A group of kids rushed to the pastor’s house after a creepy encounter — her response through Ring cam left them coming back the next day
Children may not always know how to explain fear, and look towards comfort and kindness when they experience something similar. In a world that can seem increasingly disconnected, those trusted places and familiar faces still matter more than people realize. That truth quietly played out in Akron, Ohio, when a group of boys showed up at the pastor's house of the local church looking for comfort after witnessing something uncomfortable. As reported by CBS Evening News on April 9, 2026, on Facebook, a security camera video of the pastor's house shows the group of boys standing outside as she speaks. The video has since gained over 40K likes on Facebook alone.
The boys had been outside doing what kids have done for generations, riding their bikes around the neighborhood and exploring together. During that ride, they came across graffiti and noticed a man they did not recognize nearby. Apparently, the art was very disturbing, and they weren't getting good vibes from the person either. So they left immediately and headed straight to their pastor’s house. Standing outside her door, they explained what had happened. Pastor Crystal Varner did not dismiss their fear or send them away. Instead, she gathered them together and prayed over them on the spot, asking for their protection “from the crown of their head to the soles of their feet.”
As she finished the prayer, the mood had clearly shifted. The boys, who had arrived nervous and unsettled, now seemed lighter and far more at ease. In fact, before they rode off, one of them could even be heard saying, “That’s why I love Pastor,” a small line that said everything about the trust they had in her. She even invited them to come back the next day. And they did return. Although some in the comment section were usually curious about what the graffiti was, many were praising the pastor and CBS for reporting such news on faith and humanity.
Barb Riddering wrote, "Kudos to CBS Evening News for broadcasting a segment like this. I’m honestly a little surprised but totally pleased that they did." Some were even pleased that such faith is still instilled in the kids, thanks to the pastor. Stephanie Simmons commented, "When the children realize prayer is needed. The Bible says raise your child in the way they should go and they will not depart," while Pat Spicer said, "Planting seeds and they will always return to their roots." CBS also reported that Pastor Crystal Varner and her husband run the church together and are well known in the neighborhood. They are the kind of people many locals turn to when they need help or comfort. Their church website also says they do not claim to be the solution to everything, but they do hope to be a solution where they can. And after seeing how those boys ran straight to her door, it was easy to understand why.