10 Years Old Boy Gets Away From Abductor By Singing Gospel Song

#1 Kidnapped

When nine-year-old Willie Myrick was kidnapped from his front yard in Atlanta in April of 2014, a song is what set him free. Willie's faith and quick thinking in singing a gospel song has now led to a worldwide testimony about God's power to deliver. Depending on how you look at it.

Some may argue that this had more to do with a kid who was so annoying that not even a kidnapper actively committing a felony could stand to be around him. It’s a judgment call.

#2 Faith

Willie, who was born to atheist parents, was raised by his godmother Codetta Bateman. She often took him to church where he learned about God and developed a passion for the Bible. Apparently, she did this every week, not just when Willie was bad, as a punishment. Willie denies using church as a time to nap.

#3 Bible

CBN News recently spoke with Willie about his bravery and faith. "Well my pastor, he talks about different scriptures and we're on Genesis 31 now. But he tells us a little stuff about him and he goes over it every Sunday," he said. Now, we’re assuming that he’s referring to the biblical Genesis and not the Phil Collins band. But if he were talking about that Genesis, this story would have far better music in it.

#4 Church

Bateman, who has raised Willie since he was three years old, said she's seen his faith blossom over the years. "Faith is important to this house and believing in God is important," she said. "I said, 'In this house we go to church.' He knows God. He knows Jesus," she added. Okay, so it’s clear that Willie was not raised by Satanists, fine.

#5 Studying

While most kids his age are busy playing video games, Willie spends his free time studying the word of God. When asked to share his favorite scripture he responded, "Well I love all of them but one is Psalms, Psalms 23 - The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." That sounds like something a kid who’s never played Grand Theft Auto would say. Let’s check back in with him when he’s 14 and see if he’s still PlayStation free.

#6 Best friend

And when asked who his best-friend is, he said, "I always think that God is with me everywhere I go. Like, when I'm in bed he has a chair, he just watches and when I'm in the car he's just on the other side." That really is a creepy image, like that scene in the Babadook where the scary little kid is in the backseat of the car screaming that the monster is right next to him. Baba-dook-a-dook-dook.

#7 News

CBN News got a taste of Willie's love for memorizing the books of the Bible. He recited the listing of Old Testament books during our time with him. "Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy," he happily shared. Sure, that’s a little impressive, but how many digits of Pi can he recite? How many noble gases can he name from the Periodic Table of the Elements? Smarty pants.

#8

So, Willie’s skills as a young, aspiring gospel singer were truly put to the test one morning in early April when a stranger rolled up in a Honda. "Some guy came up in a silver or grey Honda Accord," he recalled. He said the stranger wrestled him into his car and when he tried to yell for help the man covered his mouth with his hand. Okay, no matter how annoying a little kid screaming a gospel song at the top of his lungs is, there’s nothing funny about a stranger kidnapping him. Poor kid.

#9 Abducted

Willie said his abductor was cursing and that he feared for his life. "I was thinking that he was going to hurt me bad, real bad," he said. Again, there’s nothing funny about that. You have to wonder what sort of awful things the abductor had in mind for the little boy. Probably not a trip to Disneyworld.

#10 Song

Thrown into the back of a locked car, Willie's fear soon gave way to faith in the form of a gospel song he learned at church. He began singing it in the back seat of the kidnapper's car. He sang a bit of the song for CBN News. "Every praise is to our God, every word of worship is to our God. Every praise, every praise is to our God," he sang.

#11 Favorite

Willie said the popular song "Every Praise" by Grammy award-winning artist Hezekiah Walker is one of his favorite gospel songs. "I could sing the whole thing by heart," he said. "If you praise the Lord, he will help you in mysterious ways."

#12 Threats

Despite repeated threats from his captor, Willie said he sang the song for three hours non-stop while the man drove him around. Willie said the man seemed agitated by his constant singing and decided to let him out of the car.