Church Celebrates Youth Pastor After Shooting Last Friday
A Garland church's Sunday morning worship was more joyous than usual. The members of Walnut Park Assembly of God celebrated their youth pastor after he survived a close-range shooting during a service last week. Pastor Eddie Contreras was shot through the hand, cheek and neck Friday night when an armed man stalked into the church during a gathering of teenagers and began ranting. Contreras is still in the hospital following more than eight hours of emergency surgery but is reported to be recovering. On Sunday, head pastor Mauricio Elizondo told the congregation their faith may be shaken but it is not shattered. Elizondo has reached out to the 20-year-old man arrested in the shooting whose relatives also attend the church.
