Pastor Tim Remington says faith remains strong after shooting nine years ago

It was March 6, 2016, when Ted Currie was on the phone with his brother in Coeur d’Alene and heard a popping sound in the background. 

“What was that?” he asked. 

“Sounds like gunshots,” answered Rick Currie, who lived near The Altar Church.

Ted Currie, at home in Dallas, turned to his wife, Vickie, who asked what was going on. 

“I heard all these gunshots,” he told her. “I think somebody got shot.” 

Later, he learned that Pastor Tim Remington was shot with six .45 caliber hollow point bullets outside The Altar Church and lived. 

“I feel like I was almost there,” Ted Currie said. 

On Saturday, Currie met Remington for the first time as he signed copies of “Gun Shot Witness: The Tim Remington Story,” by Amy Joy Hess at the Sower Bible Bookstore. 

He wondered how Remington could have survived and decided it had to be “spiritual intervention.” 

Since then, Currie said, he’s admired Remington from afar and finally, up close as he and his wife bought copies of Gun Shot Witness, which Remington signed. 

“He’s my hero,” Currie said. 

People lined up early for the chance to meet and chat with Remington and buy the book. 

“They got here because she’s here,” Remington said, smiling as he nodded to Hess sitting next to him. 

“Not even a little bit,” she said, laughing. 

While he recovered from the shooting, Remington said his arm constantly ached and there were other pains. Shrapnel remains inside, and lately, he has been battling heart problems. 

“You never know what’s going to hurt,” he said.

Remington said his faith never wavered. After the shooting, as he regained strength, doctors suggested he take antidepressants.

Remington said no. 

“I have Jesus,” he said. “They couldn’t understand that." 

Hess said she was honored to tell Remington’s story as it let her come to know him and many people at The Altar Church.

“It really shows that God is working in human lives today,” she said. 

During her research, one of her first questions was, "Why this pastor?"

Hess believes it was because God was using Remington and The Altar Church to save people, including many from drugs, alcohol and abuse, so Satan wanted him dead. 

She said her brother is in special forces and told her that for someone to be shot six times with .45 caliber hollow point bullets and survive “doesn’t happen.” 

“The whole thing was a miracle,” Hess said. 

Remington continues to lead The Altar Church, which offers The Good Samaritan Rehabilitation program to help people overcome addictions and find Jesus.

He said overall, he is doing well and his hopes for this life and the next have not changed. 

“Christ is still the endgame,” he said.  

Remington said the shooting has led him to think about the people and moments that make up his life. He remains grateful for family and other blessings. 

“God is good,” he said. 

Remington hopes those who read Gun Shot Witness gain faith. 

"That’s what this is really all about, is faith. If people get faith, I’m good,” he said. “This really had nothing to do with me. It had everything to do with what God did.” 

The man who shot Remington, Kyle Odom, was sentenced in November 2017 to a 10-year fixed prison sentence with an additional 15 years indeterminate for the shooting. 

He’ll have a parole hearing in the not-too-distant future, and Remington said if he can, he’ll be there. 

“I may try to show up for that and see what I can do to help him,” he said. 

Remington believes that someday, they will minister together. 

“I really do,” he said. “I can see him and I standing behind the pulpit of our church giving our testimony. I would really like to do that.” 

He said has always forgiven Odom. 

“And I beat him in six games of chess,” Remington added with a laugh.