Brandon Greene (18) was arrested for setting fire to two church vans in Pauline, South Carolina. While Greene sat in jail, Pastor Kiah Graves of Philadelphia Baptist Church chose to visit the suspect.
“We really felt compelled to share the love of Christ with Brandon,” Pastor Kiah Graves told a local news station.
Pastor Kiah Graves Visits Suspect Who Set Church Vans on Fire
According to WYFF local news, Brandon Greene, a teenager, was arrested on suspicion of arson. Before dawn on July 4, law enforcement responded to a 911 call involving two church vans burning in the parking lot of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Pauline, South Carolina.
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The caller mentioned seeing someone leave the church parking lot in a truck and followed the truck to get a better description.
Arson investigators were able to obtain video footage of the suspect and the truck from a nearby business. Local police posted images and a description on their Facebook page and received a number of tips that led them to the suspect.
Greene was arrested and taken into custody later that afternoon and “charged with two counts of arson with a $10,000 bond,” deputies told WYFF.
Pastor Kiah Graves went to the jail and visited with Greene and led with love, instead of judgment. During their conversation, he was able to encourage Greene.
“Although his actions were wrong and harmful in the fact that we might have to buy new vans, we didn’t hate him,” said Graves.
“It was an amazing moment. We hugged each other,” Graves continued. “I told him that the church loved him because Christ loved us, and then, long story short, I got to share the gospel with him.”
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Graves recounted what he said to Greene: “Brandon, we forgive you because we’ve been forgiven of our sins, but we want to know if you understand that.”
“He gave his life to Christ in there, repented of his sins, and wants to be baptized,” said Graves. “But none of that would have happened, I don’t think, if everybody wasn’t on the same page of, yes, let’s catch him, let’s make sure we get that squared away, but also don’t leave him by himself.”
The pastor shared more about the importance of forgiveness.
“Forgiveness and a hope of redemption for other people, offering second chances, is a way that Spartanburg could be known as one of the best places on earth to live,” said Graves.
 was arrested for setting fire to two church vans in Pauline, South Carolina. While Greene sat in jail, Pastor Kiah Graves of Philadelphia Baptist Church chose to visit the suspect.){kind=link}