the church said in a statement on social media “We also kindly ask anyone at the church premises to leave in peace.”

The NSW Ambulance service said that it treated a man in his 50s for multiple cuts and that three other people were treated for one or more cuts.

None of the injuries were life-threatening, police said, and the victims were being treated by paramedics. A male was arrested and was “assisting police with inquiries,” the New South Wales police statement noted earlier.

The premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, described the scenes as “disturbing” on social media and urged the community to remain calm and “stick together.” Religious leaders expressed shock and condolences.

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, leader of the neighboring municipal government, described the bishop as a community leader. “This is a very emotional situation. Obviously the community is very upset,” Carbone told Sky News.

It comes after Saturday's attack at the Westfield Bondi shopping mall in Sydney, which killed six people and injured nine.

Police said earlier Monday that they were examining why the lone assailant in that attack had targeted women while avoiding men, and the killer’s father blamed his son’s frustration at not having a girlfriend.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

Bianca Britton is a reporter for NBC News' Social Newsgathering team based in London.

The Associated Press

OUR MINISTER

Dr. Joseph Lozovyy was born into a Christian family in Elektrostal, Moscow Region, and was raised in a pastor’s home. From the age of fifteen, he began actively participating in the music ministry of the Baptist Church in Mytishchi, where his father served as a pastor, and also played in the orchestra of the Central Moscow Baptist Church. From 1989, he participated in various evangelistic events in different cities of Moscow Region and beyond. From 1989 to 1992, as a member of the choir and orchestra “LOGOS,” he participated in evangelistic and charitable concerts, repeatedly performing on the stages of the Moscow State Conservatory, the Bolshoi Theatre, and other concert halls in Russia and abroad. In 1992, his family moved to the United States. In 2007, after completing a full course of spiritual and academic preparation, Joseph moved to Dallas, Texas, to engage in church ministry. In 2008, he founded the Russian Bible Church to preach to the Russian-speaking population living in Dallas, Texas.

– Bachelor of Arts in Music (viola) from the Third Moscow Music School named after Scriabin, Russia (1987-1991)

– Master of Theology (Th.M); Dallas Theological Seminary, Texas (1999-2003);

– Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Hebrew Bible (Books of Samuel): University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (2007).

– Doctoral research (2004-2005) Tübingen, Germany.

– Author of a theological work published in English: Saul, Doeg, Nabal and the “Son of Jesse: Readings in 1 Samuel 16-25, LHBOTS 497 [T&T Clark/Continuum: Bloomsbury Publishing]).

https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/saul-doeg-nabal-and-the-son-of-jesse-9780567027535/

Joseph and his wife Violetta and their son Nathanael live in the northern part of Dallas.

Saul, Doeg, Nabal, and the “Son of Jesse”: Readings in 1 Samuel 16-25: The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies Joseph Lozovyy T&T Clark (bloomsbury.com)

Joseph, his wife Violetta and their son Nathaniel live in North Dallas, Texas where he continues ministering to Russian-speaking Christians and his independent accademic research.

Published Work

1. bloomsbury:, 2. buy at christian book distributors:, 3. buy on amazon:.

OUR BELIEFS

The Big 4 – What we believe about Jesus is the great definer in our culture. Many religions and non-religions in our world will track with us and nod in agreement on anything we say, until we start to talk about Jesus. Christology is the major battleground

JESUS IS SAVIOR

Salvation is god's free gift to us, but we must accept it. we can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. only by trusting in jesus christ can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. when we turn from our self-ruled life, repent and turn to jesus in faith, we are saved from hell, sin and the devil’s plan, and saved for heaven, right-living and eternal life with god. the inward evidence of salvation is the witness of the holy spirit, and the outward evidence is a life of christian growth everyday., jesus is healer.

God’s healing power is a core doctrine in the New Testament. It was central to  Jesus’ life and ministry

(Acts 10:38, Matt 4:23, 9:35, 10:7-8). It was central to His  commands toward us

(Matt 10:8, Luke 9:2, 10:9).  Healing and miracles were  Jesus’ promise to us (John 14:11-14) The laying

on of hands is called an  elementary  teaching (Heb 6:2), and the prayer of faith for healing is a command

(James 5:14-16). Healing was paid for in  Christ’s work on the cross (Isa 53:2-6;  Matt 8:16-17; 1 Pet 2:24;

John 3:14 – Num 21:1-9; Rom 8:2). Physical healing  is a  proof of God’s goodness and love (Ps 103:2-3).

