Who is the Flint pastor who managed to stop Donald Trump mid-speech?

No mean feat, but one woman has managed it

Donald Trump was in the headlines for a reason other than causing controversy this morning: someone had managed to shut him up, mid-flow, and make him do as he was told.

The Republican nominee famed for his ability to go off script and deliver long, meandering speeches was at the Bethel United Methodist Church in Flint, Michigan on Wednesday, where he was due to speak about the water crisis affecting 100,000 people.

Mr Trump was in the area as part of his bid to improve his support among black voters ahead of the Presidential election in November.

But his speech soon veered into an attack on his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton - until Reverend Faith Green Timmons intervened.

“Mr. Trump, I invited you here to thank us for what we’ve done in Flint,” Rev. Timmons said, patting him on the arm. “Not to give a political speech.”

“Oh, oh, oh, OK, that’s good,” he replied, nodding and shuffling his papers. “Then I’m going back on Flint.”

Speaking after her interruption, Rev. Timmons told CBS Detroit Mr Trump had promised to do one thing but she could see he was about to do another, prompting her decision to step in.

“I could see he had three more pages of words to say, and I in no way wished to disrespect him, however, I needed him to stick to what he agreed upon,“ she explained.

“I am a person of integrity, and when you come to me and say what your desire is — I honor that desire. When he went beyond that it was not easy to do by I felt it had to be done.“

Who is she?

Rev. Timmons has been the lead pastor at Bethel United Methodist Church for the past five years, according to her Linkedin page. Before this, she was with the Calvary United Methodist Church for four years.

She has been with the United Methodist Church in Flint for 24 years as both an associate pastor and lead pastor.

Her background is actually in journalism: Rev. Timmons has worked as a radio journalist for seven years for stations including CBS radio news, ABC radio news and as an anchor for News Talk 760 WJR Radio.

Rev. Timmons also served as a media specialist for Harvard University. She graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in journalism and went on to study divinity at Harvard University.

She will shut down anyone who goes off subject

Mr Trump wasn’t the only person she admonished during his speech. Later, when audience members heckled him and accused him of discriminating against black housing tenants, she had some strong words for them too.

“He is a guest of [the] church and you will respect him.”

“I shut them down as well," she added.