Pastor Held at Gun Point at Funeral
Guest Commentary
Audio By Carbonatix
By Amber Ginter, Crosswalk.com
When most people think of a funeral, they think of grief, sadness, and silence. Visitors shuffle in to pay their respects and greet families worn out by exhaustion. In Detroit, Michigan, however, one young man’s funeral was interrupted by a threat and gunpoint.
On Saturday, March 28th, 2026, Pastor Darthanian Nichols of Breaking Chains Outreach Ministries, officiated a funeral at New McFall Brothers Funeral Home. Explaining the value of living life on purpose and embracing our destiny, 10 people gave their lives to Christ, but only after a grief-stricken unbeliever pointed a gun at Nichols during the concession, demanding that he stay quiet.
Nichols was running the service for Jabari Malik Kenney, born January 8th, 2009, deceased, March 8th, 2026. At just 17 years young, Kenney died by gun violence. When asked about the incident, Nichols noted that, amidst everything that happened, everyone was safe:
“First, let me shout out New McFall Brothers Funeral Home. Your heart to serve families with dignity, care, and excellence does not go unnoticed. No matter the situation, you show up with compassion, and that means everything,” Nichols said.
Julius J. Baker, a chaplain and funeral professional who was informed about the event, added that although the event was unfortunate, the funeral home staff remained calm and kept everyone protected.
“Yes, something unfortunate did occur as a family was in the sacred moment of laying their loved one to rest. But I want to be clear — our staff remained calm, professional, and fully committed to serving that family with dignity. We were able to pivot quickly and ensure the service continued in a safe and secure location,” Baker wrote.
“It is deeply disheartening that in our city, even in moments of grief — when a life has already been lost to violence — there are still those who do not value the sanctity of life. That reality weighs heavily. But even in the midst of it all, God was present,” he added.
“No additional harm came. The family was cared for. The assignment was completed. And at the end of the day, God still gets the glory — because we are covered by His blood.”
Amidst the chaos, Nichols believed he would be shot. “If I’m being honest… I braced myself. I just knew I was going to be shot. But even in that moment, my heart wasn’t just about me, it was about making sure others were safe… and making sure my children don’t see me being shot,” he wrote.
Thankfully, not only were 10 people saved and no one was hurt, but Nichols walked away from the funeral with God’s peace and protection.
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Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Insanity Underground Photography
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