Jesus’ Healing power was  prophesied (Mal 4:2; Isa 53:2-6).  Jesus’ healing power is central to our

witness for  Him (Acts 1:8, 3:1-29, 28:1-11; 1 Cor 2:1-5).

JESUS IS BAPTIZER

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a free gift from Jesus for any believer who wants

it (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). It is not necessary for salvation,

but Jesus offered it to all believers as a promise (Acts 1:4). The Baptism in the

Holy Spirit or being filled with the Holy Spirit is clothing in power (Luke 24:49) so

that we can tell others about Jesus (Acts 1:8). Through the baptism in the Holy

Spirit believer are fully connected to God’s power through Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor  12)

JESUS IS COMING SOON AS KING

Jesus taught that he will return to earth. he was careful to warn his disciples to be constantly prepared for this (matthew 24:42-51; 25:1-13; mark 13:37; luke 12:37) . the present age will end with his coming (matthew 24:3) . the assurance of his return was one of the truths with which he comforted his followers before his death (john 14:2-3) . at the time of christ’s ascension two angels came to the group of watching disciples to repeat the promise that he will return. they declared it would be in the same manner as he went away (acts 1:11) . meaning his second coming will be literal, physical, and visible. jesus’ second coming is sudden and soon (phil 4:5; heb 10:37; jam 5:8, 9; rev 22:7,10). we are to expect his return (1 cor 1:7; 1 thes 1:9, 10). jesus will return as conquering king (dan 7:13-14; rev 19:11-16, 20:4, 22:3), the trinity.

God exists in 3 persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Father God is Creator and Ruler of the Universe, and Father to all believers. God the Father has eternally existed in 3 Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are co-equal and are one God in triune relationship. (Gen 1:1, 26-27;Ps 90:2; Matt 28:19; 1 Pet 1:2; John 14:16-17; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 John 1:5; Luke 3:22)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was both fully God and fully man and he literally walked the earth living a sinless life, then offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sin of all people by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead, demonstrating power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven to sit at God’s right hand. (Matt 1:22-23; Isa 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Heb 1:3, 4:14-15, 7:26; 1 Cor 15:3-4, 24-28; Rom 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11, 2:33; 1 Tim 6:14-15; Tit 2:13; Phil 2:9-11)

Holy Spirit is present on the earth now to pull people toward Jesus. He lives inside every Christian from the moment of the miracle of salvation. He gives power for living, understanding of truth, and guidance into right living. We can be baptized in Holy Spirit so that what is inside of us shows outwardly when we are “clothed in power.” (2 Cor 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 10:44-47, 19:3-6; 1 Cor 2:12, 3:16; Eph 1:13; Gal 5:25; Eph 1:13; 5:18; Acts 1:4,8; 2:4, 17-18; 1 Cor 12:1-31; Luke 24:49)

The Bible is God’s Word to us, His love letter to us, and His road-map for our lives. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of Holy Spirit wrote it. It is the supreme source for Christian beliefs and living. The Bible is inspired by God and reveals to us all things necessary for our faith in Him and actions in life. Being written by the Holy Spirit means that the Bible is incapable of error. (2 Tim 1:13. 3:15-17; 1 Thes 2:13; 1 Pet 1:25; 2 Pet 1:12, 20-21, 3:16; Ps 119:105, 160; Prov 30:5; Heb 4:12)

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Although every person has great potential for good, our character is marred by an attitude that separates us from God called sin. This attitude causes many problems in life. Our only hope is faith in Jesus Christ. A life dedicated to sin results in spiritual and eternal death. After we experience new life in Christ, we are encouraged to destroy the impact of sin in our lives through life in the Holy Spirit. ( Gen 1:26, 27, 2:17; Ps 8:3-6; Isa 53:6a, 59:1-2; Rom 3:23, 6:23, 5:12-21)

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally with Him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. There will be Judgment and a New Heaven and a New Earth. (John 3:16, 12:25; Rom 6:23; Rev 20:11-15; Rom 8:17-18; 1 John 5:11-13; 1 Cor 13:14; 1 Thess 4:16-17; 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:22)

JOURNEY LIFE CHURCH IS AFFILIATED WITH ASSEMBLIES OF GOD AND WE AGREE WITH THESE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS

Eric Church opens Chief's with intimate Nashville residency performance

The first of eric church's 19 nights onstage at chief's, his new lower broadway honky-tonk, provided an intimate and unparalleled journey into his life and career..

