On a bustling day in San Francisco’s Union Square, Pastor Kevin Kihara of Christ’s Forgiveness Ministries found himself staring down the barrel of a gun while delivering a sermon.
The incident, captured on video and reported by Charisma Magazine Online on March 14, 2025, has sparked widespread discussion about faith, free speech, and the risks of preaching in an increasingly polarized world.
Kihara’s message—that “God made men to be men” and “women to be women”—drew a visceral reaction, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that tested his resolve and highlighted broader societal tensions.
According to the Charisma Magazine report, Kihara was addressing a crowd when he urged an off-camera individual to “be somebody God made you to be.”
His sermon took a firm stance on gender, asserting, “He didn’t make a man to be a woman, He made the man to be a man…
He didn’t make the woman to be a man, He made the woman to be a woman and this is the truth.”
Moments later, a gunman approached, pointing a weapon at the pastor. Yet, in a remarkable display of composure, Kihara responded with words of grace: “God bless you… Even you pulled a gun on me, I still love you, I still bless you.”
The story, shared via posts on X by accounts like @charismamag and @charisma_news at 13:45 and 13:33 PDT respectively on March 14, 2025, quickly gained traction online.
No fear when you have God on your side.
This street preacher had a gun pointed at his head by a deranged person and did not even flinch! pic.twitter.com/mpYgnfAcfc
— Old School Eddie (@Old_SchoolEddie) March 12, 2025
These posts described the event as a “shocking video out of San Francisco” that “reminds us that standing for biblical truth is not without its risks.”
While the video itself has not been independently verified in additional sources within the provided data, the narrative aligns with a growing number of incidents where street preachers face opposition—sometimes violently—for their messages.
This is not the first time a pastor has encountered danger mid-sermon. In May 2024, outlets like Modernity News and Not the Bee reported on a Pennsylvania pastor, Glenn Germany, who survived an attempted shooting when a gunman’s weapon jammed.
The assailant, identified as 26-year-old Bernard Polite, faced charges including attempted homicide. Though separated by nearly a year and distinct circumstances, these events underscore a recurring theme: religious figures proclaiming controversial truths can become lightning rods for conflict.
Kihara’s case, however, carries a unique charge due to its focus on gender identity—a topic that has ignited fierce debate in both religious and secular spheres.
Charisma Magazine framed the incident as emblematic of a larger spiritual battle, citing John 15:18: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
The outlet suggested that the gospel, while a message of love, often offends those who reject its truths. Yet, this interpretation invites scrutiny.
Was the gunman motivated by ideological disagreement, personal grievance, or something else entirely? Without police reports or statements from authorities—unavailable in the provided data—the full context remains elusive.
Posts on X amplify the narrative but offer little beyond the initial report. The lack of diverse sources raises questions about the incident’s scope and aftermath.
Did the gunman flee? Was an arrest made? How did onlookers react? In a city like San Francisco, known for its progressive leanings, Kihara’s traditional stance likely clashed with local sentiment—but to what extent?
Additional reporting from mainstream outlets like the San Francisco Chronicle or New York Post, which Charisma tags in its article, could shed light on these gaps. As of now, their absence leaves the story as a compelling yet incomplete snapshot.
Critically, the incident prompts reflection on the limits of free expression.
Kihara’s courage in blessing his aggressor echoes Christian ideals of forgiveness, yet his sermon’s content risks alienating those who see it as exclusionary.
The gunman’s actions, while indefensible, hint at the raw emotions such rhetoric can provoke. This tension—between standing firm and inciting backlash—defines the modern preacher’s tightrope walk.
