An elderly African American man walks up to the pulpit, his strong gaze searching through the congregation.

  The music ends and there is a moment of silence as the man seems to gather the energy of the crowd. The congregation is full, as it always is when the nation is going through a time of crisis. When people fear for their lives and for their future, that is when they turn to their faith.

  “We have all heard the shocking and saddening news.” The elderly man starts, his deep voice reverberating through the church. “We grieve for the loss of our brothers and sisters across the world. With this loss, has come changes that shake the very foundations of our church.” His gaze moves across the crowd, and for one moment, it feels as if he looks in the eyes of each individual in his congregation. “And The world is changing, we all know it. We all feel it. A new people have risen up, showing powers that have not been seen since the time of the disciples.

  “Some have asked me, are these powers from the devil? Or from the grace of god? I would have been unable to answer that question just yesterday. But, today, I met with one of these people who call themselves ‘Beta Testers’. I will not say his name, but it is suffice to know that he came to me looking for guidance, he worried that the powers given to him were from the devil.

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  ‘Have you seeked to harm others with these powers?’ I asked him.

  ‘No.’ he replied.

  ‘Have you used these powers for good?’ I asked.

  ‘Yes, I have used them to save lives and fight what I can only call demons.’ he told me

  We have all seen these demons that he speaks of, monsters beyond our imagining. And we have seen these people defend us from these demons.

  So I say no. These powers were not gifted by the Devil. But by god, for only through his power can works of good be done. I urge you to not judge your neighbor or your brother, for they have a momentous task given to them by God, in defending us from the devils who have shown themselves in this world.”

  The elderly man walked down from the pulpit, sitting down in a chair as a choir began to sing the songs that praise god.

  Many listened to Pastor John Mars’ sermon that day, and even more listened to it as videos of his sermon began to spread across the internet. Men he had never met argued against his words as the church waited to make an official declaration on the new superhumans.

  Overnight, Pastor John Mars became a symbol for a growing movement in the church, one that could have unforeseen consequences in the future.