The first of Eric Church's 19 nights onstage through early June at Chief's , his new, six-story Lower Broadway honky-tonk was, simply put, unforgettable. The incredibly intimate concert in front of 400 seated fans and friends in his Neon Steeple venue was one of the ultimate displays of the honesty, personal touches and against-the-grain actions and thinking that have defined his quarter-century in Nashville.

Church's set, like the bar itself, is a testament to the notion that, for patrons and artists alike, the power of a song (whether cover songs or originals), the strength of the whiskey and what happens when the rumble of hunger (both literal and metaphorical) is satisfied defines the greatness of a Music City watering hole.

No, it has nothing to do with the number of No. 1 hits or other accomplishments for the artist whose name is on the space. By 2025, a dozen artists with somewhere in the range of 250 No. 1 songs in five decades of country music history will either own or have their name and likeness plastered across the front of a piece of downtown Nashville real estate.

Yes, in under a decade, Nashville has made the art of celebrating astonishing individual excellence a fairly commonplace endeavor.

Chief's allure explained

Chief's will always have a rocking honky-tonk band playing in its front window and the green neon of the space's former tenants, Cotton-Eyed Joe's, is glowing behind them. There's also an upper-level dueling piano bar that should have the almost benign ambiance of an average big-city downtown hotel's restaurant. But how many of those have a wood carving of a Dale Earnhardt photo next to a 1980s-era black velvet portrait of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan on its walls, a memorabilia-filled bathroom and easter-egg-style details of a superstar artist's career tucked into every corner?

On one level, it should be visually over-stimulating. But this is the type of place that, if you're just exhausted enough, being served a stiff drink, eating Rodney Scott's James Beard award-winning Carolina barbecue and hearing anything from Hank Williams to 1970s-era John Prine or mid-2000s radio-ready pop ushers in a warm familiarity with the entire scene. It's fun times, it's good music. Sometimes, that's the counterbalance to the world that the doctor ordered.

However, the Neon Steeple is a whole other level of venue within a venue.

Modern legends and critically acclaimed favorites will revive their careers as everyday working artists there.

That's what Eric Church did last night.

A uniquely humble yet self-reverential performance

Yes, he was surrounded by six acoustic guitars and debuted unreleased songs alongside playing hits like "Country Music Jesus" and "Springsteen."

However, he also told winding stories of his 25 years in Nashville.

Church did this while facing iconic stained glass images that identified the inspirations of his life and career, including Johnny Cash flipping off the establishment, then-University of North Carolina student Michael Jordan hitting the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship, the aforementioned Springsteen performing on his mid-1980s "Born In The U.S.A." tour and Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, among many others.

Impressively, the event presented Church as not one of modern country music's most impactful artists -- instead, he was more friend number 401 in a room of 400.

The stories he told (and songs he sang) painted a picture of a man now uniquely able to celebrate himself but able to embrace the humility required to understand that teaching someone how to grow in the corner is as crucial as them learning how to behave in the spotlight.

Most powerful was his discovery that his route to fame was to be a modern spin on the same outlaw tale that saw an artistically unsuccessful Willie Nelson shuffle back to Austin after a decade, or Kris Kristofferson occasionally sort himself out in Johnny and June Carter Cash's Hendersonville, Tennessee, home.

For him, it was eventually discovering his craft and the people to whom he best appealed around the corner from Lower Broadway at Printer's Alley's Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar.

His resolve was not fortified 17 steps from the Ryman Auditorium's back door at Tootsie's. Nor did he kick out the floodlights on the Ryman's stage, either. No, he also didn't have late-night picking sessions on the stage at Ernest Tubb's Record Shop.

Instead, Church honed his craft amidst a peculiar type of existential pain that the nightly invoking of cocaine and heartbreak can introduce to the human psyche. This is before having to work a job selling knives to sometimes those very same heartbroken and cocaine-addled people at 3 a.m.

Add later spending black coffee-fueled mornings with grizzled veteran songwriters on a not-yet-polished Music Row to that mix.

A man unaffected by convenience and seemingly perpetually wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap begins to take shape.

