NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) A prominent pastor who’s been recognized for his efforts to combat violence in Newark, had his truck stolen as he opened the church parking lot for Bible study Wednesday evening (March 16).

“That is the last thing I would have expected, especially with all the folks I’ve helped in this community,” said the Rev. Jethro James, pastor of the Paradise Baptist Church.

“I’m a little nervous. It’s not a great feeling.”

Last December, James helped organize a summit of law enforcement officials, politicians and citizens to discuss a recent increase of gun violence and carjackings.

Newark had 46 carjackings in December 2010, according to police, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the city’s total last year.

At that time, James was concerned that parishioners, especially those from outside the city, would be fearful of attending church services. Some churchgoers had thought about arming themselves with handguns, he said.

James said he was pushed to the ground as he got out of his car to unlock the gates of the church parking lot. He turned around to see two men, between the ages of 16 and 25 get into his truck, back up and take off with smoking tires.

James said he was not injured, but was stunned and disoriented. He said will now cancel some evening activities and is concerned about what may happen when more people are around.

“If they are going to carjack me at a church, what will happen next,” James said. “God forbid something will happen on a Sunday morning.”

(Tomas Dinges writes for The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J.)