Call it divine intervention. A store manager convinced a would-be thief to abandon a heist by talking to him about Jesus.
It's the armed robbery turned revival meeting.
This gunman saw the light after the woman he was sticking up started preaching to him.
The stickup happened at a phone store in Pompano Beach, Florida. At first, the gunman posed as a customer.
"I was interested in looking at one of your phones," he said.
But then he flashed a pistol and makes it clear why he's really there.
"I really hate to do this. I want the money in your register."
The manager said, "I don't have any money, I just opened."
Robber: "There's no way you don't have anything in your register."
Then, manager Nayara Goncalves got divine inspiration:
"You can do whatever you want. I'm just going to talk with you about the Jesus I have."
She tried to show him the error of his ways.
Manager: "You have a beautiful life."
Robber: "Talk about making it harder."
Manager: "You know, you don't need ... Jesus has got something way better for you. For everyone that's out there."
Turns out they have mutual acquaintances!
Robber: "I go to Calvary Chapel."
Manager: "I go there too. I love Pastor Bob."
Robber: "Pastor Bob? Pastor ... the latin one?"
Manager: "Mmm-hm, I love him."
Then came a little counseling.
Manager: "I don't know if you have a family, I don't know."
Robber: "That's why I'm doing this."
Manager: "You know, but you know what, I can try to help you try to find a job. I have a lot of friends in church."
Robber: "I have a job."
Manager: "Then why are you doing this?"
Robber: "Because I'm going to be evicted if I don't come up with $300."
Then, it's back to the stickup.
Robber: "I'm not very good at this, obviously. There's no money in the register? Can you show me?"
Manager: "That's all I have."
The manager told the robber she personally will have to make up for the stolen cash:
Manager: "They will charge me for it."
Robber: "They'll charge you for it?"
He has a change of heart. As he leaves he even gives a confession.
Manager: "Thank you so much for not doing anything with me. Thank you."
Robber: "You want to know something? It's not real. It's a bb gun. That's how great I am at this."
Quite a testament to the value of keeping your cool.
Goncalves told INSIDE EDITION, "He didn't do anything, and I'm very thankful to god at first and then him."