A beautiful life endured

Adapting his humanity to his circumstances helped him survive a broken-off marriage engagement and more than a few onstage scuffles before he moved to Nashville. Honing the former half of his fight-or-flight mechanism led to the ability to initially play songs like "How 'Bout You" and "Two Pink Lines" for every major label in town without interest.

It also gained him the ability to, once those songs connected with how country music and America's culture shifted, church respect from derision (both joking and otherwise) by acts including Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith and Taylor Swift.

Even deeper, it aligned him well with country-adjacent rockers like Bob Seger, too.

Through it all, he's remained a songwriter and storyteller.

He writes best when the wounds are freshest and when the moments feel drunk with the potential of re-setting his personal bar for greatness.

His triple-platinum 2015 single "Record Year" arrived without fanfare or promotion via a surprise album drop to his fan club. In the personal context of it being the day after the Covenant School shooting after surviving heart surgery, the death of his brother and the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy, listening to the radio and hearing the Charlie Daniels Band's "Devil Went Down To Georgia" struck him in a manner unlike any in his career.

That song received a ground-shaking standing ovation.

Mixing two of Church's most profound statements of the night arrives at the best takeaway from this season of Church's life, but also his new venue as it currently stands:

Life is a series of fragile moments that are endured when they're not beautiful.

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Right-believing Prince Daniel of Moscow

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Crowds clash with police after bishop allegedly stabbed during mass in Sydney

Riot police called in to disperse angry locals after 15-year-old arrested over suspected attack on Mar Mari Emmanuel at Assyrian church in Wakeley

• LATEST NEWS: Police treating alleged Sydney church stabbing as terrorist attack
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Hundreds of people clashed with police in western Sydney on Monday night after a prominent Orthodox Christian leader was allegedly stabbed at the altar of his church.

The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, called for calm after the alleged attack took place while Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was saying mass at the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd church in Wakeley just after 7pm.

A live stream of the mass on the church’s website showed a person approaching the altar who then appeared to stab toward the bishop’s head multiple times. Three other people were also injured in the alleged attack.

The footage of the mass then showed the congregation swarm forward toward Emmanuel before the stream was cut off.

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Police said that they had arrested a 15-year-old at the scene and were forced to hold him at the church for his own safety as a large crowd of several hundred people gathered outside the church.

Riot police were called in to forcibly move the crowd on after police cars were smashed.

A helicopter flew overhead urging the crowd to leave the area.

“Those violent pictures [from the live stream] are probably what caused the uproar in the community – people saw that, responded and unfortunately we ended up with a public order incident,” the NSW acting assistant commissioner, Andrew Holland, told reporters.

He said the 15-year-old suspect, who was held down by parishioners of the church until police arrived, “sustained injuries to his hand as a result of his actions”.

Holland said police were “in the process of taking the teenager from the church” when they realised that a large group had gathered outside and decided to keep the suspect in the church “for his safety”.

Two police officers were taken to hospital after being injured by members of the crowd who broke into “a number of houses to gain weapons to throw at the police”.

Holland said some in the group also threw items at the church in a bid to get access to the suspect.

“They need to let police to do their jobs and let us do the investigation,” he said, promising more arrests over the public order incident.

Minns urged the community to remain calm.

“Disturbing scenes tonight in Wakeley tonight,” he said in a post to X. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and first responders who are working to keep us safe.

“It’s important that the community remain calm and continue to listen and act to the directions of police and emergency services.”

Emmanuel, who gained a large online following during the Covid pandemic, was taken to hospital along with another priest. Both were in a stable condition on Monday night, the church said in a statement posted on social media last night.

“We ask for your prayers at this time. We also kindly ask anyone at the church to leave in peace as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, teaches us.”

Amid tensions in western Sydney, Inamul Haq Kauser, national president and grand imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, said the community unequivocally condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms”.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to all those injured in the attack and wish them a speedy and complete recovery.”

The injured people suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated by NSW ambulance paramedics.

NSW Ambulance said they were called to the church about 7.15pm and sent paramedic teams to the scene.

A spokesperson said they had treated a man in his 50s for multiple cuts before taking him to Liverpool hospital.

A man his 30s was also treated for lacerations and taken to hospital.

A man in his 20s was being treated for a cut to his hand and a man in his 60s treated for a laceration to his arm at the scene.

The incident comes with Sydney still reeling from the shocking killings of six people at Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday.

Australian Associated Press contributed to this report.

• New South Wales
• Australian police and policing

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